Friday, June 16, 2006

My Most Beautiful Sights

Today, I got my work done early and had some time to go see the sights. Since I was near Los Angeles, that made for quite an afternoon. I ‘settled’ for a walk on the beach between Santa Monica and Venice, what most folks know as ‘Muscle Beach’. The weather was beautiful so the walk was nice.

The walk got me thinking about all of the beautiful things that I have been privilged to see in my life and I’ve tried to compile a list. You are welcome to agree, disagree, or make suggestions that I may want to add.


First, some honorable mentions:

The night sky at Lake Jackson, WY – The clearest, most beautiful sky I’ve ever seen.

Home after a long trip

Sunset over Panthertown Valley, NC

A No-hitter – It will make the final list when I actually see one.

Rolled up aces over kings – Oh, no, that’s what always cheers me up.

Sunrise at Lake Jenny, WY – Best view of the Tetons.

And now the list (in no particular order except the last item):

St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel – Several of man’s most awesome accomplishments in a pretty small place.

Yosemite National Park – Nature at it’s finest.

The Fly-over before the start of a NASCAR race - Pure Chills, expecially if they are fighter jets.

The waterfalls of North Carolina – There are so many and most are wonderful destinations. If I had to choose one area, it would be the Horsepasture River in Transylvania County. If I had to choose one waterfall, that’s tough, but I would go with Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture.

The Rocky Mountains from the top of Breckenridge Ski Resort – A beautiful winter scene if ever there was one.

Hunama Bay, Oahu, Hawaii – The colors, the fish, everything was just gorgeous.

The Fountains at the Bellagio – This one may seem out of place, but I do love watching those fountains. Maybe it’s the waterfall thing in reverse. There is one particular song that stands above all others. When the fountains dance to Sarah Brightman and Andres Bocelli singing “Time to Say Goodbye,” I get chills every time.

A P-51 Mustang in flight – If you don’t already know, I can’t explain it. If NASCAR ever did a fly-over of P-51s and P-38s, I would probably pass out.

And number one –

The first sight of my wife on our wedding day – I feel like I have always loved Mrs. K, but the sight I got of her on that day as they swung open the doors at the back of the church is one that I will carry with me and cherish forever.


I’ll probably think of some things that I forgot and add to the list.

Next stop, Vegas, baby!

28 comments:

fritz said...

I'm a Hawaii Kamaina (old time Islander) and it is spelled:

HANAUMU BAY on the Island of Oahu.

Anonymous said...

too bad I can't see this places with my own eyes ! I'm too far away from all this but your words said all so nice

Editor said...
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M.Amanda said...

Aw, sweet.

Mrs. K reads this, doesn't she? If not, that is just that much sweeter.

yasser said...

if i get a chance i will visit those places too

Squirrel Chasing Nuts said...

Yay!!! I used to live about 10 minutes away from the Rockies. Nature's version of heaven.

Anonymous said...

That your wife on your wedding day made that list...and made it #1 is the sweetest thing I have read in a long time.
Makes me think that my husband is sincere when he says I took his breath away when the doors opened on our big day too.

elaine x said...

i would hope the walk was from santa monica to venice beach ... santa barbara to venice might take 2 days to walk! but isn't the santa monica bay/pacific ocean wonderful! i hope the acrobats/trapeez people were out playing for you to enjoy!
peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'
www.funkthis.biz

Anonymous said...

Try :
Eiffel Tower, Paris, at sunset
Venice, early morning

John G. Hartness said...

My wife overlooking the ruins of a Roman theatre in Toarmina, Sicily, with Mt. Etna in the background. Remind me next time you're over, I'll show you the photo.

The Luxor as you fly into Vegas at night doesn't suck, either.

candy said...

I have been waiting to visit Santa Monica... LA.. the beaches out there... California.. for so long now. You make me envious.
:)
~candy

Adam Malone said...

Hi, just stumbled across this blog. It's really good!
I've not been to many places which are that good a sight, but when I was on Duke of Edinburgh, seeing Mount Snowdon at about 4 in the morning, knowing we had to climb it was pretty good.

Me said...

I would love to see a lot of the place you've seen. One of my most favorite places was Donegal, Ireland. All of Ireland is beautiful, but Donegal is beautiful in an unspoiled way.

Another beautiful sight was the way my late father would laugh when I would relay the lunacy of my life to him. Nobody understood me like my old man.

QUASAR9 said...

Yeah, some selection or collection of sights. Love it. Q

Anonymous said...

quonsar- first thing in the morning!

Butterfly Angel said...

Great list ~ any place in Hawaii is fantastic. Have you been to the Volcanos National Park on the Big Island? If not, that is the place to go. Have you been to Carlsbad Caverns ~ another of Mother Nature's majestic beauties!

btw ~ this is for Fritz: the word is "kama'aina" (resident not visitor to the islands) and it is Hanauma Bay. Being a teacher, I can't seem to turn off teacher mode even in the summer. Thanks for reading.

~butterfly angel~

NYC TAXI SHOTS said...

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Mahala said...

I'm heading to Vegas myself this Friday.. can't wait :)

Andrea said...

Good stuff. I just completed a top ten: Simple Pleasures. It took weeks to complete. You should have no prorblem.

the not so "new" mom on the blog said...

Your blogg makes for interesting reading - was in LA and Vegas last year and hopefully will be there again this year - Stunning!

Patti McCracken said...

A few of my own to add:
Shenandoah Valley
Sveti Stefan, Montenegro, on the Mediterranean
Andy's bar on Hubbard Street in Chicago, after hours and everybody's jammin on homegrown Blues.--not a sight, per say, but has the same effect on the soul.
Watching Greg come into the world.
A walk on the Downs in coastal England, where the White Cliffs drop dramatically into the sea.
Any ocean, anywhere

Okay, that's it--thanks for letting me indulge my memories.

Mad Duck said...

Please visit the desert. One of my fondest memories is of Saguaro National Park at sunset outside Tucson. Perfect weather with all of life performing. Also, Canadian Rockies in spring, Zion Nat Park any time, Arches, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, The Badlands.

BTW - I did see a no-hitter. Dennis Martinez's perfect game against the Dodgers in 1991 - one of my fondest memories.

Gregg said...

Thanks for your thoughts. One of my most beautiful experiences has to be wandering aimlessly in Venice Italy!

Natasha said...

When I get money I'd love to travel- you are so lucky! I'd absolutely love to visit Thailand.

I'm starting with Paris this summer!! =)

Melody said...

Such a romantic.

Melody said...

business voodoo: he said Santa Monica

Unknown said...
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Special K said...

I edited out Santa Barbara to read Santa Monica. Thanks to BV.