One of my favorite things to do is travel. I have only been to seven countries so far, but I have been to multiple places within them and have been given the chance to learn so much. I have been to almost every state in the United States, save for three, and I have also been to Mexico, Costa Rica, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Greece. My family and I would share videos of places in the world that we wanted to see. There is a stark difference between a video and reality, but both are beautiful in their own ways. Although, Greece holds a special place in my heart.
I have been to Greece five times now, and I learn something new about the country every time I go. Truth be told, I have family there. Most of them are from Athens, but we have a family home that belonged to my grandfather in a small village called Neochori on the island of Chios. Neochori is especially exciting for me to visit because it is so small that everybody knows one another. I remember visiting in May 2026 and walking past a random man sitting with his dog. When my mom told the man that she was the daughter and I was the granddaughter of my grandfather, the man instantly welcomed us. The same thing happened multiple times, including being invited into houses for coffee, while the elders would tell us stories of my grandfather and their childhoods.
There is a big difference between traveling for family and traveling for fun, though. Traveling to all the other countries would always give me such a big culture shock. The biggest thing that I think people misunderstand is that people are a lot nicer than you see on the internet. There has not been one place that I have been to where others have not wanted to help you learn more about their lives and their cultures. Traveling has always been a part of my life, and I want it to continue to be so.
This is a list of my countries, cities, tourist destinations, and cuisines that I have experienced:
| Favorite Countries | Favorite Cities | Favorite Tourist Destinations | Best Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Costa Rica | 1. Florence, Italy | 1. Palace of Versailles (Versailles) | 1. Carbonara |
| 2. Greece | 2. Zurich, Switzerland | 2. The Lourve (Paris) | 2. Gyros |
| 3. Italy | 3. Nemea, Greece | 3. Lion Gate (Peloponnese) | 3. Cheese Fondue |