What has exceeded your expectations

[DenisetheMenace]

On the back of another thread, what has exceeded your expectations.

If I may, I’ll kick off with The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Fagans Museum, Tokyo, Michelangelo’s David, Tintagel and Porthminster Beach Cafe in St. Ives.

@LunaNorth I want to move near you, it sounds lush! Infact we are looking to move out of London, would you mind sharing your town please!?

San Juan, Puerto Rico. We only went there because it's where our cruise was sailing from, but it's a stunning place and by far my favourite in the Caribbean.

Also the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which is absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Oh, and the tik tok dressing gown belt curl thing

Halo top (low cal) ice cream
Co op margarita pizza
First date with my current boyfriend
Those clippy/braces things you out on the corner of your bed sheets to stop them wrinkling
Quitting smoking

Waitrose

Also The Mining Museum at Wakefield - so much more fun than it sounds. And Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I thought the latter would be pretty good, but it immediately became one of my absolute favourites.

Both local favourites here. My city snob sister had to eat humble pie after I took her to YSP. In her words she thought it was going to be “a bit shit really”. So I parked deliberately where I knew she’d have Barbara Hepworths in her face as soon as we started walking. She did her A level Art project on Barabara Hepworth. We’re not artists, but we have our family name on the “Walk of Art 2”.

Yesterday 21:25 ZednotZee

Waitrose“

Interesting. I was underwhelmed and liked Booths much more.

Love Aldi though 😁

@jeanlouisefinch we also went to Buxton yesterday and it exceeded my expectations (both weather- and park-wise) - I hadn't been in the past year and had forgotten how nice it is!

[quote QueenOfCakeandCoffee]@LunaNorth I want to move near you, it sounds lush! Infact we are looking to move out of London, would you mind sharing your town please!?[/quote]
Have pm’d you.

Motherhood generally - having children close in age - having teenagers and owning cats.

Pembroke castle - one of the best days out we ever had - free tour around and then meal at pub next to castle and moat.

Bath Roman baths - that was fantastic.

Going back as an adult to Tenby and Black Country Musuem with extra canal trip -went to both as a kid a lot and though it might be rose tinted glasses.

York - we only spent a day but train Musuem and York Minster were good and would have loved to spend more time at both and hope to go back.

First trip to Butlins - actually maybe more family holidays in general - everyone and their dog told us we would hate it but it was last minute deal after a horrific few years and first holdiay since DD1 was born - was great tiring but great - did few years after that and felt done with the place when we stopped.

Northern Ireland
Cleethorpes
Alaska

Sons of Anarchy
Download festival

I really liked Gibraltar when I went, for some reason I thought it wouldn’t be very nice there.

Lidl chocolate brownies in the bakery bit of the shop.
Iguassa Falls, people said go there but it wasn’t until I arrived I thought oh yes these are really worth a visit.

Being divorced.

I split from exh 5 years ago in a relatively amicable way and it's bloody lovely. Not in a god-my-ex-was-such-a-wanker-I'm-so-glad-I'm-rid way either- whilst he wasn't a great husband for me he isn't a bad person. It's more that I was so scared of not being in a couple and terrified about my future but now I'm in it I am so happy :)

Totally exceeded my expectations.

Oh that’s interesting about Gibraltar. I’d never have considered it for a holiday but rumours they’ll be on the green list so could be a good option this summer

A bit hard to understand maybe, but being on Entyvio for my ulcerative colitis. For the first time in decades I can eat kale, cos lettuce, spinach, and all the other foods I had to avoid. Awesome.

Being a police officer.

Being a step mum.

Santa Monica.

Wales.

Starling bank

It's changed my whole approach to money, saving, managing it's been life changing.

I need to look up these amazing places and ice creams!

For those that loved The lost gardens of Heligan you must go to Trebar gardens near Truro

It’s even better and has a private beach.

@RaskolnikovsGarret

Has anyone else been to Brunei btw? I’d be interested in their view?

I used to live there as a child. Beautiful and weird in equal measure

Moving abroad. We moved to escape Brexit initially but I'm so impressed with the way we as immigrants are accepted , helped , integrated and the press! It's honest and fact based. So alien to the UK

The view from Ravello in Italy looking out to sea
The Andes
Animals on Galapagos

Machu Picchu - quite a few friends had been so I'd seen lots of photos & thought it might have been underwhelming when I got there.
Got in as the cloud was lifting and it took my breath away.

Salt flats in Bolivia - wasn't planning in going but was glad I switched my travel plans round to go on a tour.

Tasmania - took the place of my friends sister who couldn't make it. Absolutely amazing Bush walks, hobart & Bruny Island.

The V&A museum in London,
Camden Town (I love it there!)
Pitt rivers museum in Oxford
Big tasty burger at McDonald’s

Lapland it really was as magical as the photos, DH and me would love to go back.
The Maldives,
The Grand canyon.

Schitts Creek
Having a dog
Birmingham
Disney World
Lapland
Camping
Primark mascara