Europe Tour

Europe Tour

Going to Europe has always been a dream of mine and when the opportunity presented itself to go with my Spanish teacher, I was the first to sign up. I admit, I had an unforgettable time, but it wasn't always fun and games. Leaving the United States was more than a European cross country trip with my buddies. It was the thought of experiencing a completely different culture from my own, making new friends, and leaving the comfort of my parents' protection. I never thought it would all lead to self-discovery.

I was so excited that I took pictures of everything and anything, including the weird toilets. The first thing that hit me when I stepped outside was the piercing cold wind that immediately gripped my very being and made me shiver down to the pit of my stomach. The second thing was how odd it was that they drove on the opposite side of the road. We spent a good half hour waiting for the arrival of our bus and when it finally came no one was happier than me to sit someplace warm. That early morning we had our first bus tour and met the tour guide who would later escort us through all six countries as well as the gentlewoman who would be presenting London to us on a grander scale. It's sad to say I didn't pay attention to the tour, partly because of the jetlag and partly because the woman speaking was odiously boring.

After two long hours on the bus we arrived at our hotel. My sister and I were roomed together along with my Spanish teacher's daughter, Helena; we immediately became the best of friends. The room was nothing more than two queen-sized beds placed side by side, a small bathroom, and a miniature television set that only picked up the weather channels. Once we dropped off our bags, we didn't have much time to dwell on our rooms and how crummy they really were; it was time for our next tour and this time it was led by Johnny, our tour guide for the next two weeks.

The following fourteen days were all about getting acquainted with the six cities and their cultures. All of the tours were about visiting museums, cathedrals and famous monuments. The museums told the historical backgrounds of each city through the eyes of every painter and sculptor that ever lived. The cathedrals would give anyone chills up and down their spines and make their breath catch in their throats at the sight of the intricate details on the stained glass and the elaborate carvings with gold paint that lined the walls. The sound of the melodious organ pipes would reverberate throughout the entire church; the sound waves bouncing off the walls and disappearing into the thin air.

Aside from experiencing the culture through the historical artifacts kept under close watch, I was also able to experience it through the everyday actions of the locals. In England, we traveled from one ...