COMENIUS Be my G.U.E.S.T. Second mobility to Portugal

Our school took part to a two-year project, "Be my G.U.E.S.T." that gives the chance to some students, chosen after a selection, to travel to the other states which joined the program ( Turkey, Portugal, France, Spain and Poland). The second mobility after Turkey was Portugal. The team chosen was composed by us ( Lorena Cossu and Francesca Atria) and our teachers, Caterina Pasella and Donatella Gregorini..

The trip started on 9th February from Olbia's airport; after the flight (Olbia - Rome, Rome - Lisboa) we landed and we devoted the rest of the day to a short sightseeing of Lisboa's centre (Rossio and Cais do Sodrè). After a delicious dinner we went to the hotel.

The following day we visited some Lisboa's sites as the tower of Belem, Pedrao dos Doscoprimentos, Mosteiro dos Geronimos and after a couple of delicious meals we picked up our luggage and we reached Fatima by bus, having the chance to admire the surrounding landscape. In Fatima we met the Portuguese coordinator and we finally went to the hotel where we had our first and unofficial meeting with the other foreigner students.

On 11st February, after a visit to Ourem's City Hall, students from EPO professional school gave welcomed us. We had time to socialize during the web quiz that also gave us a way to know each others' culture and during a guided visit of their school. After this, even though the bad weather we had a sightseen tour of the castle of Ourem and the bus transfer to the restaurant "O Curral" where we made traditional Portuguese bread. While the loaves of bread where baking, we all showed our powerpoints about our schools and countries. After dinner we went back to the hotel, having time to talk and joke with the other students.

The following day we visited the Sanctuary of Fatima, the Chapel of Apparition and the new Basilica, the Holy Trinity Church. Here we had time to think about religions and to share our personal points of view. After a short stop in the hotel we had lunch at the EHF (Hospitality Vocational School) canteen and then the P.E. teacher organized some folk games (chosen among the traditional ones of each country joining the contest) in the school gym.

On 13rd February we departed by bus for the Cultural Day. We had a really interesting guided tour in English of Mira de Aire Caves, the largest and most famous caves in Portugal

then we visited Nazarè ( where we saw the Atlantic Ocean) and Obidos, a picturesque medieval village. When we got back we had the farewell dinner, prepared for us by Portuguese students.

In Obidos we took this farewell photo of teachers..

.. and students

On 14th February we unfortunately had to come back. We had breakfast at Fatima's Hotel, we greeted everybody, especially our new great friends and their teachers. We prepared our things and we took the bus to reach Lisboa's airport. Here we took the plane, doing the same stops of the previous time, and we travelled for most of the day's time. We landed in Olbia at about 8:30 pm; here our relatives welcomed us. This was our last day of this great experience.

Thank you for your attention Lorena Cossu Francesca Atria