Travel (Outside of Canada)

It has been said that travel broadens and cultivates the mind. Indeed, I have learned a lot of things from my trips and from the people I met during my travels. I recalled the first time that I had decided to travel outside of my home country. It was a big challenge for me, not only because of the preparation for the trip but also because I had to convince my parents to let me travel alone.

I had chosen to visit Barcelona and Rome for my first trip. The choice of the destination was based on my love for history and art. The first step was to prepare my plans for my stay in those two cities and afterward to present it to my parents to reassure them that I could travel alone without any problems. After getting the approval of my parents, I booked my flights and reserved the hostels where I was going to stay. I prefer hostels because I can meet people from different cultures and make new friends.

The first city was Barcelona, I stayed for 3 days in a famous hostel there, it had a great ambiance and it was located in the downtown area near to popular sights. The first thing that I visited was the Sagrada Familia, it is the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world. It is a piece of art, beautiful to see but very crowded. After that I went to ‘La Rambla’ a famous street there, it offers beverage shops, flowers stands and other attractions. It’s a very animated street all along the day. I also visited the Barcelona Cathedral and Picasso Museum which I fell in love with. I walked to Barceloneta where the beaches are located, it has a charming marina. Finally, I went to Camp Nou, even if I am not a fan of the team, I am a huge fan of football. I did a guided tour which allowed me to know the history of the club.

The second city was Rome, the city of the Roman Empire and the capital of Italy. It has its unique charm, I wished I had stayed longer there. The city looks like an open museum with its beautiful and historical buildings. The first day, I visited some Roman ruins in the city like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Castle Sant’Angelo. The Colosseum was built over 2000 years ago as gift for the Roman people. It’s famous for the gladiatorial Roman battles. It’s also the largest amphitheater ever built. On the other hand, the Pantheon, the temple of the Roman pantheon of gods, is one of the best-known landmarks in Rome. It’s remarkable for its largest dome. Moreover, the Castle Sant’Angelo, which is an eye-catching cylindrical building that was originally built as tomb of Roman Emperor, was converted afterward into a military fortress that protected Rome during the Middle Ages. The second day, I went to the Vatican, where I climbed the tiny stairs (551 steps) to St. Peter’s Basilica’s dome, it had a beautiful view on the top. I also visited the Vatican Museum which has one of the most important art collections in the world. It contains thousands of ancient sculptures and art works. The last day, I went to see the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Spanish steps. In the evening I went shopping in Via del Corso, the most famous shopping street in Rome. In addition to the stunning buildings, the city is famous for its Italian foods, which I loved and their kind people.

In conclusion, it was one of the best trips that I ever planned. The two cities were very secure places to visit, the people were nice, I made new friends, I discovered new cultures and foods, and I learned a lot from other civilizations. This trip made me curious about the world and steer for other voyages.