Always Moving

Introduction: Wow, has summer flown by. I feel like I'm almost restarting the story, yet instead find myself trying to figure out the words to wrap the semester up. This summer has been hectic, and I find myself forgetting to slow down, take a step back, and catch my breath. My mind has been so focused on other things since being back in Tampa, and the memories from Europe feel to be slowly fading as Tampa begins to return to the fast paced, constantly on the go city that has become my second home during the past 3 years. I made a promise after my last post to continue writing about my European experience until I had made it through the entire trip, but was engulfed in work and school while trying to fix in some fun ever since my return. I have failed to live up to that promise, but have a new mindset going forward as I finally have a few weeks off before starting up my senior year of college. The only thing that has felt quicker than this summer has been my college experience as a whole. Moving into Morsani Hall freshman year feels like yesterday, and taking time to reset has never felt more important to me. I know it's cheesy, but I guess Ferris Bueller was right. "Life moves pretty fast, and if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

My new apartment has a balcony that offers a beautiful sunset view every night of the week that I've began fully utilizing. I haven't missed a sunset in 2 weeks. I found a film shop downtown that was able to help me ease into the switch from an automatic camera to a film camera and have since photographed spots in Tampa I had yet to know existed during my previous 3 years. Although my time back in the US seems to be one big blur that has all blended together, I'm beginning to fall back into a system that reminds me to sometimes take that step back. Not to mention I couldn't be more excited to see my best friends for the first time since my departure from Tampa last December. We have lots of time, memories, and stories to make up for as we approach our final year and prepare for the next chapter of our lives.

With all of that being said, let's revisit the final destinations from my semester abroad and life changing experience. From meeting up with one of my best friends in Switzerland, exploring the Greek Islands on sunset catamaran rides, and traveling through 3 beautiful countries with my parents, the last few weeks did not disappoint as the inevitable end began to set in. At this moment, I was still on travel time, and didn't worry about the next day or following week. I took in every moment enjoying all the beauty our world has to offer.

Switzerland: I don't know what the future holds for my life, but I'm certain I'll make my way back to Switzerland one day. Being the only European country I had been to in my life prior to this trip, Switzerland once again did not fail to amaze me. This was a unique trip as I got to stay with some old family friends who we had fallen out of contact with, giving us the opportunity to rekindle a type friendship that is hard to find. Along with this, one of my best buddies from back home, Phil, made the long flight out to take in some cultural shock for himself. The 4 day itinerary was stacked, and all I had to do was get there. The travel should have been easy, but unexpected delays were becoming more relevant as Europes tourist season was starting to pick up. Without notice, I arrived at the Florence terminal to find my train to Bologna, along with 15 other trains, had been cancelled due to a derailing a few miles outside the city. Bologna is a 40 minute train ride from Florence, and my direct train for Zurich departed in an hour and a half which gave me little to no time to wait. A taxi was out of the question because it's a 2 hour drive, so my only option was finding another train. I was lucky enough to sneak onto the one train departing to Venice, whose first stop goes through Bologna. Hope was at an all time high, but I knew it was a race against the clock. One thing I definitely learned during my time in Europe is that trains leave on scheduled time unless they're delayed. I stepped foot off train #1 in Bologna at 1:29pm on track 2 and my direct route to Switzerland left at 1:30pm on track 12, giving me 1 minute to make it from end to end. Maybe it's cause my shoes weren't tied or my 100M middle school record sprint wasn't in me anymore, but I didn't make it. As i approached the track, I could see the last few cars of the train turning the corner at the end of the track, leaving me stuck to sit on a 3 hour regionale to Milan where I would have to catch a new connecting train. Although there were delays, the 9 hour travel day was worth it when I stepped of the train in Zurich.

Day one started with a bright and early wakeup and 2 hour car ride to Lucerne, a beautiful city south of Zurich surrounded by the Swiss Alps and Lake Lucerne. There was heavy rains the day prior which left a thick cloud coverage hovering over the lake which prevented us from seeing the views of the mountains from the bottom. We took a ferry through the lake before being dropped off at cable cars which would take us up to the top of Mt. Pilatus. From the top, snow topped alps covered the horizon for as far as one could see. There aren't many words to describe the sights seen from the top. The cloud covered sky that blocked the sun from reaching the city was far below me now, and the sun touched the peak of every surrounding mountain. A floating sensation rushed through my body. After taking it all in, me made our way back down the mountain to the city to grab a bite before making the trip back. A bucket list item was crossed of the list on day 2 after playing 18 holes at Golfclub Erlen. A stunning green, all walking course introduced obstacles I've never had to play. I ended up playing the worst round of my life, but it was an experience I'll never forget. That night gave me my first opportunity to experience Swiss nightlife. Phil was feeling the jet lag, so I tagged along with my friend from Switzerland, Jason, and some of his buddies to soak in the Zurich nightlife. Considering the fact we got home at 6am, it's safe to say it was a fun night. Our 3rd and final day took use to the Lindt House of Chocolate for a factory tour and tasting. I avoided the actual chocolate at all costs, but enjoyed plenty of white chocolate throughout the tour. From the greenest fields filled with sounds of clanking cowbells to the snow covered peaks scattered throughout the country, Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I look forward to traveling back to see our friends from the other side of the world.

Greece: If we rewind 3 years, my original Greece trip should have taken place, but I wouldn't have traded the delay for anything. It was my senior year of high school and winterim was right around the corner. Students in high school would draw a number out of a bag which would be used as priority numbers to apply for a trip the 2 weeks before spring break with other class members. My junior year, I was lucky enough to go to Kauai'i for a service trip, but this year we were seniors which meant we had the best chance at getting the top trips. That year there were trips to the Bahamas, London and. Greece. The best number you could pull is 0, which Phil got of course. Nervous, I walked up next, placed my hand in the bag, and opened the little sticky note to reveal the number 3. I was going to Greece. After a few weeks of preparation, we finally finished our pre departure work and were scheduled to be leaving from the airport 48 hours later. It was this Friday afternoon that we were made aware of the school closures coming, evidently ending our senior year before we got to experience the true effect. When I was in Florence deciding where my last group trip would be, there was no hesitation. I booked a flight to Santorini with a transfer 2 days after arrival to Mykonos with the full intention of getting my senior year back.

Greece was incredible. It was more than just the picturesque, white colored towns. It introduced a different side of European history as well as new foods, cultures, and islanders. Phil and I met everyone in Santorini a day later, where we stayed in an all white villa buried in the heart of Santorini providing views of the ocean from a built in deck hot tub. Our first day brought us through a quick site seeing tour of the town before hoping on an afternoon catamaran that would take us around the island through the sunset. Besides loosing my Westchester Country Club hat on the boat (sorry Phil), I had one of the best days of my life. It's not everyday you get to sail for 8 hours around the Greek islands with your best friends. We enjoyed freshly cooked Greek cuisine, native beers, and plenty of swimming in the high sulfuric water. The ride ended with catamarans scattered across the island coming together to enjoy a beautiful sunset in the middle of the Mediterranean. The following day, we took a 2 hour ferry from Santorini to Mykonos where we would spend the next 2 nights. To this day when people ask what my favorite place was, Mykonos is one of the first destinations to exit my mouth. It could be referred to as the party capital of Greece, but I compare it to Barcelona as one of the party capitals of the world. The nights in Mykonos never ended. Restaurants turned into clubs after hours, bars turned into clubs, and the streets were filled throughout all hours of the night. Our time in Mykonos was spent exploring downtown, fresh seafood meals, and relaxing at Paradise Beach Club on the southern shore. Our final night brought all of us together to watch the sunset over the mediterranean from a lighthouse high up in the Mykonos hills. I remember getting a little teary as the sun began to dip below the horizon, signifying the end to a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was a bittersweet moment, but it gave me time to look back at what I had learned, experienced, and the growth incurred during my time in Europe. The following day, it was time to return to Florence for my final week of school before my parents arrived to create memories of our own.

Vienna and Prague: My departure week from Florence had finally arrived, and to be honest, I was ready. I was tired, filled with mixed emotions, and needed some time to settle down. The thought of the semester being over didn't feel real, but knew I still had a couple destinations left before making my way back to Colorado. I was so excited to see my parents and introduce them to my home for the semester. They arrived in Naples a week earlier where they enjoyed reliving their honeymoon in Amalfi for a week before journeying through Tuscany and up to Florence. Once they arrived in Florence, I made sure to provide them what Florence had so graciously provided me for the previous 4 months. Memories and experience. Together, we enjoyed plenty of Pino's sandwiches, a sunset from Piazza Michaelangelo, happy hour drinks at View on Art overlooking the Duomo, and countless Italian meals from my favorite restaurants scattered throughout the city. It was fun traveling with my friends, but nothing will beat the memories of traveling the world with my mom and dad. After a few days in Florence, I made my final goodbyes as we all began returning home to different regions scattered across the US, while my parents and I made our way to Vienna, Austria for destination #1.

Our friends from Switzerland met up with us Vienna which made the trip extra special. Although it rained the entire time, Vienna still had plenty to offer and see. Vienna is built on royalty, history, and pure appreciation for the city by the people. We visited the heart of the city where St. Stephens Cathedral sat overlooking the city. Meals consisted of Austrian inspired dishes, wienerschnitzel, and beer. Nothing to complain about in my opinion. The following day, we took a visit to the opera house to learn about the extensive history of musical entertainment in Austria. It was truly an incredible sight to see. Vienna was filled with lots of walking and exploring before one final night out with Jason to an Austrian club with some natives that we met at a bar earlier in the night. Next stop was Prague, which was my favorite city of the two. A city filled with beautiful architecture, the citizens were the nicest people I met during my time abroad. Our time was spent walking over St. Charles bridge at sunset, exploring the Prague castle, beer gardens, the John Lennon Wall, and a special visit to the Czech hockey hall of fame with my dad to witness the impact Czech hockey has had on the international committee. One of the coolest experiences during my time in Europe.

Conclusion: Life is crazy, and I feel blessed to have received this opportunity of a lifetime. Before my departure, I like to say I knew what to expect, but the events and trips that unfolded throughout the semester blew those original expectations out of the water. I had a travel high the moment I touched down in Rome 16 weeks prior, and can confidently say I left Europe with no regrets, but rather memories and stories that I'll share and cherish for the rest of my life. Europe taught me life lessons that I wouldn't have learned in a classroom. I grew independently as a person, learning to enjoy some solo time allowing me to reflect and reset, clearing my mind and giving me a different outlook on life as a whole. I made friendships that will last forever, sharing these special memories with them and showcasing what the future has in store. I developed a new hobby in photography, as I find it to be a new form of therapy for me. Finding the perfect picture in places that can't be seen by the naked eye. I traveled to the other side of the world solo, proving to myself that there's so much untapped potential for the years ahead. Most importantly, I grew as a person, adapting to change and different cultures, breaking out of my comfort zone, and saying yes as much as possible taking advantage of every opportunity life throws my way. For this I thank Europe and traveling, as none of this would have been possible without my experiences along the way.