by Tyra Gwalthney
“You’re Invited!” Two words many youths read on scam letters, college requests, or birthday invites. They are two words I am very familiar with; but this time, these words meant so much more to me. An art teacher at my high school decided to embark on an adventure across the world: she invited around 45 students to take a 9-day trip to explore Southern Italy. Initially, I never dreamed my parents would consider it, with college slowly coming on the horizon. My mother, I thought, would immediately scoff at the letter, tell me to be realistic, and proceed to throw my dreams into the trash. Instead, she carefully read the letter, and said, “Let’s go to the meeting.” It did not take much convincing at all to get her to let me go, which I later found out was because she herself went on an international trip when she was in middle school/early high school. She wanted me to have the same opportunities she was given, so in late June of the summer of 2016, with my two best friends at my side, I ventured off into the great unknown.
(This picture was taken while in-route to Italy: these are the Swiss Alps)
After a grueling journey of no sleep and many flights, we finally arrived in Milan, Italy! We then had to endure a five-hour bus ride to our hotel, which was right on Jesolo Beach. From there, we went on our first journey: to tour the island of Venice.
(Taken in Venice, on a gondola)
Here, we enjoyed gondola rides, narrow streets rich with history, and our first taste of the most delicious dessert: gelato.
From here, we then traveled to Florence.
(Here is the Duomo di Firenze, located in Florence.)
In Florence, my friends and I hiked up quite a large mountain in order to see the magnificent view atop the Piazzale Michelangelo. Here, you can see the entire city of Florence.
(A panorama taken atop the Piazzale Michelangelo of Florence)
The next major stop was in the province of La Spezia, in a town called Porto Venere. Here, we got to see breathtaking cliffs, swim in the Mediterranean sea, and of course, eat more gelato!
(A large cliff in Porto Venere)
From there, we traveled to, in my opinion, the most beautiful spot yet: the islands of Cinque Terre.
(Manarola, one of the islands of Cinque Terre… also, my desktop background)
Finally, we drove to Lake Como, a gorgeous lake where stars such as George Clooney own land and movies such as Star Wars shoot their films.
(One of the many homes on Lake Como)
Before we began our journey home, we stayed in a small hotel tucked away in a small village; where jumping- or swimming, more likely- across water would get you to Switzerland. Here, my friends and I got to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. All in all, it was the perfect way to end this unforgettable trip.
(A sunset over Switzerland)