Travel Writing Awards Entry
Why did I agree to this? Karen Quinn wondered to herself. I’ll get to visit two
beautiful cities but is that really worth almost a month away
from home?
She sighed and told herself it would be fun. It was just her nerves kicking in. Karen
listened into the conversation the two girls beside her were having. They were on the
trip too.
The two girls were saying how excited they were about the trip.
“It’s going to be great!” said the woman with the blonde hair.
“I know, we’ll be visiting some great cities and the photographer will teach us how to
take some amazing photos,” replied the other woman.
“What cities are we visiting again?” the first woman asked, “Rome and Madrid?”
“Yeah, they’re the ones,” said the other woman.
Karen was on was a college trip. She went to an Art College where her Mum taught
and there was a summer trip available to go three cities and a lecture with a
professional photograph.
Karen’s Mum insisted she went.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for you, so you should definitely go,” she said.
Her Mum wouldn’t take no for an answer. None of Karen’s friends were going on
the trip. It was too expensive, they had said to her.
The first city they were visiting was Rome. A city Karen had always wanted to go to
and she was excited about going there. She was just about nervous of who her she’d
be sharing a room with.
“So what’s your name?” asked the blonde girl.
“I’m Karen,” she said, “You?”
“I’m Michelle and this is Louise, we’re sisters” she said.
“Cool!” Karen said.
“Are you excited?” Louise asked
“I’m a bit nervous because I don’t know anyone here. My Mum’s Mrs Quinn and she
insisted I came,” Karen said.
“I know Mrs Quinn!” said Michelle, “She did a lecture about drawing people and
animals.”
“Shame that you don’t know anyone,” said Louise sympathetically, “Still, you know
us now.”
Karen was feeling a lot better now. At least I know someone.
A couple of hours later the plane landed and Mr Umbridge, who was in charge of the
trip gathered up everyone.
“Now, you all know the rules. You are representing the college bla de bla bla. I’m
sure you’ve had it all through school and collage. So just behave and don’t do
anything I’d not do,” he said.
Someone wolf whistled and another person cheered. All the pupils liked Mr
Umbridge, he was funny.
“Not everyone here knows everybody so to allow to a chance to meet and spend time
with new people, myself and the other staff on the trip have chosen, at random, who
will be sharing rooms for the duration of the two weeks in Rome, and the next two
weeks in Madrid” he said.
Mr Umbridge started reading out who people were sharing with and what room
number they were to go to. Karen was to share a room with Michelle, and two other
girls called Alex and Zoë.
Later that night Karen was in her room with all the other girls sharing with her. The
hotel was lovely as was their room. They had met the photography tutor and he told
them once he gave them a lecture the next day, the rest of the trip was theirs to do
what they wanted. The photos they took over the trip could be put in their portfolio.
Karen had talked to everyone in her room. They were all really nice girls.
At the lecture the next day the photographer, Dave, showed them some really cool
stuff that Karen was definitely going try that trip. Later that day Mr Umbridge and all
the other staff took them to Pantheon!
“This is amazing!” she said to Michelle as the bus was approaching the place.
“I know, it’s beautiful,” Michelle replied, “I’ve always wanted t come here but I
never thought I would!”
“Me neither,” Karen said.
Before they all went in everyone was taking pictures of the entrance, including
Karen. This is the life, she thought. Karen got some amazing photographs. She loved
the pillars, it was beautiful. Inside was even better; the circle ceilings that she’d seen
in pictures were much more gorgeous in real life.
Karen’s time in Rome seemed to fly. They visited some awesome landmarks
including the Circus Maximus, Palazzo Farnese, Domus Aurea and Karen’s favourite,
The Colosseum. It was like nothing Karen had seen before. The photos she took of
turned out great and she couldn’t wait to show her parents and her friends.
Karen found herself -with what only seemed minutes but was really two weeks- back
on a plane to another country, Spain, heading for the capital, Madrid. This time she
was sitting with Zoë and Alex. The plane journey was ten times better than the last
one but the turbulence was really bad.
At midnight, the plane landed in Madrid. The weather was cool, but still very warm,
it was lovely. After the luggage was sorted they left for the hotel and when the arrived
they got a pleasant surprise. The hotel was gorgeous! The outdoor pool was amazing
too. Mr Umbridge said they’d be able to “chill out” there if they wanted.
“You missing everyone back home?” Alex asked her one night about a week into
their time at Madrid.
“Yeah, my friends and my Mum,” she said, “How about you?”
“My parents mostly, all my friends are here,” she replied.
“I can’t wait to get home but I’ll be sad when the trip’s over, it’s been so different
from anything I’ve ever done,” Karen said.
The group toured all around Madrid. Karen was glad she decided to come and she
had made some great friends.
On the plane back home she decided she was going to travel the world. In years to
come, Karen did travel the world, spending from a few days to six months in different
countries, but that’s another story.
