Excitement and nostalgia were running through my veins when I woke up on June 5, awakening the memories of exactly four years ago when I was in the same position: about to board a plane to Paris without my parents.

The morning flew by with last minute packing and my parents savoring each minute before I had to board the six hour flight.

When my parents and I arrived at my friend Natalie’s house, anticipation grew as I walked knowing that in an hour I would be on a flight to the city of lights. I had plans to attend a wedding in the French countryside with Natalie, her parents, and her brother, whom I consider to be family.

I slept during the entire flight, but I was wide awake when the plane hit the ground. I wasn’t even outside yet, but I could already feel the French air while walking through the airport and looking out the windows.

Excitement hit me, but I forgot that we had to drive seven hours through France to the horse farm, “Les Juliennes,” where the wedding was being held.

Despite the drive time, the countryside was absolutely beautiful. And after getting temporarily lost, asking for directions from two Frenchmen whom we couldn’t understand, and somehow finding our way back on track, we arrived at the beautiful farm that included two chateaus and a  cliff-side castle.

The next two weeks were priceless, spending the first at “Les Juliennes” and the second in Biarritz and Paris.

The second day at the farm began with an early morning rise to attend my first horseback riding lesson with Fabrice, a Frenchman to the core. The man not only wore 70s-inspired reading glasses but also sported curly, long hair flowing over his shoulders. To say he was a character would be an understatement.

After spending several memorable days at the beautiful French farm, it was time for the wedding. Being surrounded by people from different cultures gave me a reason to feel as if I were at the center of the universe.

The accents, the languages, and the cultures represented different parts of the world, and at that moment, I was in the center of it all.

After the wedding, we moved on to the beautiful surf city of Biarritz. The temperature was only 63 degrees, but after driving four hours to the gorgeous city, no one could stop me from stepping into the beautiful bright blue Atlantic water.

Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast of France near the Basque region of Spain, is a city in which you can imagine that glamour once ruled the streets, leaving an imprint with the chateaus, neatly paved streets and countless shops.

Once we arrived in Biarritz on June 11, the World Cup began. Every lunch and dinner we had then revolved around each afternoon and night game. This made the European experience all the more special.

Sitting outside watching the USA versus England game in Biarritz and hearing the cheers and groans with each goal gave another reason for feeling as though I were at the center of the world.

My time in Biarritz flew by, and it was time to spend another seven hours driving back to Paris. It is not hard to understand why the world is in love with the city of lights. From the cafes and art to the shopping and the colorful macaroons, Paris is in a league of its own.

Staying in a traditional Parisian apartment, even having to walk five flights of stairs, was worth it. The location was incredible, and the view was unbelievable.

Walking through the famously gorgeous streets among the very fashionable people added to each moment. From watching World Cup games among hundreds of people in front of the Eiffel Tower to using the metro, the Parisian experience was a life-lasting memory.

Usually by the end of most vacations, I begin to long for the coziness of home.  I certainly missed my parents and my friends while I was in France, but leaving has never hurt so much as it did when the plane departed for home.

Bialobrzeski can be reached for comment at [email protected].