June 6, 2026 / 10 Minute Read

summer 16

In recent years, 2016 has been widely recognized as a pivotal moment in pop culture history.

Rarely have we seen a period with so many consecutive significant events in sports, music, and politics.

Some may think these claims are exaggerated, that they’re simply the whispers of a naive and aging generation.

But let me assure you, that year was just as amazing as everyone says.

I had one of the best summers of my life that year, and I’m going to tell you all about it!

So sit back, relax, and put on your shades.

We’re heading back to Summer 16!

spain in summer

The first thing I did that summer was head to Spain!

I was a rising junior in high school at the time, and I’d applied for the trip the year prior through my Spanish class.

I’d completely forgotten about it until I received my acceptance letter, and I honestly wasn’t that excited at first, despite the fact that my only experience abroad was Niagara Falls up to that point.

I don’t think my 16-year-old brain comprehended the magnitude of the opportunity. My mom was far more excited than I was, but I’d soon join in on her enthusiasm.

I’d be spending two weeks overseas, touring a series of different cities following an itinerary filled with guided tours, curated meals, and fun in the sun.

The flight was about 10 hours in total, a bit daunting, I know, but made better by the plane’s excellent amenities, including reclining chairs that functioned like beds and personal TV’s with a variety of shows and movies.

After a brief layover in Amsterdam, we landed in Barcelona, the first stop on our journey.

We were only there for a few days, but the weather seemed extremely cold for June, with strong winds. The climate reminded me of San Francisco (more on that later), one of my least favorite destinations.

I was also somewhat surprised by the landscape. I imagined Spanish cities as exotic, desert abodes, but Barcelona looked like pretty much any major city you’d see throughout the world.

Skyscrapers, shopping plazas, heavy traffic, and endless people.

Guess that’s my fault for not doing my research, huh?

After leaving Barcelona, we traveled by bullet train to nearby Madrid.

In stark contrast to Barcelona, the weather was scorching, instantly garnering my personal favor.

Madrid is also a big metropolis like Barcelona, but it has a number of beautiful classical buildings scattered throughout the city.  A perfect mix between ancient and modern.

We spent most of our time roaming, exploring interesting landmarks like cathedrals and memorials, and learning about the city’s history.

I thoroughly enjoyed the guided tours and the focus on learning throughout the trip. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to the beach and partying as much as the next guy, but I also truly love to learn about the world and different cultures.

Madrid also holds a special place in my heart as the site where I witnessed my hometown win its first NBA championship!

I vividly remember losing my ish during the wee hours of the morning with my roommate as we watched the Cleveland Cavaliers dethrone the mighty Golden State Warriors!!!

Shout out to Kyrie Irving!

To this day, I’m still a little bummed that I missed the celebration and the championship parade.

I watched in distress as my friends and family celebrated on social media while we traveled by bus across the desert to our next destination.

After Madrid, we headed to the beautiful town of Toledo, which turned out to be my favorite city!

It perfectly fit the image of Spain in my mind’s eye.

There were no skyscrapers or densely populated areas.

All of the buildings were relatively small and intricately built.

Lots of churches, bazaars, and gypsies.

Similar to Madrid, a plethora of beautiful monuments dotted the city, this time unhindered by adjacent skyscrapers and convenience stores.

This was actually an exclusive part of the trip and featured a much smaller group of kids.

The bulk of our group had continued on to Seville, and after our brief detour, we rejoined them and continued our journey.

After making a few stops around Seville at various museums and restaurants, we headed south to Granada.

It was very similar to Toledo in terms of landscape, but far larger, stretching seemingly as far as the eye could see.

I remember one evening in particular where our tour group embarked on a guided hike through the city, ending at one of its highest points.

I don’t know what it was about that part of Spain, but it had some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.

The view of the sprawling city, tinted in orange, red, and purple as the sun retreated beneath the horizon, was inspiring to say the least.

A fitting backdrop for the final stop on my journey.

I don’t remember the mode of travel, but somehow we ended our trip back where we started, in chilly Barcelona, spending our final day at the beach.

A perfect end to an awesome trip!

blue mountain state

After my trip to Spain, I returned home for about a week before heading out on my next adventure.

I was staying stateside on this trek, making my way to what I thought would be sunny San Francisco.

I really need to start doing my homework on my travel destinations.

In high school, I participated on my local Mock Trial team and was invited to an exclusive, global program called Envision.

For two weeks, I’d be staying and studying at Stanford University with some of the smartest kids from around the world, participating in what was essentially an expedited mock trial summer camp.

I’m not sure how the selections were made or how they found me, as I was the only kid from my school to attend, but in contrast to Spain, this was a trip that excited me from the start!

I arrived in San Fran two days before the program actually started, and my mom and I decided to spend that time exploring the city.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a big fan of the Bay Area. I took this trip in July, and similar to Barcelona, the temperature hovered around 60 degrees with strong winds.

Miami is my favorite travel destination, so you can probably imagine how I feel about the cold. I thought lake effect weather was bad; I’d never considered that ocean effect (is that even a word?) weather would be even worse.

I also didn’t enjoy the hilly terrain. I’m all for a nice workout, and I’m an avid runner and hiker, but some of those streets felt like they had 90-degree inclines!

Simply unbearable.

Weather and landscape aside, my stay was relatively enjoyable. There’s a very large number of our unhoused neighbors out there, which was depressing, and some grimy neighborhoods, but that’s typical of big cities, though it probably shouldn’t be.

I did enjoy the shopping though, and there were some amazing views from the (frigid) bay!

Soon, the day arrived for me to begin the esteemed Envision Program.

I said my goodbyes and boarded the bus for the short 45-minute ride to Stanford, taking my place among a sea of diverse and giddy faces.

The ride was filled with yelling and laughter as we sped towards campus.

You know how there are some people you just instantly vibe with?

One conversation and it’s like you’ve known this person for 10 years?

That was pretty much my initial experience, except it was ubiquitous.

I’ve never seen a group of kids get together and gel so quickly, so excited for their next destination, so enamored with each other.

By the time we’d gotten to campus, we were already throwing our first party.

While the adults finalized housing arrangements, the other kids and I were moonlighting as Footloose extras in the hallway.

Our first day jam was finally broken up as the counselors herded us to our assigned rooms.

I spent the rest of my first night socializing with my new roommates, creating memories and anxiously anticipating the next day.

The next two weeks were a blur of lectures and working sessions in the mornings, followed by various fun excursions and field trips in the evenings, including visits to landmarks like the Stanford mall and Pier 39.

It was so fun living like a college kid, attending classes, eating at the cafe (those Treehouse burgers are TO DIE FOR), and sleeping in the dorms.

Our late nights were filled with studying, bonding, and childish shenanigans.

Despite the hijinks, we maintained the discipline necessary to achieve our educational goals.

After all, we were there to learn and to win a (fictional) case, not to dance in the California sun, right?

Though we did that too.

Our training culminated on the second-to-last day of the program, when we held our final mock trial cases at the San Francisco courthouse.

We spent our final night together celebrating, hosting a party (this time supported by the instructors), and exploring the Stanford campus like children on a playground before returning to our normal lives the next morning.

Though tears flooded my eyes on the long plane ride back to Cleveland, I’d go on to see my Envision friends multiple times in the coming years, and we still talk to this day! ​

By far one of, if not the most fun summer camp I’ve ever attended.

key to the streets

After over a month of traveling far and wide, I returned home to a dream.

Originally, my first car was supposed to be a surprise, but an argument with my mom back in San Fran caused her to spill the beans prematurely.

She actually threatened to sell it because of my behavior (very overdramatic), so I wasn’t even sure I’d still get it.

My mom ended up surprising me at work, pulling up in a beautiful 2005 Honda Accord clad in storm grey.

As we drove off, my mom regaled me with the tale of how she valiantly outmatched the salesman in their battle over the price of my first car.

After returning home from a summer of adventures, I was granted the freedom on four wheels that so many teenagers dream of.

I’d go on to total her a few years later, but that’s a story for another day.

I’ll always love you Carmen, gone but not forgotten!

looking for revenge

Summer 16 served as a liminal period in my life.

A time where the stars aligned and I seemingly achieved the best outcomes possible in every scenario thrown my way.

It marked a major milestone on my path to adulthood and left me with a trove of priceless memories I will (hopefully) take to the grave.

Thank you for allowing me to share them with you.

Though my eyes may be shielded by rose-tinted glasses, I can confidently assert that 2016 lived up to the hype.

What a time to be alive!

Bye Chance!