Traveling is something so special, and for me, one of my favorite things to take part in. I find traveling rejuvenating, exciting, and extremely educational. As a current college student, I can say that, without a doubt, traveling allows for so much more exploration, education, and adventures than a normal classroom can render.
I firmly believe that traveling is the most valuable form of education and through it one can foster ideas of culture, awareness, and sensibility and direction. Recently, for Thanksgiving Break, I traveled to Denmark, Sweden, and Italy. This European Excursion was one of the most wonderful experiences I have had in my traveling thus far, and shaped my experiences on both the world and the Nordic and Italian cultures.
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November 23rd
After Copenhagen, we traveled on the train to Malmo, Sweden. The train ride was calming and beautiful as we crossed the sea to enter into Sweden. Even though the ride was short, crossing country borders yielded such a different experience. The Swedish culture was fun, exciting, and beautiful to witness firsthand. Everything from the cuisine to currency changed as we reveled in the sights and sounds of Malmo.
Once we arrived, we spent the afternoon shopping and exploring the city center. The architecture was beautiful and exhibited old world charm. The shops were eclectic and quirky. In many, we looked at home goods that exhibited Swedish charm. From cutting boards to post cards, Malmo offered so many fun experiences that only could be found in Sweden.
After shopping, we decided to find great Swedish cuisine. We scoured around Malmo and ended up in a small pub. After settling in, we were given Swedish meatballs with gravy and mashed potatoes. The meatballs were probably some of the best meatballs I have ever had in my life. The consistency was superb and the mashed potatoes were divine.
Overall, Malmo was an incredible experience. From the tiny shops to the wonderful cuisine, all of us enjoyed the experience, and we were so glad that we made the short trip up to Sweden.
November 24th
After figuring out additional plans, I decided to part ways with my friends and jet off to Rome, Italy. I thought to myself that this was an experience of a lifetime and one that needed to be taken "by the horns", so to speak. I left Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport and embarked towards Italy.
Once arriving in Italy, I felt the Italian culture soak into veins. I had longed to visit Italy after discovering my heritage and learning how much Italian blood I really had in me.
After arriving in the city center, I knew that I had picked the right destination. I instantly fell in love with the sights, the smells, and the food. The culture was so vibrant and the city so sprawling. As I discovered more of Rome, I could not believe how much history was still alive and how much was being recovered. Witnessing the archaeological sights first hand was breathtaking. I had no idea how much living history was instilled in Rome and what a profound impact it has on its people to this day.
One of my favorite sights in Italy was the Colosseum. The Colosseum was absolutely breathtaking and truly allowed me to understand the impact and history of Roman society.
November 25th
Another breathtaking experience was my visit to the Trevi Fountain. Waking up at 6am and heading to the Trevi Fountain before the crowds was one of the best decisions I made during the entire trip. Experiencing and digesting the architectural feat without large crowds was indescribable. I seemed to observe every inch of the fountain and was in awe of the accomplishment. The experience in Rome opened up my eyes to the pure beauty that historical sights possess.
