DSS Travels to Europe

Carlin Dykstra

This March Break was not so average for fourteen students of Dunnville Secondary School (DSS). On Sunday, March 13, a group of DSS and Cayuga Secondary School (CSS) students boarded a plane for the trip of a lifetime. Organized by DSS history teacher Renata Dykstra, the trip had many

destinations including Spain, France, and Italy.

            The first day was a long one for the group. After the departure of the plane, the travellers endured a lengthy flight, landed in Barcelona, Spain, dropped off their belongings at the hotel, and then started their itinerary. They took a walking tour of the old town and appreciated all the gothic architecture.

            The second day, the group visited La Sagrada Familia, a church in Barcelona where construction was started in 1882, and still continues to this day. Students were then allowed free time where many visited the old Roman city underneath Barcelona.

            After a full day bus ride, the students reached Nice, France. They visited a perfume factory, a mountain village called Eze and the Principality of Monaco. The next morning, the students departed France, boarding the bus for another long ride to Italy. That night, the students were able to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa before turning into the hotel for the night.

            The group spent the next day in Florence where they had a walking tour, visited the Il Duomo, and went to the Leonardo da Vinci Leather Factory where they learned about how leather is made. The group was also given free time to climb the Duomo, visit the Uffizi Art Gallery, shop, or eat gelato. Once again the students boarded the bus, departing to Rome.

            In Rome, the group visited the Vatican City, the Colosseum and surrounding ruins, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Catacombs.

            After a long fast paced trip, the students returned home with tired eyes and sore feet, but also with the appreciation of all the amazing things that they had seen.

            “It was an awesome opportunity to experience a new culture and discover amazing gelato,” said Ben Smith, a grade 12 student who was on the trip.