2 travel snapshots by belfer1960

Travel snapshots

The 1th meeting of the partner schools Lycée Paul Moreau- Bras Panon – France Reunion

Non-Public School Students from Laskowa, realizing Comenius project FEAST - Feeding World Applying Sustainable Technologies, spent the first week of November, together with friends from partnership schools (Austria, Spain, Norway, Turkey, France) in a tiny island with a thousand faces. Reunion - beautiful, volcanic island, located in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. Approaching the Saint-Denis, Reunion's capital, one gets the impression that the plane during landing touched ocean waves. The pilot landed on the tarmac, which is located just a few hundred meters from the coast. After more than 10,000 kilometers from the start in the gray misty Warsaw, reminding cold morning in Paris, our group landed on the island, where we were welcomed by warm, moist breath, great ocean and green mountain range, Frederic Grondin - host of the meeting and the project coordinator (a teacher of biology the partner Paul Moreau High School) and high school girls Lucinda and MaĂŤva with her parents were waiting for us. Our Polish schoolgirls-Klaudia Kowalczyk and Irena Wiktor stayed at their houses for the time of our journey. It is worth noting that this journey was a reward for them ,as they were the best in the school contest. Each of the eight days spent on this picturesque island was extraordinary full of exciting events and impressions. The first day was mainly a welcome lunch. Teachers met in the home of M.B. Bossard. The lunch was an opportunity for partners to know each other, but also to get acquainted with some of the customs of the island, and-of course-the traditional Creole cuisine. In the afternoon we went for a walk through Saint Andre we could see a Buddhist temple and local people in the park. Monday was a meeting in the School FEAST Paul Moreau. Here we were greeted by school director - Andre Boyer. We had the opportunity to get to know the school and the education system and to present the partner countries. This meeting was also a discussion on the final shape of the project, its logo and website, and our students were able to participate in the classes at school.

Subject of the Tuesday classes was the origin of cultivated soils in Reunion. We went to the volcano. While traveling the mountain switchbacks we noticed different scenery from the green, covered with lush tropical plants in the north. Spread here at 2632 meters high, is still fuming volcano Piton de la Fournaise. Wandering through gentle slopes covered with volcanic ash volcano until you reach the edge of the crater to look into the abyss, which draws the smoke. Gravel road to the Pas de Bellecombe leads the kind of miniature, but very colorful, sandy desert, which is called the Plaine des Sables. From the vantage point of Pas de Bellecombe, located on the edge of the old crater offers a wide view of the interior of the volcanic caldera. On Reunion Island furnished modern museum dedicated to the type of volcanic activity. It's called La Maison du Volcan and is located in Bourg-Murat. Tourist paths lead among other things to a small crater located in the flat bottom, where-after arduous journey - we were able to reach. On Wednesday we visited the sugar cane research center where we could learn about the history of cultivation, technology and watch the work in the laboratory. We also visited some vocational schools(construction and cooking school) we were impressed to see how they organize work apprenticeships, in large and wellequipped workshops (at the school). In the evening, we made a visit to a local sugar refinery, where we could not only watch the manufacturing process, but also take part in a tasting of different products from sugar cane. Another day was to explore the capital of Reunion Island - Saint Denis. We were welcomed by Le Barachois seaside park where you can find row of the old cannons aimed at the sea. In the small capital of the island next to the Catholic Cathedral, we sawTamil temple, Pagoda and Mosque. In the narrow streets of the old colonial part of town houses with wrought iron railings on the balconies. The visit to the botanical garden Mascarine was an unforgettable experience , we were surprised with rich tropical vegetation. We focused mainly on medicinal plants.

On Friday, we discussed the importance of the lagoon protection from the impact of agriculture and industry. We made a trip to one of the most beautiful beaches of La RĂŠunion - l'Ermitage. We were able to try scuba diving, and sunbathed. Another part of the day was a visit to an organic farm. It seemed that the time has stopped here. The hosts cultivate the land here by hand and eat what will raise.

The 2th meeting of the partner schools Bergen Handelsgymnasium â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Norway Bergen

Students from Laskowa have experienced next great adventure within Comenius . This time (after a hot Reunion Island )they went to Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, known as the gateway to the fjords , located on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Delegations from Laskowa, Bras Panon (Reunion), Leibnitz (Austria), Nazili (Turkey) and Sabadell (Spain) were hosted by Norwegian partners in Bergen Handelsgymnasium. Students visited Norwegian school and they got familiar with educational system and the methods of teachers’ work. Students could participate in various subjects. All activities during the meeting focused around the theme of "Lunch Break". Young people from six countries presented ways to prepare the second breakfast, they used multimedia communication and, above all, they prepared meals with ingredients taken from their countries. This activity provided an opportunity to learn helathy eating habits especially organic foods. In addition, Norwegian hosts showed us old ways of producing food, inviting us to the museum Gamle Bergen. Here, the main street of the town - museum stand colorful, old houses. We could not only see their design, but also move in time and bake traditional flatbrød on natural sourdough pretzels under the watchful eye of the museum hosts dressed in national costumes from the old era. Knowing the ins and outs of Norwegian bread and its unique taste, teenagers implementing the project FEAST went to Sotra Seafoods in Glesvær (45 km west of Bergen), known for its farming, processing and exporting salmon. The taste of the fish served during lunch in the oldest tavern fishing was wonderful. We also had the opportunity to visit the Bergen tourist attractions such as the famous wooden buildings of Bryggen team of XVIII century ,we admired views of the bay and surrounding Bergen Vågen including fjords and Byfjorden Puddefjorden one of the seven hills - Fløyen, where you can find not only Norwegian trolls, but also a number of joggers. Another attraction was the visit to the quarium, where you can watch one of the largest collections of marine fauna in Europe. Students from Laskowa participating in this trip to Bergen , made new friends, gain some knowledge and experience ,they could take part in great lessons in the Gate to Fjords. It was unforgettable experience

The 2th meeting of the partner schools INSTITUTO ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA PAU VILA Spain – Sabadell

Comenius team of students from Pope John Paul II Non Public Secondary School in Laskowa visited (after the island of Reunion and Bergen gateway to the fjords) charming Catalan city - Sabadell, near Barcelona. City welcomed us with a very joyful event "Festa and Tradicio" serving program of events, highlighting the wealth of Catalan culture. Streets echoed with traditional music and dancing sparkled with multicolored diversity ado that people admired the crowds. Already at the first contact it was easy to see that the Catalans are very proud of their independence and rich history. The next day was the meeting to work on the project and getting to know the partner country: education, customs, traditions, but also its unique beauty. Participants discovered them wandering among others routes of Antoni Gaudi. We were lucky to see the Sagrada FamĂlia that made an impression on all of us. The Temple of the Holy Family Reconciliation - secession church in Barcelona, with the status of a minor basilica, and considered a major achievement for the designer. Three of the facade of this unique temple depict the life of Jesus - from birth to death. Although the building is not yet completed, is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

The other Gudi’s top was Park Güell - a large garden with architectural elements, also designed by Gaudi. Delight raises long entrance gate with wrought iron and adjacent to the pavilions and the entrance stairs to the main pavilion. Gaudí put them three islands, first gave form caves, the second - the hose against the Catalan flag - a symbol of wisdom, the third salamanders. It is impossible not to mention the Hall of Columns - the main pavilion with a population of 86 ancient columns of formulas in which the inside are special channels to allow water flow from the pavilion located on the terrace. The architect called it Greek theater. It is enclosed by an exceptionally long bench, which is also the ledge beneath the pavilion, in this garden you can enjoy the house where Gaudi lived it moved near the Sagrada Familia. Today it houses a museum of the artist. It is also remarkable Casa Batllo - Barcelona building, remodeled by Gaudi. It was also the architect designed interior details - furniture, lighting, chandeliers, etc. Spain is not only Gaudi. That's a lot of other places that cannot be forgotten. These include the Barcelona's Montjuïc - wide and not high hill with a relatively flat top, almost vertical cliff, so that the top offers a great view of the harbor, located at the foot of the hill. The top of Montjuïc (173 m) was the seat of various types of fortifications, the latest of which (Castell de Montjuïc) is still there today. The slopes of the hill in the twenties of the twentieth century was chosen as the site for the world exhibition. It is from this period is the bewitching his monumental Palau Nacional (today the National Art Museum of Catalonia) and the Olympic Stadium and the Magic Fountain. Another magical place that we were invited to was St Benet - old Benedictine abbey, and one of the most interesting monasteries, which features a mixture of different styles: Romanesque, the baroque to the modern art. Contemporary accents and the images from the history of the monastery and religious life, played with the art of holography. This extraordinary spectacle, breathtaking. In the vicinity of the monastery there is an organic farm and the headquarters of the Foundation "Alicia", which deals with the problems of nutrition (need, culture, habits). We had the opportunity to take part in an extremely interesting workshop "The 12 feeling of the senses".

Also provided an unforgettable experience for all expedition to Montserrat - massif very picturesque, "frayed", heavily eroded massif, built mainly conglomerate. From a distance up like a saw with teeth pointing toward the sky. On the slopes of the Massif built a monastery and church. This is the main religious center of Catalonia and one of the most important goals of pilgrims from all over the world. All this because of La Moreneta-Black Madonna, which the Catalans has a similar meaning as our Madonna from Czestochowa. The Mother of God, leading the side chapels, full of beautiful ornaments (sculptures, paintings, mosaics, stained glass). Madonna is surrounded by a glass tube, and to the faithful there is only one element of figures: hand with apple abundance. It is worth noting that Montserrat is the second most important seat of the Monte Cassino Benedictine. In addition to the monastery are located are also museums, including, El Grecco and Pablo Picasso. Another attraction was the Champions Parade FC Barcelona. Barca after draw with Espanyol 1-1 Real Madrid secured a 22 Spanish championship. On this occasion, the streets of Barcelona feta organized with the participation of players who rode through the streets of the outdoor bus. "It's amazing! I saw Messi ! "Cried joyfully, with flushed faces, girls that sympathize with the club and had the impression that it is the biggest attraction of this trip. Similar pastries on the faces of our five-person delegation re-emerged during the presentation of full-year results of the project work. This time, however, these were signs of pride and satisfaction with the high level of activities and presentations that everyone raved about. The next meeting has already passed into history. Left a lot of memories, new experiences and all the resources of knowledge, gained in an unconventional, interesting way.