PRE-EUROPE JORUNAL

As many of you know, if you have been following me for a while, this summer my family and I are traveling through Europe. It will be my first time exploring this part of the world and I am so excited to see what it has to offer, but with that comes the fear of the unknown. I suffer from anxiety and get especially nervous when I travel. I love to know what, when, and how, we are doing something, and the unknown makes me scared. I will be gone for over 3 weeks exploring western Europe. My trip starts out in London where I am excited to see Big Ben, the statue I was names after :), and explore the infamous department store Harrods. From there we are jetting off to Paris where I can't wait to see the Eiffel Tower, and the original alteriors of Louis Vuitton, Hermes and other Parisian designers. When I was asked where I want to go in Europe, I told my parent the South of France. Something about the French Rivera has always captivated my mind. We will be spending four days in Villefrench, and Nice, lodging on the cliffs of the sea. As an all time favorite movie of mine has been Monte Carlo, seeing Monaco and the Hotel de Paris was a must. The luxurious town is home to many of my interests $. Italy has been and always will be so captivating for me. I can't tell if it has anything to do with the fact I'm Italian, but I am obsessed with everything Italy has to offer, the architecture, the fashion, and of corse the food, I simply cannot wait to emerge myself in the culture of Italy. I will be spending a little less than a week in the Tuscan countryside of Lucca in a farmhouse. Learning how to make pasta and authentic Italian food has got to be what I am most looking forward to. With day trips to Florence, Cinque Terre, and Pisa, this pitstop has got me psyched! Then taking a train time in Venice, I get to finally take a ride in the famous gondolas and explore the markets of the lungomare town. After that is where I get nervous, what can possibly beat the ancient towns of Italy, historic streets of Paris, oceanside views of the French riviera? Well apparently Austria (source: David and Katie Formisano). Although I have no expectations for the rest of the trip, I know that that is better. I am excited to see the Alps, I used to dream about, except I'm pretty sure these ones don't come with an abominable snowman, and too see where my childhood favorite, Sound of Music, takes place will be surreal! After time in Austria, I am taking a train to Munich, where I will hopefully get to see where my dream car is made at the Bavarian Motor Works Company, more formally known as BMW. This trip will be full of amazing adventures and memories I will hold forever. I am so grateful that I have the chance to experience this the way I do. I can't wait to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with all of you! 

Talk to you soon,

​-Ben Formisano