I first started using the internet in 1996, when I started University
and had access to the WWW through the computer lab.  What I found was
a souped up BBS, with graphics, fast loading and access to the entire
world at once.  Being able to move from site to site was unique, as
compared to BBS's where one would have to redial to connect to get to
another BBS.

The web was more about discovery then, with many sites linked to
others, and many sites being unique expressions of that individuals
interests and creativity.  Sure, many of the GeoCities sites and other
such sites were garish, but by the early 2000's web design had
improved.  What I remember most was discovery, finding odd pages, new
information, not knowing what you could find next, or how it would be
presented.

The web today seems somewhat homegenous and "corporate", though you
can get a similar experience of the early internet by visiting
neocities.org or wiby.me.