Sophia Kaloudis Enjoys Summer Trip to Paris and Amsterdam
August 25, 2023
Sophia Kaloudis loves the thrill of flying through the air as one of America’s top young gymnasts. The rising Huntington High School senior also enjoys traveling and the excitement that comes with touching down in new lands. The teenager visited Paris and Amsterdam this summer with her parents and sister.
“It was a trip we had been looking forward to for a few years, that was delayed due to COVID,” Ms. Kaloudis said. “We spent a wonderful week in Paris and then took short train ride to Amsterdam, where we stayed for an additional three days. I really enjoyed our time in Paris and everything about the beautiful city. There is so much history and culture with so much to see and do. We did our best to see as much as possible during our time there. From the museums and historical monuments to the charming cafes, it would be hard to pick my favorite part of it all.”
Ms. Kaloudis gave a verbal commitment to Oregon State University last year to compete on its NCAA Division I women’s gymnastics team. She’s a great student with many Advanced Placement classes on her resume. The teenager plays violin in the orchestra.
“On our first evening in Paris, we took a Bateaux Mouche boat ride, down the Seine which was a great way to get an overview of the city while seeing the main attractions such as Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower,” Ms. Kaloudis said. “I especially enjoyed seeing the monuments and famous bridges like the Pont Alexandre III lit up at night which was extra special. Naturally, we visited a few museums in Paris. We visited the Musee d’Orsay which is housed in an old train station, The Musee de L’Orangerie to see Monet’s Water Lilies and The Louvre where we saw the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and The Venus de Milo among many other beautiful works of art.”
The Huntington senior said one of her favorite sections of Paris was the Montmarte area. “This is a very old part of Paris that is known for its artistic heritage,” Ms. Kaloudis said. “There are artists on the streets painting and selling their art to the many tourists. We also visited the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur which sits on the hill of Montmartre, that is the second highest point in Paris after the Eiffel Tower, with amazing views of the city. The shops and cafes in this area were especially enjoyable.”
Ms. Kaloudis was even able to go on a fun bike tour to the Palace of Versailles. “We biked over 10 miles from the town to the stunning royal grounds of Versailles and also enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park after shopping at a local market,” she said. “I really enjoyed our tour of Marie-Antoinette’s private hamlet on the estate and the beautiful gardens. My favorite part about the palace itself was definitely the Hall of Mirrors, which was so grand and ornate. It was a really fun way to spend the day and see the Palace of Versailles.”
The teenager said she also enjoyed her time in Amsterdam, which she found to be “very different” from Paris.
“It was a great city to walk around and explore on foot or bike,” Ms. Kaloudis said. “On our boat tour of the beautiful city, I learned that there are 165 canals and 1281 bridges in Amsterdam. It was also interesting to learn that there were twice as many bicycles in the city then there are cars. We visited the Anne Frank House and Museum in Amsterdam, which was a highlight for me. The museum was extremely well done and very moving. I’m really glad to have visited and would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone as it is such an important part of history.”
Safely back in Huntington and planning for a wonderful senior year, Ms. Kaloudis will always hold dear memories of her summer trip to Europe. “I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to visit both Paris and Amsterdam this summer with my family and am looking forward to our next summer vacation,” she said.
