Allie O'Connor
Mount Prospect, United States

Got a sewing machine when I was little. Again, thanks Grandma. It comes in handy when you need to hem pants or make a garter for prom.   

Not as fun and whimsical as it seems when you are actually lost. Walking across Barcelona at night with four frustrated (and clueless) Spanish boys and four exhausted (and bossy) American girls is not a recipe for success. Alth...

This was an amazing trip, and I saw and did so many incredible things that I can't even list all of them here. It's definitely my second favorite country in Europe (sorry, but Spain has my heart) with my most favorite food in the...

It's harder than it looks, and it will never look like it does in any pictures.  

This was a beautiful place, and the Sistine Chapel was amazing. However, my favorite moment had to be our tour guide warning us to watch out for the Asian tourists, because, "they will hit you with their parasols." &n...

 2005 Chevy Malibu. Thanks Grandma.

My first club experience was in Barcelona, and it was definitely exciting. There were definitely some "What happens in Barcelona, stays in Barcelona" moments, but this was an especially memorable experience of my trip. I felt l...

I've played piano since the age of seven, and I am so grateful that I learned how to do so. Music has been an integral part of my life, and piano has actually opened up many opportunities for me in the music world. Even though I'...

I've been to London, Paris, Barcelona, and several cities in Italy, and each trip has left me with an overwhelming desire to return to Europe. Hopefully, I can add a few more cities to that list in the near future.  

Well, it's a department store. For anybody who's been to a large mall, Harrods is anything but a culture shock, nor does it offer an especially unique shopping experience beyond the fact that it is upscale and, therefore, expensi...

Arguably the most well-known landmark in Paris, and maybe even the entire world, the Eiffel Tower cannot be missed on one's first trip to Paris. Sadly, I don't remember much about this specific experience, but what does stand out...

I made sure to do this every day I ate in Italy, and nothing will ever beat this perfect food.  

Despite the long and tedious train rides it took to get to Sorrento, where we stayed to be near to Pompeii, it was definitely worth it. This was such an exciting and unique experience. In fact, while planning for the trip to Italy, the m...

While I visited several cities in Italy, Rome was by far my favorite. I've never been to a place that felt more closely connected to history. The most amazing moment I had in Rome was when I visited the Roman Forum. As I strolled alo...

While I can't say that I've fully mastered Spanish, I have been studying it for several years now, and it has been, surprisingly, one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. Sitting in my Spanish class in seventh gra...

Driving was less terrifying and complicated than I expected it to be, despite the fact that my practice began in the gigantic Bosch factory parking lot near my house. The one moment from my driver's ed class that I remember is nearly...

As a burgeoning lover of musical theater at the young age of nine, seeing Wicked with my Girl Scout troop was unbelievably exciting. At the time, I felt incredibly priveleged to be seeing the hottest show on Broadway (in Chicago), and th...

 The London Eye certainly has a lot of hype, and when London has suprisingly fewer major tourist options than expected, this glorified Ferris wheel seems like a must-do. However, when I was recently giving travel recommend...