NHS Student Provides Insight About European Summer Trip

By Andrew Rote

The plane landed in Rome. It did not seem any different than if the plane had landed somewhere in America. The activity in the airport reminded me of New York’s Kennedy Airport.

On the bus ride to the hotel, two things were obvious. The scenery was beautiful and the tourists were exhausted. We all arrived to our hotel, dropped off our bags, and were given time to do whatever we wanted until dinner.

We went to Tre Scalini for lunch, an outdoor restaurant located in St Peter’s Square. I had the best pesto sauce in my life, followed by the best tartufo I will ever have. I found the waiters in Rome to be extremely amiable and comical.

At the nearby Trevi Fountain, visitors guarantee their return to Rome by throwing a coin into the waters. The structure was very impressive and complete with carvings and detailed sculptures.

Leaving the Trevi Fountain, I recalled the many facts I’ve learned about the Coliseum. I had seen many pictures, and learned virtually all there is to know about the historical building. When I saw it for the first time, I was very surprised to see that it was located right in the middle of the city, with a street and building surrounding the structure. I climbed the steep stairs and circled the building’s two levels. It was very quiet and in ruins; however, I tried to imagine what it was like to watch gladiators and other attractions on the floor.

The next day, we went to the Vatican. Along the way, the streets were full of cars, horses, and popular vehicles similar to motorcycles. The drivers were crazy compared to American drivers because they are constantly cutting people off, laying on the horns, and squeezing through spaces that did not seem big enough. Along with the people of the city were thousands of pigeons.

It seemed to take forever to reach our destination, the Sistine Chapel, since we have to walk the entire museum first. I was disappointed with the experience because it was so crowded and noisy, and I was exhausted.

We departed from the Vatican and walked to Alfredo’s to taste their famous fettuccini. On the way, we encountered gypsies, and being forewarned, were careful protecting our belongings. I saw two instances where they got close to stealing the belongings of members of the tour group. Fortunately, we were with an experienced tour guide who caught them in action and stopped them.

The next day, we went to the Ville D’este garden in Tivoli. It was overwhelming. Natural water ran through the entire area. The views were indescribable and even pictures could not capture the beauty it held. One could smell the water against the mossy rocks. There were sculptures and fountains that were larger than life. I was both impressed and covetous, wishing I could look out my window and see it every day.

The next experience was staying overnight on the famous Orient Express. After seeing the train in movies, I was shocked that it hadn’t been modernized in any way. It was extremely hot and the space was very limited. I was very uncomfortable after dressing in the required formal attire.

Dinner was elegant and the food was extraordinary. This was one of the best meals I had ever had. As we ate, we gazed out the window as Italy rushed by. The trip should have only taken two and a half hours; however, the train ran back and forth all night to extend the experience of the passengers.

The train arrived in Florence. After lunch, we went to the Acadamie del ‘Arte, home of Michelangelo’s David. Surrounded by flashing cameras, I approached the sculpture. Though I had seen many pictures before, I was still overwhelmed by how lifelike the work of art was. The veins and muscles showed, displaying the ideal form of the perfect man. It seemed as if the statue was about to step off of the podium and walk away.

We boarded the Orient Express for the final time and arrived in Venice. To me, it was the highlight of the entire trip. The whole city is a work of art. It was characterized by canals, small squares, and the most obvious trait being the lack of motor-traffic. The atmosphere was serene except for the occasional sound of a boat passing by. The best view of the city is found looking off of the Realto Bridge where we spent the rest of the afternoon.

An Encounter With Pigeons

In nearby St Mark’s Square, tourists were given the opportunity to purchase birdseeds and feed the pigeons. After spilling the seeds all over me, dozens of pigeons attacked my arms and the ground I walked on. It tickled even though I left with countless scratches.

The gondola ride allowed us to see the city from a different angle. I could smell the saltwater and taste the salty air. We passed under bridges and thin canals. That evening, we were treated to dinner in a small, charming restaurant. A band played Italian songs and the tour guide sang along, enjoying the evening.

We took a water taxi to Stresa, one of Italy’s finest resorts located on Lake Maggiore. We relaxed in the city, marked by lakeside villas, beautiful scenery, winding streets, and friendly people.

The next day we took a train to Montreux, Switzerland. The train had glass sides, allowing us to see the beautiful scenery while passing through the Alps. We visited the Chillon Castle, which was an interesting site on the water. We had lunch and ate berries and crème, and enjoyed staying at a hotel in small-town Gstaad. The next morning we were awakened at 4:00 to the sound of bells. Looking out of my window, I saw a group of cows walking through the streets and realized the sound was coming from the huge bells around their necks.

We took the Bullet Train to Paris, France, and toured the Louvre. This museum contained some of the most famous pieces of art in the world. In every room, the paintings were exposed and visitors were allowed to take pictures with their flashes wherever they wanted to. As I neared DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, however, it was very different. The work was covered by glass and could not be approached. The crowd was forced to stand back, as I had a tough time getting through to glance at the famous portrait. Unfortunately, it was too crowded to walk in front of the painting and watch her eyes “follow” me.

In my freshman year at high school, I learned a great deal about Versailles in my Modern European History class. The palace was large and covered with gold. The inside was even more breathtaking than the outside. The countless rooms were filled with artwork and more gold imaginable. The view from each room was more amazing than the room before.

The Hall of Mirrors was outstanding. It seemed like it was an endless path of mirrors, many of which were doorways to private rooms. There were countless chandeliers, gold statues, and works of art in the hallway as well. The garden was impressive as well with its assortment of trees in various shapes and sizes.

The City Of Light

The four of us took two taxis to the Eiffel Tower because few drivers will take more than three passengers at a time. Once we arrived, we waited in line for tickets to the top level. The elevator ride was unbelievable. My ears kept clogging the whole way up. Once it stopped, I couldn’t believe how high up we were. Then I realized we were not even half way to the top. When it finally stopped, I got out of the elevator at the highest point and watched the sunset at a little after 10:00 pm.

The view was incredible. To see the whole city of Paris was remarkable. I will never forget the feeling I got looking at the “City of Light” from this height.

After getting some much-needed sleep, we visited Notre Dame. The cathedral was very big and packed with tourists. I was looking forward to seeing the Rose Window since I had learned about that and other features of the cathedral in school. After seeing so many pictures, it was interesting to see Notre Dame in person.

We left and walked down Champs Elysées and enjoyed the quaint shops and restaurants. On the way back to the hotel, we saw the Eiffel Tower lit up, with flashing lights celebrating the millennium New Year.

Our final destination was London. We took the Chunnel Eurostar Train out of France and into England. That evening, we had time to take in a show at St Martin’s Theatre in London’s West End. We saw Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. I enjoyed the performance, which reminded me of shows on Broadway.

On the morning of our final day, we went to Buckingham Palace to witness the changing of the guards. The only thing I can compare it to is a parade, because there was music and a line of soldiers.

We took the underground (train) to the Tower of London. We started out with the tour led by a humorous guide. Shortly after, we left and went on to see the crown jewels. I saw the biggest diamonds I have ever imagined along with many other precious jewels.

Harrod’s, the largest department store I have ever seen, carried everything from furniture to food, to games, to live animals. This was like a toy store for everyone, from kids to adults.

That night, we had a farewell dinner at the hotel. I realized that the tour group had become very close and I would miss a lot of the people I met. We went back to the room and packed for our trip home.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that few people get the chance to have. I feel very fortunate that I was one of them.

After learning about these places, it was a great opportunity to see them face-to-face. I know that in the future I will be better able to understand other countries and cultures because I had the opportunity to live them.

(Andrew Rote, a junior at Newtown High School, is the sports editor of The Hawkeye, the school newspaper. He traveled in Europe this summer with his grandparents and his brother, Alex.)