A day in Istanbul

 We woke up at the Apple Tree Hotel and went up to have breakfast at the buffet overlooking the capital, Istanbul. 

We started by wandering the streets of this city until we reached the Blue Mosque. The mosque was very beautiful, adorned with various colorful tiles. We continued strolling and stopped to eat. 

After finishing, we stumbled upon the Grand Bazaar and left with our hands full of bags. We kept walking through this beautiful city, and ahead of us, we saw the Galata Tower. Although we couldn't go up, we were impressed by its height. Finally, we took a stroll through the center of Istanbul and had a delicious dinner.

In our way to Istambul

 We started our adventure to Turkey full of excitement and enthusiasm to experience this exchange with our host families after a year apart.

 During this waiting period, we never stopped thinking about this moment, eager to live new experiences and see what life is like in these exotic places so different from ours. Above all, we stayed in touch with our companions the entire time, counting down the days until we could see each other again. 

Catching the plane at 6:15 in the morning was tough, but thanks to our families, we all made it on time to start our first day. After 2 hours of traveling, we arrived in  Valencia, where we rested a bit before catching our flight to Istanbul. After passing through the boarding gate, we started feeling butterflies in our stomachs; we couldn't believe it was actually happening! Excited, our journey began, and later we arrived at our destination. 

We stayed at the Apple Tree Hotel and, since we had plenty of time, we went for a walk around. Later, we had dinner and met some very nice people. We had a great time!

Coming back

Today has been a sad day, marking the end of our experience in the Erasmus program. We woke up very early to pack our bags, and the sadness was already in the air as we prepared them. We said goodbye to our Hungarian friends with whom we shared unforgettable moments.

Later, we headed to the airport, but we got stuck in endless traffic.

Our plane was delayed, and we waited endlessly in the uncomfortable terminal until finally, our plane arrived.

Finally, we boarded the plane, looking out the window with nostalgia as we left behind the city that gave us so many incredible moments during this amazing journey. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all the experiences lived, but also with the hope that this is not a definitive goodbye, but a "see you soon" to this wonderful adventure.

Last day in Caparica

Today was our last day at the school. It went by very quickly, and we feel sad knowing that this week is coming to an end. 

When we arrived at the school, some students performed an act about cyberbullying and its impact on individuals. Their performance was captivating.  Afterward, other Portuguese students showed us a short film portraying the story of a girl who experienced cyberbullying.

Later on, two students presented the results of a survey about the use of social media.

Today's lunch was quite different; each country brought something typical. We truly enjoyed tasting all types of food, which allowed us to learn a little more about each country. After finishing our meal, some Portuguese students invited us to join them in dancing different routines they had prepared. We had a lot of fun.

In the afternoon, we went to the cinema and watched a thrilling movie called "Mystery in Venice."

Sadly, when the movie ended, we had to bid farewell to our Portuguese friends, as we won't be seeing them again. It was a very emotional moment because we've made wonderful memories and had so much fun together this week.

Caves and Faith

Sunday began with rain, but our trip from Caparica turned out to be a great day .

First, we explored Cuevas de Moeda, incredible caves shaped by nature. Inside, we marveled at the limestone formations, the play of light on ancient walls, and the echoes of history.

Later, despite the rain, Fátima welcomed us with its sacred atmosphere. We visited the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, where pilgrims prayed amid the tranquil rain.

Even with the weather, Fátima felt serene. The Chapel of Apparitions offered a peaceful space for reflection, adding a spiritual touch to the day.

As we headed back, the rain eased, giving us a moment of calm reflection. 

Saturday, visiting Lisbon

Today, Saturday, we woke up looking forward to the activities that were planned. After having breakfast, we headed to the beach for various activities. Upon arrival, we split into two groups. While one group played volleyball, the other enjoyed surfing. Initially, we were given wetsuits and started with a warm-up session. Following that, they taught us how to stand up on the surfboard. Our time in the water was incredible; we had so much fun.

Around two o'clock, we all went to a restaurant near the beach for lunch.

After finishing our meal, we took a bus to go to Lisbon. We were really excited to explore the city. We strolled through its streets, visiting landmarks such as Plaza del Comercio, Elevador de Santa Justa, and the iconic yellow tram of San Antonio.

We also visited Bertrand, the oldest functional library in the world.

Last but not least, we went to a hamburger restaurant for dinner, and it was delicious. To return to the hotel, we took an Uber because it started raining heavily, preventing us from going back by boat.

First day in EPED

Today, Thursday, is our first day here in Caparica. We didn't wake up too early to catch the bus and go to the school "eped."

The students have welcomed us with so much enthusiasm. To get to know each other better, we played some ice-breaking games, like creating a mural depicting the most significant Portuguese things.

We had lunch at the school bar. For today's lunch, we had rice, "pasteis de bacalhau," and some soup.

Until 14h, we attended a class where each country presented some typical songs. After that, some German women gave us a talk about cyberbullying; it was very interesting.

At 16h, we caught the bus and went to the hotel for over an hour. Then we went for a walk and arrived at a park when it started to rain, so we returned.

We decided to have dinner and ended up in a burger restaurant. It had some interesting toilets...Finally, we returned to the hotel to sleep. Tomorrow will be another day!