September 2023 issue-online

EXPLORING EUROPE
by Anne Cookson
I’ll never forget the trip I took in the
summer of 1967, all across Europe. I was a
teenager exploring a different world than the
one I was familiar with. It was my father who
had the good idea of having me go with other
young students that just graduated from high
school, before they attended college or
university. I was excited and looking forward
to meeting other students I had never met, as
we were all travelling across different parts of
Europe.
This trip was organized by Horizon
Holidays Tours, and the host who was
arranging these student tours had weekly
meetings at his house. We had our itinerary
with the list of places and hotels we were
going to visit. It would be the first time I had
experience in getting my passport and
vaccinations all ready for this special holiday.
We were assigned to groups as there were
many of us going on these excursions. Each
group comprised of an experienced tour
guide who was responsible for being sure we
were safe and escorted us throughout the
summer trip.
We were to travel across France,
Switzerland, Germany, England and Italy. I
loved every minute of it! This was my first
experience flying in a plane from Toronto to
New York. As we arrived in New York, the
huge cruise ship was waiting for us at New
York Harbor. Once on the ship, the
passengers waved excitedly at crowds below
on the dock as the ship blasted its horn and
the view from the dock became a distant blur.
It took about five days but, as we were on the
ship, I was able to smell and appreciate the
massive endless beautiful ocean ahead and
observe other ships passing by us.
Upon our arrival at the Port of Le Harve,
we were placed into 12 groups. I loved the
fact that I was feeling my growing
independence as this was my first time away,
many miles from my family, and I was
grateful that our small group got along well
together.
We went on the small mini
Volkswagen vans, visiting the
Paris countryside, going to
the small village cafes, and
buying our cheese, bread, and fruit,
and sat out in the sunny weather enjoying our
country picnic as we watched the cows
grazing in the pasture. I even had the nerve to
stand up on the seats of the van like others
did as it travelled through the cities we were
visiting to get a better view of our
surroundings.
We explored and hiked the Swiss Alps and
cruised down the Rhine River as we sang the
popular ‘60s songs. I remember visiting
Venice, Italy and our group taking a gondola
ride down the Grand Canal.
I was impressed when I visited London and
by some of the old cobblestone worn
sidewalks, and the tea shops with their
scones, tasty berry jams with Devonshire
cream, and their choice of sweet herbal or
black teas to choose from.
In fact, at all the regions I visited through
this wonderful trip I loved, the food I ate, and
had no concerns about trying different ethnic
European dishes, it was good experience for
me.
The two months went quickly and I so
appreciated the wisdom my father had in
allowing me to go on this European
adventure. I look back at this trip as a forever
reminder of how blessed I was for taking a
trip across Europe when I could. Right now, I
explore Canada, which reminds me of the
European countryside with the vast B.C. and
Alberta mountain ranges, the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, and beautiful old-growth
forests, the fishing villages along the B.C.
and Maritime provinces. There is so much
that I appreciate after getting a taste of
Europe and how much it reminds me of
landscapes of our beautiful country I call
Canada that I will continue to explore.
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The Sentinel - September 2023