Although COVID-19 has put a stop to most traveling abroad, luckily, got to experience the beauty of Europe before this crisis. So keep in mind many of the experiences may not be available. Please check with local and state health protocols before planning to travel to this destination.

I grew up all around northern Colorado. This Colorado girl loves to experience new places and things, but my opportunity to do so has been limited because I have always been so busy with school, and sports. When my college soccer team had the opportunity to go to Europe in 2019, I simply could not pass it up. Unfortunately, right before we left… to play soccer… in Europe… I broke my tibia plateau. I questioned if I should even go considering I would be on crutches, and Europe is a lot of walking. But, I knew if I did not go I would regret it.

Europe was an important trip for me. I had committed to play soccer at the University of Colorado my freshman year of high school. This was a big decision, and I may not have realized it at the time. I struggled just to get up most mornings and get what I needed to get done, done. I went from being Colorado state player of the year, to somebody that was not seen as a person. It made me hate soccer, and honestly, I never wanted to play again. This trip took me away from all of that for a little bit.  We played some while we were over there, and even though I could not play it made me realize that I wanted to love soccer again. The people who played over there enjoyed it and had such a passion for it that I used to have. This was the first time I realized I wanted to transfer and find a different program that fit me better. It helped me realize that the game of soccer is supposed to be fun and not a job that I hate. The trip helped me to enjoy the people near me, and the beautiful places around me. Even though the Europe trip was hard for me because of the crutches, it is a trip I will never forget and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Sitting in my room in Windsor, Colorado, I had always imagined Paris as the romantic, city of light, the city of love. Upon arriving, I realized that Paris is like most cities. It is dirty and has a harsh smell. Of course, it is rich in history and has beautiful parts, but mostly, it is home to people in business suits, traffic, and the homeless. We experienced the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, and also went to many other historic places. The Eiffel Tower was certainly beautiful at night, but during the day it was all gated up around the bottom. It was also hard to enjoy it because so many people were coming up to you and asking you to buy things. The Mona Lisa was one of my favorite parts. Not only just that painting itself, but the Louvre Museum was fascinating. There was always something beautiful to look at. Most of the trip was a challenge for me on crutches, but when it came to the Mona Lisa, I got to use the handicap line which put me right next to the painting, and I got a perfect picture with it. This put me right next to the Mona Lisa, and I got a perfect picture with it. Another part of the museum was the food court. Now, this may not seem this exciting but most of the museums we went to did not have anything to eat or drink. Not only did they actually have a food court, but it was also so delicious. I had a hamburger and fries and it surprisingly tasted amazing. It almost gives you a small feeling of America.

Another fantastic place was the Palace of Versailles. The inside had so many details it was hard to pick which one to look at. There was also so much interesting history to learn. They gave us a small earpiece so they were able to explain each room in detail, and we could hear them loud and clear. There were so many rooms, and some of them even had secret doorways to different parts of the palace. This was such an educational part of my trip, and I highly recommend it. The outside was a lot like the inside. There were so many details in the greenery, and the different pathways to walk around the outside. The grass was laid out in a swirl motion throughout the whole outside, and then there was a beautiful fountain in the middle of it. There was also a bigger lake you could walk to that was further away.

The following day we went and saw all of the shops in Paris including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Supreme. Unfortunately, we did not get to go into Gucci or Louis Vuitton because there was at least an hour wait to get into each of these. We also went to the Norte Dame. Unfortunately, this was right after the fire that destroyed a large section of the roof, so we could not go in. However, it was still one of the most beautiful buildings.

We scootered around Paris for the most part, and that was probably one of my favorite parts. Traffic is so different there compared to Colorado, I would compare it to New York. So, while scootering you were able to weave in and out of traffic and scooter in the road instead of on the side walk. There were times it got a little scary because we were so close to so many cars and big trucks. We also were there during the World Cup, so we went to a game at the Stade de la Mosson. This stadium was absolutely gorgeous, and was easy to get to. This game was also a good time because the United States was playing, which made it feel a little bit like being home. I also got to watch my team play three games. It was life changing to see my teammates, and the other team having so much fun playing the game we all love. We also went to Montpellier and stayed in a hotel right on the beach. Montpellier is beautiful and walking the streets there was like a dream. The beach was had the softest sand, and the water was so clear. We sat out here for hours and played games and had drinks. The little beach town we stayed at had cute shops and restaurants that were delicious. They also had stands everywhere for ice cream and churros. All of the buildings were a cream color, and they all matched in a sense. We ate at an Italian restaurant, and watched one of the World Cup games.

For those of you wanting to travel to Europe, here are some tips that I wanted to share. First, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get a passport. Second, an adaptor for plug ins is also a must for traveling to Europe. Third, bring a water bottle, preferably one that collapses so it is easy to carry around. Fourth, bring comfortable shoes because you do a great amount of walking. Fifth, bring a portable charger is also a great thing to have. This will allow you to have your phone charged at all times. A cross body bag is an item you want to insure safety. This makes it harder for your personal items to be stollen right off of you. Sixth, and the biggest suggestion I have is to exchange American money for European euros before leaving. It is a lot easier to exchange them before you leave compared to when you get there.

Overall, this trip was life changing for me. I got to experience so many different places, and I found my love for soccer and life again here. I may forget the places, but I will never forget the eye-opening experiences I had to find my love for soccer and life again.