2014 was a good year; I was a senior in high school, and I had been blessed with the opportunity to travel to Paris and Barcelona with the fourth level French and Spanish classes. I was lucky enough to see some amazing sights (with amazing friends, might I add). As the three year anniversary approaches, I've decided to reminisce my favorite things from the trip.

1. The food

I'm going to start with a definite highlight of venturing to Europe - the fantastic cuisine. From Paris' croque monsieur (which is essentially the fanciest grilled cheese with ham you'll ever find) to Barcelona's paella that is well worth the long walk, there wasn't a single bad meal. Our tour guide even treated us to churros with whipped cream and a hot, chocolate topping.

2. The Mona Lisa

If anyone ever tells you it's tough to get a good photo of Leonardo DaVinci's famous Mona Lisa, they're not kidding. I had to squeeze my way through one hell of a crowd just to get as close as I did. Spoiler alert: regardless of how well-painted this portrait is or all the mystery that surrounds it, it's actually not as large as some people may think. It's just your average-sized painting hung on its own exhibit partition safe behind a thick glass partition.

3. Flamenco Performances

On one of our last nights in Barcelona, our tour group got the chance to attend a Flamenco performance. The dancing was all done by one family, and my friend was actually chosen, well, more like forced by the rest of us, to dance on stage with them. Unfortunately, I don't have the video on my laptop, otherwise I'd definitely include that in this article.

4. The Eiffel Tower

I honestly can't think of anything I've seen that was more beautiful than the Eiffel Tower at night. Our tour group was able to get tickets the second level of the Tower, which provided us with an incredible birds-eye view of the city. A friend and I even found an engraved lock left over from a marriage ceremony. However, just a little tip to any future visitors to the Eiffel Tower: when your friend suggests taking the stairs back down rather than the elevator, don't agree unless you are 100 percent okay with jelly legs any time you try to stand still upon reaching the ground again.

5. La Sagrada Familia

Architect Antoni Gaudi is responsible for many buildings throughout Barcelona. However, none are quite as famous as La Sagrada Familia, due mainly to the church's massive size, countless details, and the fact that it's still incomplete. If the fact that it's still not done doesn't impress you, maybe it will when I mention construction began on March 19, 1882. They hope to have the church fully completed by 2026, just in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. Of course, this can only mean one thing: a reunion trip!