Just got back from.......

Been there myself. Beautiful scenery there. What all did you see?

demono69

Where are the pics?

we pretty much went to the old Rome sites and the VAtican.
I was disappointed to learn that all of the white marble was carted off to make other things. So much for the true size of the coloseum?
I'll post some of the pics, O-yeah my wife got kicked out of the sistene chapel
for taking a picture, hahahaha!!

Sounds like a good trip Redleg! I request pics also!! Have you been to Venice yet? It's worth it if you haven't been.

Eric

Hey, guys -
It's funny what we all take for granted - I've been all over the place (worked for Qantas for almost 9 years) and it's only recently that I've driven long distances in Australia and seen places other than my local area.
There are so many beautiful spots right here at home that so many of us never even see - The Murray River system, the Riverina District, the Victorian Alps, The Great Ocean Road, The Grampians, the Simpson Desert, Sydney Harbour - such an incredibly diverse countryside we have down under (as much as I hate that term......).
You all have the same over there - I know, cuz I was born in Oregon - so many amazing places to see and experience.
I agree that there are places that catch the imagination - Venice is beautiful - the Ponte Vecchio is amazing, the Coloseum is smaller than it appears in pictures, the Pieta - all incredible works - and priceless. The Italians drive their cars with, (well, for lack of a better word) passion - kinda scary...........
But don't forget the amazing stuff that's right in your own back yard.............
Have a good one,
LeeTree

So true, we have the biggest hole in the ground! Grand Canyon. I get up north alot now that I am out of college, (well till my masters starts this fall)

I know exactly what you mean, Lee. Seems I only get to play tourist when someone comes from out of town to visit me! And don't get me started on all the great state and national parks around that I haven't had the chance to go camping at yet!

Yeah,
There were about a thousand places I wanted to see in the States before I emmigrated to Oz - never got to see them and now I'm kicking myself.
I know and work with heaps of people who've all seen more of my home country than I have.....................stupid, eh?
Cheers,
LeeTree

It's truly amazing to think about... when overseas on deployments, I had to go see everything that I could: Paris, Rome, Venice, the French Riviera in summer, just to name a few. I guess we always figure that there's plenty of time to see all of the stuff in our own countries. Sadly enough, I've been around the world the equivalent of twice, but never been farther west in the US than Oklahoma. Terribly depressing.

demono69

Hey demono69, try heading West to Oregon. The Oregon Coast is just beautiful. Just came from there yesterday. If skiing is your bag, try Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor for some of the best in the West as leemitcheltree(former Oregonian) may attest to(if he has been there). Many people from out of town swear they haven't seen a greener state. Yeah, maybe just a small plug for my former home state.

Tigerman,
You should do the same if you're ever in the Missouri area. Great fishing, beautiful scenery, several theme parks, and, well ,that's about it, really.
If I ever get out to Oregon, I'll have to take you up on the skiing, though. First time for everything!

demono69

Hey, man.....
Listen to Tigerman......Just go to central Oregon and have a look at Crater Lake. The former volcano, Mt. Mazama kinda blew up a couple of centuries ago, knocking the top off the mountain, leaving an unbelievable lake in it's crater. You walk up to the edge, gaze down, and just say "no way this can be real". It's one of the most incredible sights.
The Cascades, the Willamette Valley, Klamath Lake, Florence and the rest of the coast (don't bother bringing your surfboard unless you're into hypothermia), not forgetting the incredible wealth of Native American culture of the region (as well as the rest of the regions of the USA).
Man, you guys have one of the most amazingly diverse nations on the earth. I miss it very much. Enjoy what you have. That goes for all of you, wherever you come from.
But I'm also having the time of my life here in Oz...............besides, the beer is better here. Should anyone care to debate me on this point, just come on down and I'll take you to a few of my favorite pubs - you'll soon change your mind.
Cheers,
LeeTree

Wisconsin, we're more than cows! Cave of the Mounds, House on the Rock, Old World Wisconsin, etc. etc. I like the things around home but Colonial Williamsburg is great as well as Gettysburg, D.C., Craters of the Moon, Mt. Rushmore and the numerous national and state parks. Of course the great plains are just intimidating, all that space full of NOTHING.

Demono69, I'll have to check out that part someday, perhaps catch a ballgame in K.C. Leemitcheltree mentioned Crater Lake which is a state treasure, would love to see it. Claymore68 you mentioned the area I would most want to visit: D.C. and all the Civil War battlefields of the area. I'm way into history and what could top that in North America? Bottomline: Too many places and so little time to see it all. Perhaps when work forces me into retirement, I'll hop into a winnebago and tour the country. Oh. and I wouldn't mind making a trip to the land of kangaroos.

Yeah, it's amazing what you find in your own backyard when you take the blinders off. I served 21 years in the Army and went to a lot of exotic places, but I didn't think much about seeing the countries I was in. Regrets, sure, but what can you do? I started looking around my hometown, thena bit further out, further still and I'm still looking, because I've found a number of really neat places to go and things to do. Fly fishing less than thirty minutes' drive from my house. Two hours to the Appalachian Trail, four hours to the ATlantic Ocean, six to the Gulf of Mexico. Great places all.

Back in my college days ( Abe Lincoln was President, I think!) myself and a buddy did a motoring/driving trip from Southern Calif up the Pacific coast to B.C., then across Canada on the Trans-Canada highway. We liked it so much we did it again in 1967 for the World's Fair in Montreal.
I will remember those trips all my life, for the scenery, of course, but especially for the people we met. Us North Americans are the greatest! (OK, you Aussies are pretty good too)
The most memorable sight was driving across the Prairie Provinces in Canada, about 50-100 miles north of the U.S. border. 2000 miles of food,from horizon to horizon. You'd think you were in a giant bowl of Wheaties!! Anybody who thinks capitalism doesn't work has never made that drive!
Tony Ryan

Yeah, just got back from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Misty valleys, green hill sides, blue skies, tall waterfalls and winding roads in a two seater with the woman I love sharing it all.