Crystal blue seas, colorful architecture, juxtaposed historical and contemporary sights, and nutella. That basically sums up my trip to Europe in a nutshell. And for all the Coldplay fanatics, it was truly the “Adventure of a Lifetime”. From my personal account of the trip’s itinerary, I hope you would understand why this trip is worth raving about. Here it is:
Overview: I tackled five countries in nine days: Germany, Italy, France, Monaco, and Spain. I’ll discuss 3 out of the 5.
Cinque Terre, Italy: Ciao,Grazie, no parlo italiano( I do not speak Italian), were my go-to phrases, and the third one was especially effective. It was so nostalgic traveling back to Italy because it was only a few years ago where I visited the colossal Colosseum and wandered through the great outdoor museum that is Rome. However, EF tours had a different plan and sent my group to five quaint, but breathtaking towns of Cinque Terre. I spent my time exceeding camera storage on my phone, savoring the tranquil waters of the Mediterranean, and playing soccer by the beach. What really made my travels in Italy even more special was the peace and serenity in every town(no tourists), which allowed our group to cover everything Cinque Terre had to offer.
Nice, France: Bonjour! Merci! Yes, I continued my touristy temperament. What was my favorite moment in France? The crepes? The Baguettes and all its carbs? The Eiffel Tower? Hands down a confetti fight. In Nice, one of the largest cities in France, I attended Bataille De Fleurs, a parade celebrating the abundance of the locally grown flowers. The whimsical floats and acts in the parade are comparable to the Thanksgiving Macy’s day parade. I was in awe of all the well-crafted, bigger than life objects strolling down the cobbled streets of France. However, this was no “sit there and watch” type of day as there were several bags of the confetti and silly string for the spectators who wanted to have some fun. My friends and I had our own confetti/silly string battle with the locals, and it was epic to say the least. This quintessential parade was one to remember.
Barcelona, Spain: The last stop on the trip! Although exhausted after eight hours of travel from France to Spain, my fatigue evaporated immediately as I roamed through the magnificent city of Barcelona. From my perspective, Barcelona is a mesh of New York, California, and Medford’s neighboring glamorous city, Boston. The seaside area was filled with palm trees, extensive beaches, runners, rollerbladers, street vendors, sand castle builders, volleyball fanatics, and overall just jubilant people, which brought back memories of the happy and laid-back vibe I felt in Southern California. How is Barcelona similar to Boston?! Both are trendy, lively, youthful, and will never bore you. However, Barcelona is more than a combination of different cities as it is home of Gaudi’s mosaic styled park and the projected eighteen 500 ft towers that encapsulates the church La Sagrada Familia. Overall, I had a blast during my two days in Barcelona, but going back for more exploring is definitely on my bucket list.
Ok, you may be wondering the reasoning for retelling my trip to Europe all the way back in February. In spirit of fellow seniors solidifying college decisions, I wanted to share my story and express how excited I am to take advantage of all the study abroad opportunities at Tufts. China, Ghana, Paris,and Germany are just a few of the many destinations anyone could study. Also, with the emphasis of learning foreign languages at Tufts, those who study abroad will be able to effectively immerse themselves in a different culture for a full semester. After just nine days of travel hopping from one place to the next, my mind felt enriched by the various cultures and activities unique to Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, and Germany. For those still deciding, I really hope you consider Tufts and its study abroad program, which will facilitate a semester abroad that you will remember forever. Thanks for reading!