In 2011, my family spent the summer in England. I remember being eleven years old and traveling there with my family for the summer. It was a fantastic experience. We lived in Derby, where my dad worked for one summer, and we had the chance to travel. On the weekends we went to Barcelona, Oxford, Edinburg, and it was such an exciting opportunity to travel around Europe.  

Going to Oxford was wonderful. I remember we took so many photos, bought about a thousand sweatshirts, and toured the university. There was this one part of it where Harry Potter was filmed, and my brother and I were so happy. We were major Harry Potter fans back then, and we were ecstatic. Later we visited the Nottingham Castle nearby, and it was amazing. The architecture was stunning, and the banquet hall could only be described as magnificent. I loved touring that castle.

Our next weekend getaway was to Edinburg, Scotland. It was such a beautiful place. We went on a boat ride in Lake Windermere, during which my brother and I searched desperately for the Lochness Monster. I think the highlight from Scotland was when we climbed the cliffs. We talked for the whole way, and it was a lovely experience. Once we finally climbed to the top, we were rewarded with a spectacular view- we could see everything! It was a beautiful moment because I got to experience nature with my family.

During my trip to Barcelona, we found a nice hotel with a pool on the roof. After traveling all summer, my brother and I just wanted to hang out in the pool, so that is the majority of what we did. It was nice just to relax and swim all day. Regardless of our wishes, my mother did make us explore. We saw flamenco dancing, the 1992 Olympics Stadium, and the Montjuïc Castle. It was a nice getaway.

Our last stop was in Paris. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower- it was magical. I remember that moment- I was tired from a day of traveling, and we were riding in a taxi to our hotel, and then I saw it- it was so beautiful in the sunlight. Ever since I saw Beauty and the Beast when I was little, I’d dreamed about going for all my life, and now there it was, right in front of my eyes. When we finally got to the hotel and put our suitcases down, we went straight to the Champ de Mars, a public green space where the Eiffel tower is located. There it was. It was even more magnificent up close. My mouth gaped as I gazed upon it. I was in awe of the monument in front of us. I smiled as my mother took my photo, and I rolled my eyes as she asked a stranger to take my whole family’s photograph. After that, I noticed a man nearby selling berets, and I bought a beautiful pink one. I placed in on my head and smiled. After about a million more pictures, we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We could see everything- our hotel, the parks we passed along the way, and so much more. Standing there, at the top of Paris, I knew it was a moment I would never forget.  

I have so many highlights from my trip to Paris. I recall going to the Sacré-Cœur. It is a beautiful church at the top of the hill, and after climbing about a million stairs, we reached the church. On the inside, there was a gorgeous picture of Jesus on the ceiling, pews, and lots of candles. It was a great experience. Next, we went to a cafe, where we treated ourselves to macaroons. I had never had one before, and it was delicious! The inside was sweet and had the texture of jelly, and the outside was flavorful. The next day we went to the Champs-Élysées, and we visited the Arc de Triomphe and it was a very interesting building. It is a famous landmark in Paris, we naturally got many photos.

My trip to Europe was spectacular! I made so many memories and grew closer to my family during our summer in Europe. We explored Oxford, Edinburg, Barcelona and, of course, Paris. I have a thousand memories of the City of Light—eating macaroons, visiting the Sacré-Cœur, climbing up the Arc de Triomphe, and also buying my first beret, but I will always remember that one moment in Paris at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Always.  

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