Last year, my high school announced that the Spanish and French department was going to team up for a school trip in April 2025. Usually, the departments’ trips are divided. This time, they were united.
Even as a graduate, I was still offered the ability to attend the trip. I couldn’t turn down a possible once-in-a-lifetime trip!
And before I knew it, April 10 came and I arrived at Dulles International Airport, ready to catch a plane to Europe.
The trip was 10 days, two of which were solely for air travel. Four days were dedicated for France and the other four days were saved for Spain.
If you are interested in going to these countries, here is what I recommend doing.
France
The first place I recommend going to is the Louvre. This museum has artwork that will take 48 hours to look through, ranging from Greek gods to Egyptian statues. The Louvre has a unique style of architecture, with gold sculptures climbing up the walls, along with ceilings filled with paintings and walls embedded with statues. Every corner you turn, you will find more artwork; it is a never-ending museum.
Make sure to see the Mona Lisa! There will be a huge group of people surrounding the painting, but if you keep inching your way through the crowd, you will eventually be at the top of the line, with the perfect view.
Traveller Trip: security here is strict. They want people in and out as quickly as possible. With this being said, make sure you take as many pictures as you can before security decides to shuffle you along.
Not only is the inside worth exploring, but so is the exterior. The style of the building appears almost like a castle, which is very different from U.S museums. In the middle of the museum, you have the triangle, where most of your Pinterest photos and classic tourist Instagram shots can be found.
One of my favorite things I did all trip was take a boat tour through the Seine River. It was relaxing and peaceful, in comparison to all the traveling and walking we did. On this tour, you get to pass the Louvre, the Notre Dame, multiple bridges, and, of course, The Eiffel Tower. Each location gets a special highlight from the tour guide, where the boat then slows down, allowing passengers to snap pictures and take in the view. Pont Marie, one of the bridges you pass by, is known for its tradition of making a wish and kissing your significant other beneath the arches. Come prepared!
Mya Abt, one of the students in the group, shares her experience through the busy city of France.
“If you have always had the dream of wearing heels in Paris like me, there’s an important factor to consider: you have to be willing to sacrifice your comfort for the beauty of the outfit. There’s cobblestone everywhere,” Abt said. “It was so worth it!”
Another one of my favorite things I did on the trip was when we took a train to Les Baux-de-Provence. This area is surrounded by mountains and rocks that offer an amazing view of Southern France’s greenery. I felt like I could touch the sky.
This location also offers a variety of shops and pop-up stands, ranging from jewelry to hand soaps. My favorite store that I came across was a pottery store called Lou Pantaï. This shop offers an endless selection, including handmade jugs, bowls, ceramics, and pitchers. Every piece is designed with numerous fruits and floral patterns. I wanted to purchase everything!
Les Baux-de-Provence is actually one of the areas the Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast” is based off of, which gave this place bonus points!
Spain
First things first, go to La Sagrada Familia. This church is the most beautiful church I have ever seen. It has been in the making since 1882, and is set to be finished by next year, just in time for the 100th year death anniversary of the original creator. Currently, they are working on dedicating a side of the church to Jesus.
The building is made with much detail and creativity, displaying the seven pillars for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as wood carvings of Jesus on the cross.
Anytime you go to an area that has a view of the city, La Sagrada Familia sticks out, as it appears much taller than the other buildings surrounding it.
One of my favorite things I got to do in Spain was walk through Park Güell. This park is not any ordinary park where you catch people running and walking dogs. This park is a small walkway that leads to the perfect view of the entire city. You can find many churches, hotels, houses, and even the cruise port, which was something I found interesting. Most of the buildings within the park are constructed differently than most buildings. It almost looks like they are houses from the Candyland board game!
Next, I recommend taking a bus to Salou, Spain. This beach is perfect for watching the sunset. I have only been to one beach that has the sun set on the ocean, but now I can say I have been to two!
Both nights I was in Salou, I would go to the beach after dinner and sit on the edge of the sidewalk and watch the sun set with the waves crashing. What more could you ask for?
Even though the water was 50 degrees, that did not stop my friends and I from jumping in. The waves were perfect, offering small waves to jump over and larger waves that require you to dive under.
Traveller’s Tip: watch out for the rocks in the middle of the water. Unfortunately, I cut my toes, shin, and knee from a rock because I could not see it. Some rocks are more visible than others, but it is the rocks that are laying right where the waves crash that make it hard to see.
Even with the weather not feeling quite like summer weather, I still got a tan. So, the beach was worth it!
Key Takeaways
Abigail McAleer, a student in the group, shares what she has learned.
“This trip opened my eyes about how different and beautiful the world can be outside of Maryland… I believe everyone needs to experience something like this to gain a new perspective on life,” McAleer said.
Noah Devan, one of three high school graduate students that attended the trip, includes his perspective on the trip.
“From the center of Paris to the southern tip of Spain, there was not a moment in which I wasn’t mesmerized by the beauty of these places,” Devan said. “Being there makes me want to travel and see more, and I will never forget the time spent with the people we went with.”
Timothy Mitchell, a Spanish teacher at Perry Hall High School and one of the teacher’s supervising the trip, discusses his key takeaways from the trip.
“Students not only gain cultural perspectives but independence as well. It is a big deal being away from family,” Mitchell said.
“I would love to work with the French department program again. We collaborated very well. These languages are so similar that many students began to adapt to using both,” Mitchell said.
Regardless of what you decide to partake in when traversing through Europe, you will have an enjoyable and memorable experience— one filled with stories to tell, flavors to savor, and moments that will linger long after your suitcase is empty.
