Last school year, over spring break, I joined twenty fellow FTHS students on a guided tour of the Mediterranean Coast of Italy, France, Spain, and Monaco. To put it simply, the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with beautiful sights, new friends, and a lot of gelato.
Once I got home, my jet-lagged self could only think about all the memories I made in such a short time. After finally getting a full night of sleep, I decided to create a scrapbook of my memories with the help of my friends who also went on the trip. Reaching out, I was able to get multiple accounts of everyone’s favorite experiences.
While all the countries and places we visited were beautiful, my favorite country had to be France, and my favorite place was the famous Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona. France also featured some of my favorite food, including escargot in Nice!
Seeing La Sagrada Familia for the first time is breathtaking. Standing at almost 600 feet, the basilica towers over the city. During our tour of Barcelona, our tour group was able to walk through architect Gaudí’s works including the previously mentioned Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
While the sights and food were all incredible, I am beyond thankful for the incredible friends I made along the way, and the chance to get even closer with friends I already had.
Olivia Perrotta, a Class of 2023 graduated senior from FTHS, said:
“Europe was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever been on. Between going on tours, music and game filled bus rides, laughing till I can’t breathe, and so much more, it’s hard to choose what my favorite part was! But I can confidently say that the friends I made along the way most definitely take the number one spot!”
Leah Bloom, a current senior at FTHS, said:
“Going on the trip was one of the best and most enriching experiences of my life. I loved the feeling of waking up in a different country and seeing the beautiful scenery. Montserrat was definitely my favorite place, but my favorite part was meeting new people along the way!”
Senora Jimenez, one of the trip advisors recalled:
“Our European trip was a wonderful experience. Being with some of my family members, friends and a great group of students made this experience unforgettable. A couple of my favorite memories is discovering the enchanting hilltop villages of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera. We enjoyed walking around the narrow winding cobblestoned streets while admiring the beautiful art galleries, exploring all the local boutiques, confiseries and gourmet restaurants. It was an absolute dream come true!”
I am extremely grateful for this incredible experience and the amazing people that I met along the way. I hope to go back to Europe as soon as possible and would definitely recommend this experience to anyone.