Thursday, April 19, 2012

Meeting in Venice

Three members of the green club (Mari-Ann, Airi, Sandra) and two teachers (Rita, Eve) took part in the project meeting from 05.03 to 09.03 in Venice.

It was nict to see familiar faces and meet new friends form Spain, Portgale, Rumania, Turkey, and Italy. All the schools had to prepare three presentations for the meeting: sustainable renovation,  a new rubbish systam in school, and a widely celebrated festival.

Our hosts had organised an interesting programm which included visiting two islands Murano,  Burano and Venice.

Murano is famous for its marvelous handmade glass work. Many glassmaking technologies and techniques were originated on Murano and are still in use today. The making of Murano Glass is a complicated and sophisticated process, as each piece is actually an original hand-made work of art.

The Italians are known as talkative, emotional, chareful, and friendly peole. Even their houses,  on an island Burano which is famous for lace-making, are brightly - coloured.

Guidebooks suggest the painting began with the fishermen's desire to identify their own houses from the lagoon, which seems sweet but not particularly likely (the majority aren't visible from the water in any case). Burano certainly seems to an outsider like a cheerful place to live. Open doors and laundry drying outside in the lanes adds to the impression of a friendly and tight-knit community.

In Venice, it really seemed lika time has stopped and we’re back in the Middle –Ages.
To summarise the meeting we could say in plain Italian BELLISSIMO.

Rita Püümann

See also the gallery about meeting.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Meeting in Portugal

There has already been four meetings turning the project: In Estonia, Spain, Turkey, and Portugal. The last one took place in Almada from 3rd to7th October. Our two students and teachers started their jurney in dense rain which was quickly replaced by the flaming sunshine.

We were hosted by Escola secundaria de Cacilhas in Almada. We were charmed by their hospitality, on the other hand our days were full of visits and sightseeing, so we didn’t have much time for exploring.

We strongly enjoyed the hot weather and staying underneath the palm trees. On the first day, we all had to present our presentations and we think that everyone did a great job.

Like many other tourists, we were taken to the Royal Castle in Sintra and the park and palace of Monsserate. Romantical park, full of exotic trees and plants must have charmed everyone.

We also saw the beautiful Belem tower standing on the coast of inviting sea.

But aside from the things we saw, even better were the things we felt. We felt the openess, kind-heartness, politeness and cohesion of all the participants. Families welcomed us with open arms and every second of every day there was unforgettable experience.

We will always remember memories made in sunny Portugal.

Gallery: http://www.tapagymnaasium.ee/porto/index.html