Greece is another beautiful Mediterranean spot known for its diverse architecture and cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. 

“I really loved Santorini when I first got off of the plane,” junior Evalyn Grocki said. “It was amazing to walk up through Santorini. The first time you see the cliffs, you just think, ‘how could this exist?’”

Another common trend about Greece is its hospitality, known as Xenia. The Greek ‘Xenia’ is characterized by traits of kindness and respect towards guests, making Greece a welcoming place to visit. 

“The people were honestly some of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Murphy said. “It felt like everyone was just happy and kind.”

Greece also has a deep history to it. The Acropolis, built in 5th century BCE in Athens, served as a temple to honor the Greek goddess Athena.

With its rich history and vibrant nightlife, Berlin serves as an attractive destination spot. It also has a diverse cityscape with lakes, rivers, canals and forests, as well as a vibrant urban life.                                                                                                     

Junior Noa Dubnov lived there in middle school and continues to visit and explore the city each summer. In June of 2024, she visited during the Euros, which Germany was hosting. 

“Everyone was out in the streets and you could see all the spirit. It was so lively and fun,” Dubnov said. 

Experiences like this which demonstrate Berlin’s lively spirit, encapsulate the opportunity to explore and have fun. If nightlife is not your thing, cities across Germany have different attractions. The west side of Germany tends to have more of a wine-country feel to it. Rheingau and the Mosel are cities that have a more relaxing and laid back tone.

 A trip to Germany would not be complete without the acknowledgement of the deep running history. The history of Germany and the educational aspect is unlimited. There are numerous museums to better educate people about World War II and the Holocaust.