Matosinhos, Portugal, 2013. 06 23 – 25.
Our program started the first night with probably the most expected program of the whole meeting: the night of Sao João. But before we hit the streets of Matosinhos and the head of strangers with our plastic hammers on our way, we had our traditional dinner based on grilled sardines and caldo verde.
The dinner was rich and tasteful, so that we were able to start our long march alongside the ocean by Matosinhos. For some participants it was the first time to see the ocean. They will never forget the experience.
Each group launched a balloon on the beach then started to walk, hit and getting hits on the head, and rubbing the nose of strangers with the flower of the garlic. Lovely tradition! The walk was long so some turned back to the hotel, but the rest didn’t take a rest: they walked all the way and even danced a bit by a stage in Porto.
The dinner was rich and tasteful, so that we were able to start our long march alongside the ocean by Matosinhos. For some participants it was the first time to see the ocean. They will never forget the experience.
Each group launched a balloon on the beach then started to walk, hit and getting hits on the head, and rubbing the nose of strangers with the flower of the garlic. Lovely tradition! The walk was long so some turned back to the hotel, but the rest didn’t take a rest: they walked all the way and even danced a bit by a stage in Porto.
Next morning everybody was a bit tired, but all enjoyed the meeting with the director of our hosting school, and the presentations of the learners. We didn’t forget to give little coins to the fabulous cascata de S. João. Before lunch we had a small guided trip in the school, including the friendly museum in it.
The lunch at the school canteen traditional food was fantastic, (seems it’s a Portuguese tradition too), partly made by the learners. After lunch we enjoyed a fado singer from the school, and a talented, once in a lifetime show from the Portugese group. It was like the Ocean by Matosinhos: those, who saw it, will never forget that!
In the afternoon, participants took part in a workshop, and learned, how to paint azulejo. Participants were working hard on painting tiles, while the Portuguese organizers started their media-carrier and gave an interview to the local TV. The last evening we watched the interview and the azulejos together. There was even a small competition among the “artists” with a Romanina winner: Adriana!
We had lunch at a local restaurant, and tasted the famous “francesinha”! Those, who could still move after the stodgy dinner, took a short walk in Matosinhos.
Next they the group took a guided tour in Matosinhos and Porto by bus. When we arrived to the centre of Porto, we changed for a boat and saw the sights of the city from the Douro too. We had lunch by the river on the ribeira de gaia, and visited Burmester cellars before hitting the road again by bus, and finishing the sightseeing trip. It was great to stop for a while at Castelo do queijo beach and cooling down a bit after such a hot day in the breeze of the ocean.
Next they the group took a guided tour in Matosinhos and Porto by bus. When we arrived to the centre of Porto, we changed for a boat and saw the sights of the city from the Douro too. We had lunch by the river on the ribeira de gaia, and visited Burmester cellars before hitting the road again by bus, and finishing the sightseeing trip. It was great to stop for a while at Castelo do queijo beach and cooling down a bit after such a hot day in the breeze of the ocean.
We had the final lunch at the school. The food and drinks were traditionally tasty - as always were in these two and a half days in Matosinhos. Participants were chatting and dancing until the final event of the farewell party: sharing the “Back to The Future” cake. we couldn’t finish the huge cake, but we had to finish the evening. We said good bye with a frown on our faces, but looking forward to meet again with a smile! :)