After the program ended, I stayed in Europe to travel to Italy. I decided to travel solo, which was a big deal considering I had hardly traveled before this trip. I was very smart about everything, though, and ran into no major problems. I first traveled to Nice, in order to get closer to Italy without having to travel for an insane amount of time in one day. I stayed there for one night and then took Flix Bus to Florence. I spent 5 nights in Florence before taking the train to Cinque Terre. In Cinque Terre, I stayed in the town of Riomaggiore for two nights. From there I went to Milan. During my time in Milan I went to Lake Como for a day to do some hiking with a local guide. I flew home from Milan’s airport. I spent ten days total in Italy and I think that this was a perfect amount of time to be traveling alone for. I stayed in hostels and was able to meet interesting travelers from all around the world.
Because I was constantly around my friends in France, the alone time that I got in Italy allowed me to reflect on the past month and all of the experiences that I had had. My time in France was the most inspiring of my life. I had always only dreamed about traveling and being able to see the things that I saw during my month there.
At the beginning of the month, I was able to go to Paris. There, I saw the Eiffel tower, a landmark that is representative of Paris and Parisian culture. I saw the Mona Lisa while touring the Louvre. I went to Nice and swam in the clear Mediterranean salt water. I went to Monaco and saw the luxurious Monte-Carlo casino. I ate delicious baguettes and cheeses, and drank amazing wine. My first day in Italy, I saw Michelangelo’s David in Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence. I went on to eat pesto in the region that it was invented, Liguria, and see breathtaking views of Lake Como.
Seeing and experiencing places that I had never seen before was inspiring because it opened up my mind to new possibilities. After my first summer of traveling, I am excited to explore even more of what the world has to offer.
