6 travel snapshots part2 by belfer1960

Travel snapshots Part 2

The 4th meeting of the partner schools NAZILI MENDERES ANADOLU LISESI Nazilli – Turkey

Following the footsteps of ancient cultures Another group of students from the John Paul II Non-State Junior High School in Laskowa took part in working meeting of the Comenius group within FEAST project (Feeding Europe Applying Sustainable Technologies). This time the meeting took place under the unforgettable and cloudless Turkish sky in the city of Nazilli. Our travel schedule led us through Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Izmir. We landed there at 2 a.m. and we stayed in a local hotel. After a short break we visited Izmir, which is the third largest city in Turkey, where reportedly Homer was born. We were fascinated by Izmir. Walking through Koronal Boulevard at a bay we met fishermen, Turkish families resting and celebrating in the shade of palms and tradesmen. Walking through a stunning promenade, we reached the main square which is in the heart of Izmir. In the main square- Konak Square there is a beautiful mosque covered with sky blue tiles. It is a bit similar to the Kraków’s Main Square with a lot of pigeons, but instead of Mariacki Church in the middle of the square, in Izmir there is a grand Clock Tower.

In the afternoon we continued our travel: but this time by train. The journey took almost three hours, but fortunately we were prized with the possibility of admiring the unforgettable views through the window. We reached Nazilli in the evening. At the railway station there were both host families and teachers waiting for us- our friends from the partnership school. On Monday the meeting of our Comenius group in Nazilli Menderes Anatolu Lisesi (the secondary school in Nazilli) began. Seeing students who were flocked in the courtyard, dressed in their school uniforms and singing the anthem made a great impression on us. This is how they started the next week in their school. Then, we participated in plastic workshop and classes. After the classes we were invited for a formal lunch by the Mayor of Nazilli, during which we had an opportunity to taste Turkish cuisine. In the afternoon we took part in the official opening of international photographic exhibition- which was the effect of all partnership school work- â&#x20AC;&#x153;The colours of our bazaarsâ&#x20AC;?.

We spent another day of the meeting on visiting the shop floors connected with the food production. We went to the fish processing plant “ALBA”, vegetables and fruits processing plant “GIDA” and the plant producing drinking water “PINAR”. During this visit we had many opportunities to see production processes and to listen to the lectures concerning work conditions and production technology.

On Wednesday we landed in HierapolisPamukkale. Who has been in this place before, will be willing to come back here once again. In this ancient town which is situated on the side of a Cökelez mountain, a lot of objects were preserved, among which there are: The Baths, Temple of Apollo, Cleopatra’s Pool and Roman theatre (one of the best conserved objects in Hierapolis, which was built in II AD). It was nice to walk through these ruins and in the same time: admire the ruins of these buildings and listen to cicada’s “singing”. A little bit lower, in the Cürüksu Valley where is Pamukkale- Cotton Castle, which is famous for its calcium buildups. Water which is calcium and carbon dioxide- rich, drains from thermal springs, refrigerates on the surface and precipitates calcium carbonate which residues and shapes dripstones and stalactites. On the side of the mountain employing the unevenness of the ground, brinks (semi-circural and elliptical thermal water pools which are arranged to look like terraces) come to existence. The view of the snowy, shining in the sun side is definitely breathtaking. This is the ideal place to relax and commune with nature. You can easily lose track of time and space. After being in such marvelous places in our free time we were walking for a long time through the city of Denizli and were exchanging our experiences.

The next day also gave us unforgettable experiences. This time we visited the city of Efez, where John Paul II during his missionary journeys, had visited this city three times and also preached there. The figure of Saint John is also connected with this town. He spent here the last three days of his life and he also wrote here The Gospel According to John. Saint John settled down in Efez together with the mother of Jesus Christ who he brought in together with Saint Paul the Apostle to Jerusalem in Asia Minor. The Coressus Hill was the place where we could visit the small chapel which was built on the ruins of the house where according to the legend Maria leaved. Near to the chapel there is a“ Wish wall”- a long wall with a lot of chits on which the visitors write their wishes to the mother of Jesus Christ. We also left there our wishes. It is hard to name all the things which impressed us. There are a lot of reminiscences in this town which remind us about the beautiful past: Odeon- a small theatre, Prytanejon- the building of the city council from the I century, The Temple of Domitian, The Fountain of Polio, The Gate of Heracles, The Fountain of Trojan, The Temple of Hadrian, The Steam Baths Of Scholastica, and on the west there are men’s latrines. We could also admire commercial Agora and The Grand Theatre which is placed at a crossroad of Marble Road and Arcadian Street next to the Hill of Pion. Saint Paul was giving his sermons here. Extremely astonishing is also the library of Celsus- the most characteristic building which is associated with Efez. It has a two-tire facade, and its interior is like one whole hall.

The Celsus memorials which are belaying the library’s facade represent Four Virtues: Sophia (Wisdom), Arete (Virtue), Episteme (Knowledge), Ennoia (Devotion). We left this city with undoubtedly unrepeatable climate with great regret. On the way back to Nazilli there were two more surprises waiting for us: the first was lunch on Selçuk- typical Turkish lunch (with cross-legged sitting and traditional dishes). The second was visiting a small village, Şirince, which is associated with traditional wine, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary and peaches. I 2012 this place became famous for the place which were to survive form the predicted for December end of the world. Walking through this stunning village we realized that it is worth to come here not only looking for the shelter but also that this is really beautiful village with the ultimate climate. Everywhere you look, you can see someone cultivating his handicraft. What is more, in Şirince you can provide yourself with local products, which are produced using the traditional methods, such as, olive oil, vinegar, honey, pekmez (thick syrup obtained from fruits) and nar ekşisi (souce from pomegranates).

On Friday in the morning we finished our pictorial works, and then we went to the ancient Aphrodisias. The ruins of this city belong to the most beautiful remainders of the antique culture in Asia Minor. The Acropolis of Aphrodisias was inhabited in The Bronze Age. There are not many places which portray the majesty of these antique cities. It is worth to come here to see: the theatre, the double main square, the steam baths of Hadrian, the palace of the bishops, Odeon and particularly 30 thousand stadium. On our way back we had an opportunity to take part in ceramic workshops. It was fascinating to see how the beautiful plates were being made.

Our stay in Nazilli is over. This week was fascinating, everything was about different cultures, religion and customs. The week with great people, to whom it was hard to say goodbye and whom it will be hard to forget.

The 5th meeting of the partner schools NIEPUBLICZNE GIMNAZJUM IM. JANA PAWﾅ、 II LASKOWA - POLAND

Bread on the European table- partner countries’ meeting within the Comenius project in Laskowa. Since the 1stof September 2012 the students from Junior High School in Laskowa have been implementing a second in the history of the school project within the SokratesComenius programme that is financially supported by the European Community. Students from other High Schools that had been visited by the students from Laskowa also take part in this project, among them are students from:Bras Panon, that belongs to the French Island- Reunion, that is situated on the Indian Ocean near Madagascar,Sabadell in Spain, Nazilli in Turkey, Bergen in Norway and Leibnitz in Austria, where our students are going in May. From 16-21 of May these were Polish students who hosted their foreign friends. Given that the students from Laskowa are making their mini project called ‘’Bread on the European table’’ within the FEAST(Feeding Europe Applying Sustainable Technologies) project, the theme of the meeting was mainly concentrated on bread and delicacies from Lesser Poland. Unofficial greeting of the teachers from partner countries took place on the 16th of May. They were welcomed with the rarities from Polish cuisine, that were prepared by our students’ parents together with the Association „Trzewoje”. However, the official greeting of the meeting’s participants took place in the Jan Matejko Regional Cultural Centre in Zator. Thanks to the hospitality of the Centre’s director, the greeting had a unique atmosphere. In the Glass Gallery the participants were welcomed by the exhibition with the bigsized postcards representing the flashback from the visited countries. The end of the visit in Zator took place in the Commercial Activity Zone from where the participants went to Rudze. The participants visited two mills at Sopiccy brothers: the old, water and modern. The youth and teachers had the possibility to observe the process of milling the grain and how the mill worked itself. The visit to the agrotourism and educational farm that belongs to BeataSopicka was the next point of a schedule for that day. The participants of the meeting ate a typical, delicious Polish dinner and they also took part in the culinary workshops. One group formed bread, the second one pierogi and the last- croissants with jam. During that time, the teachers were watching a film promoting the loveliness of our commune. At the end, everyone eagerly ate the dishes prepared by the students. 12

The most important motto for the second day of the meeting was “With bread and salt, i.e. “Delicacies from Lesser Poland- salt of Wieliczka City, pretzels from Kraków. The participants had the opportunity to visit one of the most attractive places in Poland. They walked through a salt corridors of the Mine’s tunnel in Wieliczka City, admiring cut in salt chambers, incredible underground lakes, majestic carpentry constructions and unique salt sculptures, the same getting to know the work of a miner. On our way back participants were surprised by another attraction: walk through Kraków and degustation of pretzels, the symbol of Kraków- a product that was added to the list of traditional products of Lesser Poland in the category of bakery and confectionery products and to the list of European Union’s protected products.

Wednesday- another day in Poland was of a serious nature. The guiding thought of that day was “Dying for bread”? the participants of Comenius visited The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, where they had the possibility to find out about the reality in prison where many people had died because of the lack of bread. It is worth mentioning, that this visit had a great impact on our foreign guests. They did not hide their emotions and tears. They paid tribute to the victims by putting the flowers and praying under the Death Wall.

In the afternoon the Comenius group visited the Nadwiślański Ethnographic Museum in Wygiełzów. While visiting the open-air museum they were gathering further information about bread and utensils (e.g. quern) in former Poland.

Thursday’s motto was “Lesser Poland’s delicacies -oscypek”. The participants took part in a tour to Zakopane. They had the possibility to admire the beauty of our mountains, the oldest wooden sacral building in Zakopane – The Church of Mother of God in Częstochowa and to walk through The Cemetery of the distinguished on PęksowyBrzyzek. They could also obviously tasted oscypek- that is a traditional delicacy in our Polish mountains.

After the exciting day, everyone (students, teachers, parents) gathered together to eat the international farewell dinner. The meeting (traditionally) were introduced by the Polonaise. That time this was an international group that danced in national costumes. It was a very stirring moment. The meeting was fulfilled by the words to express gratitude both from the hosts and the guests. Polish students invited their guests to all kinds of entertainment. A folk band “Laskowiacy” and duet- Zuzia Balonek and Nikodem Mazur enriched the ambience of the meeting with dance performances.

The last day of the meeting was spent at school. Given the fact that it was the first day of spring, the international parade carrying the Polish Marzannawalked through Laskowa. In such a manner we said goodbye to the winter and happily welcomed the spring. However, we quickly forgot about this happiness as we were to say goodbye to our guests. It was a great week! A week, that proofs that an organization at a high level is possible. It is all thanks to everyone who were involved in the realization of the project: parents, teachers, students and our donors (the city Hall in Zator, the Jan Matejko Regional Cultural Centre in Zator, ‘’Skawa’’ Confectionery Factory in Wadowice, ‘’Maspex” Wadowice, MSH „Wizan” Spytkowice, Supermarket „Hana” in Zator, Delicatessen „Centrum” in Spytkowice, ŚwiatWarzywiOwoców in Zator, the Baker’s „Maja” in Spytkowice, „Karpik” Graboszyce and „Trzewoje” Association from Trzebieńczyce). We sincerely THANK to everyone! Let the words of the project’s coordinator, Frederic Grondin from Reunion, be the best way of saying thank you. He summarized the meeting with these words: ‘’The Polish colleagues are definitely the best ambassadors for their country!” This is extremely kind and satisfactory way of summarizing and evaluating the meeting.

The 6th meeting of the partner schools Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium LEIBNITZ - AUSTRIA A sweet goodbye in the Styrian Alps.

The host of the last meeting of Comenius group, due to the project named “FEAST,” which was carried out by the non-public, secondary school in Laskowa area, was Austrian school Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnaium in Leibnitz city. This charming city is situated in a historic land called Styria, known for its production of pumpkin seed oil and wine. After a long, bus journey schoolchildren happily arrived at the place and accommodated in guest houses of his colleagues: Lisa, Alxander and Nicklas. This time, teachers have found their place in the beautifully settled rural farm in Kranach, where cicadas sang them to sleep, and they were woken up by crowning of roosters and bleating of sheep in mountain pastures. The first day istraditionally-official welcome at the school that performs the role of the host. Partners from five countries (France, Norway, Turkey, Spain and Poland) were greeted by: the Headmaster of the Austrian school- Josef Wieser and the Austrian Project Coordinator- Peter Lindler, who presented the Austrian Education System. During the welcome meeting the teacher from Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnaium school – Marit Morkdemonstrated a presentation concerning the mini project conducted by Norwegian students. After the official part we had the opportunity to visit the school, which is located in two massive, distant from each other buildings: the older and more modern. A nice touch was a walk around the town and a lunch- at which we were invited by a Mayor of Leibnitz -Helmut Leitenberger. The afternoon passed very busy: students created business cards of the partner countries and teachers discussed the final report.

The next day we spent in - the second largest and most important city of Austria, located on the river Mur, in the foothills of the Styrian Alps â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Graz. The visit to this city started from Vinzi Markt he store where the Austrians covered by social care can buy supplies. Entitled to purchase at the store, which gets goods (e.g . products with badly glued label), are those whose total income per family member does not exceed 950 Euro. The walk around the city with a guide revealed to us all the charm of the capital of Styria, pleasantly situated on the river Mur. We could admire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Town, and the late-Gothic cathedral of St. Giles, Baroque Mausoleum of Ferdinand II, renaissance Landhaus, City Hall (19th century), the clock tower. We spent the afternoon in Shopping City Seiersberg - the second largest shopping mall in Austria, with a sales area of 85,000 mÂ˛ shopping center. During the lunch, which was organized by one of the parents of the studentsDietmar Matuschek- we watched an interesting presentation and discussed the topic of regional products and healthy foods in large supermarkets.

The third day we spent in the SouthWestern Styria. Here we visited Hartlieb oil mill, which produces many generations of pumpkin seed oil. We were able to meet old and modern ways of producing oil, which by â&#x20AC;&#x153;coldâ&#x20AC;? pressing maintains its full composition, and consequently - also all the nutrients. Oil health benefits are invaluable, so it can be used in many areas of life - from natural medicine, through cookery, to cosmetics - bridging the same health problems and maintaining vigor and full physical fitness. The second point of our journey that day was the property G. Pronegg, involved in the cultivation of hops used in production GĂśsser beer. A moment later we were admiring the vineyards and orchards in the residence of the Hedwig and Manfred Dreisiebner, where we took part in the tasting juices. A considerable attraction was visiting the wine shop, which was created in honor of Habsburg Archduke John. The original interior not only invites you to relax, but also encourages to wine tasting and reading literature on the topic of wine and regional specialties.

Another day of partnership meeting was etched in our memory owning to the fantastic and eventful expedition to Altenbachklamm ravine. Even crossing the suspension bridge was not horrible, when you could admire wonderful canyon. After the mountain warm- up everybody could take a deep breath.

In the evening we met with the parents of our Austrian friends and teachers of the partner schools at the official farewell. During the meeting, we were presenting the results of the artistic works- the unusual business cards for all partner countries. By presenting beautiful songs during the meeting, the school choir demonstrated something for the spirit, whereas for the body "Styrian Buffet" was prepared.

Nonetheless, the real farewell occurred not until Friday and although- after visiting the chocolate factory “Zotter”- it was incredibly sweet, however, it couldn’t take a place without tears.

On the way back we could still spend a few hours in Vienna, soak up the delights of the capital of Austria, and great fun in the amusement park - Prater.