EUROPE: FIRST STEPS WITH A SURPRISE VISIT
Hugging your mother after six months on the road and five continents is one of the best feelings a human can feel. My dad right in line behind her. The people that raised you and held you through life’s hardships, here cheering you on along the most daring journey of your life so far. Proud of you for going after big goals and being brave enough to capture your deepest dreams.
After many disappointments and failures in the years of my youth, having my parents there, watching me forge my own path through this world and reaching towards my full potential, is an indescribable feeling. One I will surely cherish.
I’ve already spent about one year in Europe, so I’m comfortable with cultural norms and have embraced the beauty of it all. Meanwhile, this is my parents’ first time in Europe! So I was excited to show them the ropes and re-experience Europe for the first time through their eyes.
We started in Valencia, Spain, where, by unexpected surprise, we were there for the tail end of Fallas. A celebration of spring was reaching its crescendo. The tradition started centuries ago with people taking old furniture and building sculptures out of them. They would then burn the structures to symbolize spring cleaning. Today, this tradition has evolved into building exquisite works of art out of paper and plaster—some of them as tall as ten meters! They then go through voting, and the winner is saved from the flames while the rest burn.
We were fortunate to arrive right in time for the burning of these structures. They were sprawled across the city, in squares and major intersections, being burned right where they stood. The night of the burning, the city erupted with incredibly loud fireworks, everywhere from dense squares to narrow alleys. They lasted all day and night, and around 10:00 p.m., all the losing statues were set ablaze. The city was full of celebrations into the morning.
At first, my parents were amazed by the old buildings, and I told them, “Just wait for Rome,” our next destination.
The first few days in Italy, we experienced much of the rich culture, enjoying the hospitality, cuisine, and old history. We noticed a difference in the quality of food—not just in taste or presentation, but in how we felt after a big meal. Sometimes, one feels sluggish, tired, and overly full after eating lots of carbohydrates and foods with many ingredients. However, in most places throughout Europe, a lack of processed foods, preservatives, and pesticides equates to better quality ingredients and fewer toxins in the food supply. So we pleasantly enjoyed still feeling relaxed and energetic after delicious pastas, pizzas, and meats!
The rich history of the Roman Empire, my dad and I enjoyed by learning when the buildings were built—especially in comparison to how recent the majority of Canada has been constructed. It truly is a feeling that needs to be experienced to understand—when you stand under a 2,000-year-old archway and think about how many people have walked through it, how much those stones have seen over the centuries and millennia.
My mom fell in love with the walking culture and the preparation process of foods with simple ingredients that still taste amazing!
We finished our travels in Italy with visits to Florence and Lake Como. The cathedral in Florence was a masterpiece to witness, and with a climb of the neighboring tower, we gained a great sight of the city. Lake Como’s beautiful fresh water and proud mountains running straight down to the shoreline were exactly what we needed after spending several days in sprawling cities.
Having our fill of Italy, we hopped on a train to our final destination: Switzerland. We chose Zurich, as it was a great place to catch trains. I would continue on to Austria, while my parents would head to Paris and catch a flight back home.
While exploring our final city together, my parents expressed how much they appreciated my navigation skills, making it super easy to get from one city to the next while enjoying the best the cities had to offer. They mentioned they would’ve been lost without me and how much they enjoyed having a private tour guide! It was my pleasure helping them travel through Europe for the first time. I was happy to be a guide in exchange for nice restaurants and fancy Airbnbs—as opposed to 12-bed hostels and budget burritos!!!
Then the moment finally came to get our final hugs in and say our goodbyes. With teary eyes, we reflected on the best moments together and shared mutual excitement at me arriving safely home in the summertime. A parent’s love and support is truly the best thing a child can receive. While I am grown up now, nothing will ever match my mother’s love paired with my father’s support and guidance. The best gift I could receive from them. It was greatly reflected through our time spent in Europe together—an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Stay tuned for my coming blogs on travels through Central Europe and Scandinavia!
RISE TO UNITE!!!!!!
