One of my favorite memories was the first time I ventured out of the country in my late teens. I remember the smells, the conversations with all my travel buddies, the adventure and excitement! I had such an amazing time that we vowed to return some day.
I can't really pinpoint one specific moment during that trip as a favorite because it was all so wonderful. I remember my very first airplane ride was delayed so the airline gifted us 1st class seats to Amsterdam. Not bad for a first experience! I got to see the Anne Frank house from the outside. Everything was so amazing to me that I kept thinking I might be dreaming or maybe it wasn't real. We ran all over Amsterdam full of excitement.
Next it was on to Spain, and that was even more exciting! And then Paris where we saw all the sights and magic was everywhere. And then Italy... It was a hot summer full of so much hope for the future. We all shared hotel rooms with beds smashed up against each other and made a funny video in our Italian hotel. There was a large group of African Americans in one of the public rooms and we joined them and sang with them all night. Everything was so perfect from start to finish.
I kept all the travel journals and still do every time I travel. I'll always remember that first trip. All the gelati and jokes and art and history and architecture and very good people from my little town and from all the places we visited. It forever stands as one of my favorite memories.
8:16 p.m. - 2018-09-24