h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I took a 35 hour trip from Mainz, Germany to Giverny, France and back during one of my layovers. Great experience. I've often said that on any trip (journey) there will be moments of wonder--imprinted images or sounds that I'll never forget. These moments, in my experience, have mostly been airborne observations of nature or science at work but this time they weren't.

Traveling along the Rhein by train: The sky was overcast with low fast moving clouds (called skud by pilots) and everything was vivid green, grey, or blue with thousand foot mountains surrounding the valley. Then, off in the distance, I saw a speck that formed itself into a bright red and yellow biplane making its way up the river. An open cockpit biplane. What would it be like to be that pilot at that moment? Picture perfect.

Monets Garden in Giverney: A wooden bridge over a five foot wide stream or creek surrounded by a freshly rained on bamboo thicket. Silent as nature can be and peaceful.