The Travel Bug Hit Me Young and Never Really Left (First Over Seas Trip at 11)

At 11 years old I went on my first over seas trip. My church had a week long pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal. My mom let me take off school to go with her, my Nanny, and my Granddad! I was stoked! Not only was I missing school for a week but I was going on my first airplane ride ever!!! The plane I was on definitely was not as nice as ones I have been on more recently but for an 11 year old it was AMAZING! I remember being so excited about the plane having a TV and playing a movie. The only downfall was my ears hurting extremely bad during the landing! 

We landed in Lisbon and then took a bus to Fatima. I remember staying in a convent with nuns but it was actually very nice. They served breakfast every morning and my mom and I had a nice room with a great overlook of Fatima. The pilgrimage offered dinner every night so the only meal my family and I had to do on our own was lunch. We found a great pizza restaurant in a little mall in town. I remember it being some of the best pizza I ever had (and I grew up with an Italian father and have been to Italy). I even developed a crush on one of the servers. I wasn't the only one that thought he was gorgeous though. My mom and nan did too! :)

Most of the trip consisted of visiting chapels, churches, and cathedrals, but we did take a trip to see Roman ruins one day. That was my most memorable part of the trip, because it was absolutely beautiful. Part of the tour was a cliff with a waterfall (oh how I wish I could find that picture). We also visited a castle, and when we got there my mom was chosen to be the "Queen" and was escorted on horse to the castle. We had dinner there and after got to take pictures posing in crowns.

Being 11 I do not really remember the details or names of places I seen, but the experience sure did make me want to travel more and experience different foods, cultures, and just learn how other people live. Thankfully I have been able to travel more since that trip and have been to Italy, Spain, England, Ireland, Tunisia, and France. Of course the rest of my blog will be dedicated to telling you more about my experiences in those places and the other great places I will be traveling to.

 Beautiful Beach in Portugal



At the Roman Ruins




Portugal Panorama