Since traveling to France and England as a sophomore at Bridgeport High School, Lauren McCarthy has been someone consumed with wanderlust, the strong desire to travel. Now in her fourth year of pharmacy school at West Virginia University, a five-week vacation block inspired her to search for a new adventure, one she wanted to share with her sister, Emily.

 

On May 19, the duo began their Grand Tour of Europe with 35 other students.  The trip was sponsored by EF Tours and specifically aimed at those on break from college. Their adventure began in Italy and took them to eight countries in thirty days.

 

“In Italy, we went to Rome, Vatican City, Orvieto, Florence, Cinque Terre, Venice and Verona,” McCarthy said.  “We had the opportunity to eat amazing food, see major attractions such as the Colosseum and the Duomo, and we even got to ride a gondola with some friends.”

 

From Italy, they ventured to Mount Pilatus, one of the highest points in the Swiss Alps. They fell in love with the snow-capped mountains and slip down the Alps on an alpine sled.  After three days of Switzerland’s natural beauty, the McCarthy sisters headed to Munich and Berlin in Germany.

 

“We walked through the Dachau Concentration Camp, which was a very moving experience,” said McCarthy. “We also toured the extravagant Neuschwanstein Castle, watched surfers do tricks in the city canals and enjoyed schnitzel at the Biergartens.”

 

When they traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, they saw the famous Prague Castle and walked to historical monuments before taking an overnight ferry to Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

 

“We toured Anne Frank’s secret annex and saw the famous work of artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn,” said McCarthy.

The McCarthy sisters arrived in England just in time for Queen Elizabeth’s 92^ndbirthday celebration, where thousands were gathered outside Buckingham Palace to watch the royal family wave from the balcony. Airplanes flew overhead with streams of red, white and blue, creating an unforgettable memory for the young women.

 

Paris was their next stop, where they spent time at the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Palace of Versailles.

 

“Sainte-Chapelle was our favorite,” said McCarthy.  “We were in awe standing in the tiny chapel under an entire room of stained glass.”

 

The last country the sisters visited was Spain, where they toured Barcelona and enjoyed the famous Gaudi architecture.  

 

“Emily and I would strongly recommend EF College Break tours for anyone interested in international travel,” said McCarthy.  “There are so many trips to choose from and they arrange all the details and have wonderful tour directors.  We were given daily itineraries, but also enjoyed a lot of free time, which gave us the confidence to travel independently.  We cant wait for our next adventure!”