Canfield quartet takes Venice vacation

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Neighbors | Submitted.Mary Wirtz, Gretchen Scheel and Lauren Lewis are pictured here in Rome on the Spanish Steps on the last day of their European vacation.

After four years of learning Italian, Gretchen Scheel, Mary Wirtz and Lauren Lewis celebrated their graduation from Canfield High School by traveling to Italy on one last school trip before starting college this fall.

Scheel’s sister, Lydia, roomed with the grads and the Scheels’ parents, Mark and Kathy, went on the trip as well. The six departed with 26 other people on June 21 for Venice, Italy.

From gondola rides to gelato, the group got its first taste of Italian culture. Afterward, they traveled to Florence and visited the Duomo (one of the largest cathedrals in the Christian world). They saw Michelangelo’s famous David, along with other well-known paintings.

They visited Lucca, a smaller town with a rich heritage and a picturesque Tuscan countryside. The group biked on the wall that surrounds the city, a wall they likened to the Great Wall of China.

They went on a boat tour around the island of Capri, a celebrity favorite for a vacation. They even stopped to swim in the crystal clear water.

Before returning home, they took a trip to Rome, home of the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Vatican.

Soon after their return, the four roommates reflected on their experience in what was, for most of them, their first experience in a foreign country.

Q. Florence has been called the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” What was it like to be in the middle of so much art?

Mary: Everywhere you turned, it was almost overwhelming. Every square inch of every building, no matter what it was, was covered in a masterpiece.

Lydia: There was this big church in Florence. The Duomo itself was impressive, but if you looked closely you could see tiny details that must have taken ages to put in. There were even sculptures all around our hotel.

Q. How was the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City? You were in one of the most sacred religious cities in the world. What was it like?

Gretchen: The Sistine Chapel — I can’t even imagine creating something that big.

Mary: I’m Catholic, so for me it wasn’t just another tourist attraction. One of my favorite paintings ever is “The Creation of Man,” so for me to see that in person at the Vatican was amazing.

Q. How is life in Italy different than life in America?

Gretchen: I got to visit a hospital in Rome, which was really cool. Their healthcare in Italy is totally free. The facilities are less modern, but it’s much more efficient. We went to the emergency room and there was no waiting line.

Lauren: The shops close down at one or two. People go home, eat, take a nap and come back at six. Everything is so leisurely there.

Q. Overall, are you happy you went? How did the trip benefit you?

Lauren: I feel worldlier. It’s nice to know the geography and be able to recognize the flag, but it’s a good experience just to be there.

Lydia: It was one of the best experiences of my life. Seeing how they have traditions that go back so long and how those traditions are still continuing today.