Barcelona
2025

Landing in Barcelona felt so unreal. I had to take a moment just to stand still and find my bearings. Barcelona. BARCELONA!!! A year ago, I seriously thought it was totally out of the question to attend the school trip that was announced in early 2024. There were so many memorable events in Barcelona- spending hours wandering the streets, biking around town, viewing historical monuments, and exploring plazas..  I remember even going to a chocolate museum and seeing a chicken little statue!! I got to document my trip, too, with tons of souvenirs and memories. First, I remember visiting the Cascada monumental and getting some great photos. I also remember the weather there specifically- since we were at sea level, the humidity was such a nice change from how Colorado is, and it was honestly such a nice change of pace. When we arrived at the hotel, I immediately noticed the scenery. There was a bunch of decor and nice furniture. There was a huge fish mural on the window, too.

The food in Barcelona was amazing. It was higher quality and fresher. I enjoyed the Teriyaki chicken skewers we had one night when we went to a Tapas-style restaurant- basically small dishes that make up one meal. The best thing I ate by far was the dessert, though- I got to enjoy some gelato from a small shop. The flavor was stracciatella- a flavor I had never heard of before! It's an Italian flavor that consists of thin, flaky chocolate. I didn't even know it was chocolate because the pieces were so small! It kind of looked like red velvet ice cream, which does exist.

Next, I played a cool game that was a scavenger hunt around the city, and we had to find five different landmarks and cultural items. My favorite part was when we had to decipher an anagram while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and some churros on the side. It was delicious! The hot chocolate was thick, like melted chocolate, and apparently, it's typically served with a side of churros. You’re supposed to dip the churros in the hot chocolate. I'm so glad I got to try it. MIND. BLOWN.

The next awesome, memorable thing I experienced was the bike ride. It only lasted an hour, but I had an unforgettable time. We first rode through the city, travelling down the narrow cobbled paths. Then, we went to the edge of the beach to view some of Gaudí’s work. It's unimaginable to even comprehend someone could create such impactful and important work, have it around an entire city, and have that city and visitors know you. We spent a lot of time right next to the beach at ground level. We also traveled up a steep building that led to the edge of the water, and I got to take a lot of good photos. After a while, Barcelona became familiar and far more enjoyable. I think the environment and atmosphere gave me that peace naturally.

And then, New York! I just came back from New York. I had been prepared to go right after Barcelona, in June of 2025. New York reminded me a bit of Barcelona, but with a bit more of an abstract, urban feeling due to the street art we viewed. Since the trip was mainly to Spanish Harlem, I got to learn a lot about Spanish culture, similar to Barcelona, which was a really interesting experience. We got to walk Times Square and watch a Broadway play, visit Spanish Harlem, of course, tour a tenement building, go to Ellis Island and Liberty Island, Central Park, and the One World Trade Center. We got to explore the streets of Brooklyn through a bus tour, too. We got to meet one of the Central Park Five, wrongly accused convicts who had been teens at the time of their incarceration. After that, we went to the Met Art Museum. After that, we went to see a play called ‘Maybe Happy Ending.’ This play was CRAZY. It had a back wall that would open up, but at first, it appeared to look like a black screen. Every time a new scene played, it would show that part of the stage and only that part, which caused the audience to focus only on that part of the scene. The screen would also play videos and effects sometimes, which was super cool. Sometimes the entire back panel/screen would open and show a full secret backstage area, which at one point had the entire orchestra playing, and moving in a circular fashion.

The next destination is Tokyo, Japan, in 2027, right after I graduate high school!! I'm so excited for this trip, and your support has already transformed my dreams into a reality. The itinerary isn't fully fleshed out yet, but I do know we’re going to attend a tea ceremony. I have everyone who has supported me to thank for funding my previous trips. I’m so lucky to have a community that supports my dreams and my business!

– Justine