This year I kicked off Christmas Break waking up at 3 in the morning to rush to the Fresno Airport. Only half awake, I got all my bags checked in and proceeded through security. Before I knew it, I boarded the oddly spacious plane ready to experience a whole new world. Within sixteen hours and three different flights, I reached my final destination in Rome, Italy.

Along with my mother and step dad, I ventured off into a scenic filled foreign country. We embarked on our journey throughout Italy starting in Rome. The picturesque city with so much to offer was filled with so much culture and livelihood.

Every alleyway at first glance looked old and abandoned, yet upon further inspection were really filled with unique shops full of art, fashion, and Italian cuisines.

Our first destination in Rome was the birthplace of Catholicism, St. Petersburg Basilica, and the Vatican. Inside the two architectural works of art, layed generations of history. While inside we noticed a large line waiting to go through a very special door opened 10 years ahead of schedule.

We were very fortunate to go through the Holy Door which is an entrance inside the Vatican. It is only opened once a year every 25 years, yet the new Pope Francis declared a Holy year of Mercy lasting until Nov. 20, 2016.

Aside from the religious history in Rome, we also visited a couple different sites of ancient Roman ruins, The Colosseum, and the Roman Forums. The ruins we view were so immense, and full of amazing detail.

After that, it was finally time to venture out of the great city of Rome and onto the Amalfi Coast. While in the quaint coastal city of Positano, we got to spend our time with the welcoming locals on the beachfront.

A sort of celebration occurred the whole time we visited. The entire town came down to the beach and supported a fundraiser for the local kids soccer team. Amazing food, music, and fireworks could all be found every night on the moon lit beach. As soon as I knew it, we were on our way to Naples to go see the fireworks for New Years.

The fireworks display was immaculate, yet somehow it just couldn’t compare to the rest of the city who were all setting off their own fireworks all over the mountain side.

Hundreds of fireworks were going off from every direction that created a colorful flurry of light. Looking around you could see anyone and everyone dancing all over the streets and inside all of the restaurants.

It was most definite that the people of Naples take New year’s celebration to the next level. After a couple more days in Naples, gazing at the various catacombs scattered around the city we were on our way back to Rome to catch our gruesome 12 hour flight back home. Being able to get a glimpse of another country’s culture and beauty gave me such a craving to come back and make more amazing memories.

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @_jadenventura03 and via email: Jaden Ventura.

For another opinions article read, Student travels to Taiwan over the holidays.