Over on that Lost Boys thread, I was saying that Santa Cruz evoked a strong sense of creepiness for me. But there are other places I recall that make you feel their past. Or their present.

For me there are many in Rome. The Forum. The Colosseum. Oh and the Catacombs!!!  And even a basement of a restaurant in the Piazza dei Fiori which is said to have possibly been the original site of the murder of Caesar. Something about the Senate location. Hmmm, can't recall. It's all lore at this point anyway. But just knowing that every layer of Rome as you go down, down, down has had living breathing history is skin-tingling.

There was the oldest synagogue in the United States -- Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. A letter from George Washington to the rabbi of this temple is on the wall. It's a small unassuming place but the spirit is intense. There was a story of the British troops using this building as their headquarters. Something about a trap door that allowed for an escape. It has withstood the centuries.

There are so many. For pure unadultrated joyous ecstacy it would have to be Positano, Italy for me. Heartbreakingly beautiful. So beautiful now in my memory, I'm afraid that a third visit back might spoil the magical intensity that remains in my mind.

There was a field somewhere outside of London. It was a misty day with a light rain coming down. Just enouogh to mute the vista into dreamy heathery tones. On the other side was an English country home now open to the public. But crossing through that day there was that familiar hum of "this is a moment" -- that feeling that tells you this moment is deeply etched on your soul. I don't know why. It was gone by the time we entered the house.

How about you?

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I like New York in June.

Walking through the woods in the dead of night when we're up in the U.P. brings us some definite emotions (and a few prayers that we don't see any bears). I look forward to this trip every year, because Mark's Dad's place is on a private drive with maybe 7 other houses, so we are truly sepaarated from civiliization and it is so peaceful up there, you can't help but be relaxed.

I have only been to 3 concerts there, but the Ravinia festival is just an awesome place to go to a concert, the setting, the beauty of the park and the shops...if you need details lemme know, because I think I mentioned this place enough in the weeks prior to the Indigo Girls concert.

There were several old streets that were brick roads in a historical section of Monteal that I thought was very cool. It definitely evoked a nostalgic feelings and the gorgeous 19th century architecture of the surronding buildings made a lasting impact. It has been several years since I have been there and I can't help but wonder how much of it looks the same as it did when I was there.

that's enough for now...I just didn't want to make a quick joke and not put anything substantial.             

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

All the estates (Rockefeller, Schuyler, Roosevelt etc.) in the Hudson River Valley area where I'm from are incredibly charged.

This is Washington Irving country. There are overgrown colonial graveyards tucked off into the woods on back roads at the end of winding dirt paths; huge gnarled oaks, mossy headstones and everything.

The Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts is a museum that is a recreation of the Native and Puritan settlements, with a reconstruction of the Mayflower. (A relative of mine is featured in a cardboard standee on the ship.) Actors go about their daily lives as they did in the 1600's. Its unsettling.

I have very strong memories of New Zealand - particularly Wellington where I spent some childhood years growing up.  New Zealand is such an amazingly beautiful country (witness LOTR films for evidence).  The thing I find most poignant is that my folks have been back twice, and say the local area where we lived and played 24 years ago remains virtually unchanged.  They say it's like going back in a time warp to back then, and the photos they bring back tell the same story.

Near our house was a large park - one that spanned from the top of the hill where we lived...right down to the valley where the suburbs kicked in.  The top of the hill was a pinetree plantation, and the pines were so huge they looked like they'd been there forever.  There were many trails leading down the hill, which were often muddy due to NZs weather.  Most of the bush was ferns, gorse(wild thorn bush) and the occassional blackberry bush - it was all lush and green.  Down the bottom of the hill after a 20 minute walk you'd find some glasshouses with orchids etc, fields were you could pick fresh field mushrooms each year, and a pond where the ducks had been trained to eat out of your hand.

This park was an endless source of adventures for me and my brother as young lads...and I'm so happy to hear that the park is still there as it was...being enjoyed by future generations.  Well...those future generations who aren't sitting inside behind an X-box!!

I knew that after  Cybacat description I wouldnt be able to describe the place I like! He is so good at writing!

Anyway,there we go...The place which provokes my strong emotions is Berlin.I fell in love with it from my first visit there.I am a kind of person who depends much on the weather,I mean when the weather is bad I feel terrible so I really hate some places in Europe famous for their bad weather conditions,but this place is nice both bad and good weather.I saw it grey on a rainy cold day and it was gorgeous!

It is not a typical capital city you go to visit a couple of cathedrals and take typical photos,it is a MODERN city in a wide meaning of this word,you know when you go along the street and see the place LIVE ,active but not exhausting like many big cities are..It is about its atmoshpere,many good clubs,good music...There I just feel being a part of this.Big but cosy,nice combination!

Above all,the fact which makes this place very very emotional for me is that I met a very special person in my life just there in a sweet city which I like so much...