My trip to Québec city and Montreal, in Canada, was a different kind of vacation that I have never experienced before. I went with my school's French club that I am a part of. My school is an economicological-structured facility. It means that we incorporate elements of ecology, economy, empathy, environment, ethics, and education into our daily studies. For this trip, our club had to visit locations that dealt with these "six e's". This included places like, historical sites, museums, and bio-domes.
â–º QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
Travelling eighteen hours in a full coach bus was not too bad when finally arrived and saw the beautiful sights that surrounded us. We started in Québec where we stayed at a youth hostel. I expected it to be dirty and crowded, but it was actually quite pleasant. It was nestled between narrow, brick road streets and had a spectacular view of the city from our windows, both in the morning and at night. We visited quaint little restaurants, like Café Buade, which helped us acquire a welcoming feel of the old city. One day, we visited Canyon Sainte-Anne. It was my first time ever visiting a canyon, and it was definitely a new experience for me. You see, I am deathly afraid of heights. Our group had been instructed to cross three wooden, swinging bridges that were conveniently placed above the roaring waterfalls. This was the most terrifying experience of my entire life, but, somehow, I managed to cross the rickety bridges. Of course, it did not go without a few tears and a helping hand from a generous friend, but still, I faced my undying fear of heights and obtained a sense of accomplishment from that experience. I was proud of myself, and I still am.
We were also fortunate enough to learn the history of the area, anything from Plaines d'Abraham to La Citadelle de Québec to Basilique Sainte-Anne de Beaupré. Discovering the culture and history of these native people, Québécois as they are rightly named, was rewarding and ultimately life changing. It made me develop a sense of appreciativeness and humbleness for the people who fought so hard for their independence from the British.
Not only was this trip amazing because of the places that we went, but because of the wonderful people we met and the new friendships that were developed between the students. This unforgettable and gratifying experience will stick with me forever.
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