Grazie, Gracias, Thank you... Spring Break !- Wayne Taylor

These past 10 days have been the best time of my life! Venice, Rome, and Barcelona all had different vibes, but the feelings of excitement and amazement were the same in all cities.

Venice was the first stop of the trip. As you as you enter the city, you immediately understand the meaning of a beautiful decay. The houses were vintage Italian architecture with chipped paint, but they radiated with feelings of hard work, calmness, and cool creepiness . Every where you turned, you saw alleys with hand crafted wooden doors and water passages with simple boats. The twisted pathways had pastry shops, boutiques, and gelato. The best thing about Venice is the serenity.
                                
The sites of Rome were worth the trip. I saw everything that I learned throughout school. The Colosseum, Trevi Foutain, the place that Julius Caesar was murdered, were few of the sites that really put a picture to the places that I have heard or studied for most of my life. However, the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City was the highlight of the Roman sites. The Creation of Adam was more than I imagined. It is a true representation of talent (Side note: I tripped inside the Chapel... only I would do that).

                             
My favorite place was Barcelona, Spain. The weather was above 60 degrees during the day the whole time I was there. The coast was amazing. The people have the most relaxed and easy going people. My group walked all around the city, not just to view a particular site, but to also enjoy the city. The food in Barcelona did not disappoint. Paella (Spanish rice with seafood) had fresh ingredients, the fruit was fresh, and the market was filled with food from all around the globe. Also, I ate an orange in a castle on the top of a hill in Barcelona. The beach was a scene out of a postcard. People were playing volleyball, dogs were running around, white sailboats were on the horizon, and I was laying down listening to music with my friends. It was the best ending to a great vacation.
                       
                        

This trip was a journey that  I can never forget. I'm so blessed and fortunate to be able to study abroad and travel. I would have never imagined that I could be anything close to a world traveler. The scholarship applications, the long studying hours, and leaping with faith into challenges definitely is worth the experience that I am currently having. Grazie, Gracias, Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey, GLS, and future opportunities.