Accounts Receivable Collection Specialist II Diana Roman didn’t think twice about how she wanted to use her five-year Trip of a Lifetime - she knew she was going to Europe.
“London was a given,” she said. “Beyond that, I consulted with my niece who lives in the Netherlands and my sister who traveled with me.”
Between the three of them, an exciting itinerary took shape, taking them to four different countries over the course of three weeks.
“This was my first time ‘crossing the pond,’” Diana said, “and I wanted to make the most of this truly unique opportunity for a trip of a lifetime.”
Diana considers the train station in Roosendaal to be the official start of her trip. (Purposely choosing to ignore the hour or so at the airport in Brussels during which the airline had seemingly lost her sister’s suitcase.)
After meeting up with her niece, the trio continued on to Amsterdam, a city that boasts more than 62 miles of canals, 1,500 bridges and more than 800 years of history.
One highlight from Diana’s time in Amsterdam was the canal cruise that she took by herself.
“My sister and niece went to see some other sites,” Diana said, “while I got a great view of some amazing architecture.”
Among her favorite sites were the iconic 17th-century canal houses – the narrow, often colorful, townhouses that now adorn nearly every postcard and souvenir T-shirt sold in the city.
Another highlight came just after the canal tour.
“I was sitting on a bench waiting for my sister and niece to come pick me up, and I kept seeing people taking turns posing for pictures in front of this green door.”
Upon closer inspection, Diana realized it was the front door of the Anne Frank House, where Anne and her family hid during World War II and Germany’s occupation of the Netherlands.
The house – now part of a museum – was already closed for the day, so Diana followed everyone else’s example and snapped a few photos.
Paris was the next stop on the list, where the group paid a visit to the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, an art museum housed in an old railway station. A lunch cruise on the Seine provided unparalleled views of the Eiffel Tower, and enjoying brunch (on two different occasions) at Angelina’s gave them a brush with celebrity.
“On our second visit, our server told us we were sitting at Coco Chanel’s favorite table.”
Then came Diana’s long-awaited stay in London.
Wanting to make sure they saw all the highlights, the trio took advantage of a Hop-On Hop-off bus tour. From there, they visited the famous Tower Bridge, Camden Market, the British Museum and made a point to catch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and experience the “Royal Afternoon Tea” at the Covent Garden Hotel.
Spending the last days of their trip in Belgium, Diana, her niece and her sister visited the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp and the beautiful Antwerpen-Centraal railway station.
“I also ate some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had,” Diana added, reflecting on her time in Brussels.
Already looking forward to her next Trip of a Lifetime, Diana says she’ll go back to Europe. She’s considering Portugal and Spain… or maybe Ireland.
“I feel super blessed and grateful to be working for a wonderful company like Arthrex,” she said. “The Trips of a Lifetime are just one of many great benefits.”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.