5:00 am – School main entrance. Farewell time. Tears are shed. Hearts beat stronger. Everybody wish they would stay. “Can’t we cancel the flights?” – one had written on FB last night. Latvians and Finns wave us goodbye. See you soon!

8:00 am – Germans are leaving. More tears, hugs, kisses. “I wish I could stay!” “Teacher, don’t let them go!” More tears, one more hug … Bye, Tchuss, adeus.

See you in Latvia next year!

Evening – Night Fever karaoke – what a party! There were singing and dancing. Night students joined the band and sang along. Valdemar, great DJ! Teacher Paula has got talent! We would have stayed there for much more time, but some departures will be at 5:00 am…

PS – I can’t remember if Mº Inês complained about anything, but she must have, for sure …

Traditional games – all school got together for them. The place got crowded, all classes wanted to participate. Teams were made and 5 games had to be played – cans, waxed trunk, bags’ run, ”chinquilho”, carry water glasses on a tray, the rope … Teams of students, teams of teachers. Bordalas team was, no doubt, the best at the waxed trunk!

Afternoon – “A Foreigner in my country”, what an interesting session. Some of the foreigner students of ESRBP joined and shared their experiences of living and studying in Portugal – from Ukraine, England, Brazil, Ivory Coast. The sisters from Latvia, Marcel and Teacher Barbara from Germany were also there, what made the conversation even more coloured. “There is no snow here!” Liga says. “We had snow in Caldas 3 years ago!”. “Three meters high as ours?” the Latvian sister asks. Ok, that we can’t imagine.

Morning – tour to Peniche and Óbidos – the sun shines, sand, sea, waves, fantastic views, castle, history… Portugal in its best!

20:30 – Dinner with the host families. The delegations get really surprised with so many people – mothers, fathers, siblings , grandparents, cousins… everybody came to get together. Food, food and more food. All kinds of dishes, soup, meat, fish , desserts of all kinds. Everything “sugar free”!… Even a pot of “Rancho” and the authentic “Russian Salad”, the Latvians recognized, cooked by Anastacia’s mother! Stephanie says: ”OK, I’ll start my diet in Germany!”

23:00 – Teachers Lurdes, Inês, Alexandra, Celeste, Luisa can’t move their feet anymore …

16:30 – visit to Thermal Hospital and Park. Regional press came along. We went back to the early years of the 20^th century. Portuguese students dressed according to the epoch. Musicians waiting for us at the park – two saxophone players and a guitarist. Amazing! “Ginja” and pink “suspiros” served to everybody. Group photo in front of the lake and Malhoa Museum. Cristiano serves some more cherry liqueur in a typical pottery mug! What a laugh! Thank you Daniela and your class!

“What is it like being a Teacher in my country” – teachers shared experiences, points of view, spoke about their countries and their Educational Systems. Teacher Carlos Ubaldo presented everybody with a very interesting lecture based on children and teenagers’ vision of their Teachers. Fantastic discussion!

Day dedicated to workshops – engines roared at the Mechanics’; delicious meals at the Cookery’s (if it wasn’t for their delicious green cabbage soup and amazing cod fish, Teacher Alexandra could have kept her record of not having lunch for 3 days …) , “Bom dia! Obrigado! Vire à esquerda! Siga em frente!” learned and “walked” in the Portuguese class; coloured milk and cool scientists at the Chemistry’s;  crazy feet moving for the Dance’s, tales retold at the Library’s; talents shown at the Be a pArt.

9:00 am everybody in front of the school. The bus is already here, let’s go to Lisbon.

Arrival to Belém. What’s that? Impossible to get to Jerónimos, impressive parade in front of it. National Guard’s Day! Ok, we go out of the bus and go and watch it. Hei,hei, pay attention, the President of the Republic is coming! Is it because of us? We stand behind the horses, more than 50 of them. Take a picture of Mr. Cavaco Silva!” It’s the first time I see him, flesh and bone!” one of our Tourism students says. Take a picture. The National anthem is played – Portuguese teachers and students sing it loud and clear.

Cross the tunnel to Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Lots of pictures. Fantastic ones. Teacher Alexandra almost is a victim of pickpockets.

The bus can’t pick us there, we have to go and meet it – up, up the hill! Uff …

Bus driver can’t find his out, we aren’t allowed to go our way. What’s that in front of us? A convertible with a bride can’t find the way also. She waves us, we take some pictures.

Downtown – Restauradores. There isn’t enough time to go to Parque das Nações.  We walk to Rossio, give some information about the area and most important monuments. Everybody is hungry, almost 2:00. Students and teachers explore the city – Chiado, Rua Augusta, Rua do Ouro, Praça do Comércio – shopping! Some teachers have lunch at Martinho da Arcada. The bus picks us at 5:00 – everybody is on time. Back to Caldas!