Day 1. : Saturday, 28 May
The chilly May afternoon was extremely cheerful for a group of eighth-grade students from Sračinec Elementary School and their two accompanying teachers.
From our school's parking lot we took the bus to the Franjo Tuđman airport in Zagreb to catch a flight to Malaga in Spain. Real summer temperatures awaited us there, but also a great adventure with students and teachers from Italy, Germany and Spain, our partners in the 'EWoG – European Wonders of Geography' project.
This was the students' first flight, especially fun during takeoff, and it lasted a little over three hours. In the evening, the coordinating teachers and students from Spain, who hosted our eighth graders, were already waiting for us at the airport.
As our students had already had the opportunity to meet their hosts through IT tools and social networks, the meeting was particularly cordial. The drive to the small town of Berja, where the host school, IES Sierra de Gador, is located, took about two hours, during which we watched the tense final match of the UEFA Champions League. We arrived at our destination at the moment of victory, so the introduction of the students to the hosts was accompanied by a big celebration and fireworks in honor of the winner, the Real Madrid football club.
From our school's parking lot we took the bus to the Franjo Tuđman airport in Zagreb to catch a flight to Malaga in Spain. Real summer temperatures awaited us there, but also a great adventure with students and teachers from Italy, Germany and Spain, our partners in the 'EWoG – European Wonders of Geography' project.
This was the students' first flight, especially fun during takeoff, and it lasted a little over three hours. In the evening, the coordinating teachers and students from Spain, who hosted our eighth graders, were already waiting for us at the airport.
As our students had already had the opportunity to meet their hosts through IT tools and social networks, the meeting was particularly cordial. The drive to the small town of Berja, where the host school, IES Sierra de Gador, is located, took about two hours, during which we watched the tense final match of the UEFA Champions League. We arrived at our destination at the moment of victory, so the introduction of the students to the hosts was accompanied by a big celebration and fireworks in honor of the winner, the Real Madrid football club.
Day 2. : Sunday, 29 May
The first morning was an opportunity for the accompanying teachers to meet their students on the main town square in Berja and hear their first impressions of their stay with the host family. After that, the students together with their families went to explore the city and the province during which they had the opportunity to try famous local specialties such as paella and churros, a deep-fried dough dessert, which is usually dipped in hot chocolate. The teachers participating in the project and their hosts went to the hilly areas of the province of Almeria to explore the town of Fondon and see a small museum that vividly evoked the way of life in this town in the 19th century. Everyone's favorite room was the old-fashioned classroom, and we didn't miss sitting in its benches.
Day 3. : Monday, 30 May
The first working day of the week was reserved for a tour of the host school, and our students were most impressed by the music lesson where they had the opportunity to play instruments. The fun part was followed by presentations from all the schools participating in the project.
Our student Lamia Žmegač won the quiz about their school held by students from Germany, which made us even happier.
The students gave four presentations in a row. In doing so, they demonstrated excellent knowledge of the English language, as well as presentation skills. They presented Croatia, Varaždin, Sračinec and their school in the best possible way and received a lot of praise.
Our student Lamia Žmegač won the quiz about their school held by students from Germany, which made us even happier.
The students gave four presentations in a row. In doing so, they demonstrated excellent knowledge of the English language, as well as presentation skills. They presented Croatia, Varaždin, Sračinec and their school in the best possible way and received a lot of praise.
As the focus of mobility in Spain is the study of the Tabernas desert, one of the geographical wonders of Europe, we used the day at school to familiarize ourselves with its important landmarks. The students participated in geological and chemical workshops where the teacher, geologist Agostin Ramos, presented the characteristics of the soil in the desert. As part of the workshops, the students also studied the biology and adaptation of plants to the desert area.
After this formal act, we met with the head of the host school and gave him gifts from Croatia and thanked him for his hospitality. Later that afternoon, the host families arranged a picnic for all participants at a picnic area outside of town. There, students had the opportunity to take part in sports games, socialize and try local specialties prepared by the hosts.
After this formal act, we met with the head of the host school and gave him gifts from Croatia and thanked him for his hospitality. Later that afternoon, the host families arranged a picnic for all participants at a picnic area outside of town. There, students had the opportunity to take part in sports games, socialize and try local specialties prepared by the hosts.
Day 4.: Tuesday, 31 May
On the fourth day, all project participants headed to Granada, one of the most charming cities in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. We visited the gardens of the Alhambra royal palace, one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture in Spain, which is under the protection of UNESCO. There we enjoyed the colors, the smell of aromatic plants and flowers, and the bubbling of waterfalls and fountains.
From the nearby Alcazaba defensive fortress, we enjoyed the view of the city at the foot and climbed its towers, and then we went on a tour of the streets and squares of Granada itself. We used our free time in the city to buy souvenirs and refresh ourselves, and returned to Berja in the late afternoon, full of impressions.
From the nearby Alcazaba defensive fortress, we enjoyed the view of the city at the foot and climbed its towers, and then we went on a tour of the streets and squares of Granada itself. We used our free time in the city to buy souvenirs and refresh ourselves, and returned to Berja in the late afternoon, full of impressions.
Day 5. : Wednesday, 1 June
The middle of the week was spent sightseeing in Almeria, the capital of the province of the same name and a port on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The old parts of this city have an Islamic character, and we visited the medieval Alcazaba fortress with three circles of protective walls and gardens modeled after those in the Alhambra. In the center of the city, our hosts showed us the cathedral, which was also built as a defensive fortress, and on its side facade we saw one of the symbols of the city - the sun.
After returning from Almeria, all project participants took part in a reception with the mayor in the town hall and a tour of the restored town house from the 19th century, which was presented to us by a local historian. We also took the opportunity to take a photo with the mayor and thanked him for the welcome with Croatian sweets and gingerbread heart.
Day 6. : Thurdsay, 2 July
Early in the morning we headed towards the most important goal of our visit to Spain, the only desert in Europe, the Tabernas desert. All the preparations and workshops held that week were aimed at learning about the desert: why is it located in this particular place? What is the desert climate like? What are the rock types and soil types? How do plants adapt to desert conditions? What fossils are visible in the desert? etc. With the expert guidance of the geology and biology teachers, it was an extremely interesting and completely new experience for us.
This desert near the city of Almeria is where many spaghetti western movies were filmed in the 1960s, with the landscape representing the scenery of the wild west. After spending a few hours exploring this open-air geological museum, we headed to the campsite within the Cabo de Gata National Park. After lunch, we visited one of the typical sandy beaches nearby and enjoyed sports activities.
In the evening, our students enjoyed their last time together and talking with other students, project participants.
This desert near the city of Almeria is where many spaghetti western movies were filmed in the 1960s, with the landscape representing the scenery of the wild west. After spending a few hours exploring this open-air geological museum, we headed to the campsite within the Cabo de Gata National Park. After lunch, we visited one of the typical sandy beaches nearby and enjoyed sports activities.
In the evening, our students enjoyed their last time together and talking with other students, project participants.
Day 7. : Friday, 3 July
After breakfast at the camp, we set off for further exploration of the Cabo de Gata Nature Park. Our first destination was Monsul beach, which is one of the seven natural wonders of Spain and appears in many films and commercials. The volcanic origin of this natural reserve can best be seen here: the rocks surrounding the beach are huge tongues of lava that reached the sea. In the middle of the sandy beach there is a huge rock, and in its background a large sand dune, which we climbed, and also had fun rolling down its slopes.
The next stop was at the mermaid cliffs, located near the Cabo de Gata lighthouse. These cliffs consist of a group of rocks that emerge from the sea. Seals used to gather on them, which sailors mistook for mermaids, and that's how the name of this tourist attraction came about.
In the afternoon, we returned to Berja, and the students enjoyed the last evening of the trip and spending time with their host families.
The next stop was at the mermaid cliffs, located near the Cabo de Gata lighthouse. These cliffs consist of a group of rocks that emerge from the sea. Seals used to gather on them, which sailors mistook for mermaids, and that's how the name of this tourist attraction came about.
In the afternoon, we returned to Berja, and the students enjoyed the last evening of the trip and spending time with their host families.
Day 8. : Saturday, 4 July
Early in the morning we gathered at the departure point of the mini-bus that was driving us to the airport. The farewell was marked by hugs, tears and promises to see you next year in Croatia. So we easily left our new friends and headed home to share stories of our exciting adventure with our families.