Let-me-grow

After all partners – this time with children from Bulgaria  - had arrived during Saturday the 11th at Lisbon airport, they were picked up by their hosts for a short trip through Lisbon. Strolling in Belém, the historic zone of Lisbon they visited Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries), the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. Before the group went by bus to Tomar, members could taste the delicious traditional pastry Pasteis de Belém.

In the evening the group was invited for a dinner in school. Teachers, parents and school workers had prepared a buffet with delicious Portuguese food. The group got an initial idea of the great hospitality of their hosts.

On Friday morning partners were divided in two groups to visit the "Santo Antonio's Primary School". Classrooms were visited and the children and teachers asked questions. The whole school was seen. All guests got a little model apple tree as a present and a first working meeting of the coordinators took place.

After a little free time partners gathered in the amphitheatre of the public library. All classes, with their teachers, arranged a show, with many different items: music, sports, history ... a very varied program was prepared. Afterwards the coordinators met for to vote on the project-logo.

In the evening the group went for dinner to the restaurant Cave de Irene (courtesy of the Parish Council of Santa Maria dos Olivais).  The group again enjoyed the delicious food including Calde Verde, a Portuguese creamy potato and kale soup. It literally means "Green Soup". This soup is so loved in Portugal that it is the country's national dish.

As a highlight Fado were sung. A shawl, a guitar, a voice and heartfelt emotion, these are the ingredients of Fado, the celebrated form of world music that captures what it is to be Portuguese. Two members of the group accompanied by guitar sang the famous Fado Numa casa portuguese, in which the special portuguese hospitality is outlined.

Saturday started with a trip in the traditional tourist train. First the train went to Aqueduto dos Pegões, which was built to bring water to Convento de Cristo.

After that the group went to Convento de Cristo, which is one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments and has been in the World Heritage list of UNESCO since 1983 and the Castelo dos Templários.

Convento de Cristo was originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century. After the Order of the Knights Templar was dissolved in the 14th century, the Portuguese branch of the order was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, which supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century.

After lunchtime, first the synagogue, located in the historic centre of the city of Tomar, was visited. The Synagogue of Tomar is the best preserved of the mediaeval synagogues of Portugal. Next point was the “Museu do Fósforo” (Museum of matchboxes). A collection of matchboxes from all around the world could be seen. Also in the neighbourhood a tile manufacture was visited. In case a house is restored and some tiles of the azulejos have to be replaced, this manufacture paints the needed tiles.

Os Camponeses (the farmers from Minjoelho), a folk music group, provided by teachers and the Minjoelho's Local Association invited the group for a typical dinner. The dancing group performed typical dances and invited their guests to dance with them.

On Sunday the group left early by bus to go to the medieval town Óbidos. The group strolled through the town, before they visited the international Chocolate Festival.

Afterwards, the bus made a sightseeing tour to the beach Foz do Arelho, along the coastline (S. Martinho do Porto and Nazaré).

In the afternoon the group visited the Monastery of Batalha, a Dominican convent, before the bus brought them to Fátima's Shrine - one of most famous Marian shrines in the world.

In the evening to close the activities in Portugal the Tomar Municipality offered a dinner at S. Iria’s Inn. Tuna Feminina a female singing group of Tomar University presented lovely songs.

All Partners were impressed by everything they saw (three days are definitely too short for such a rich culture) as well as the warm hospitality of the Portuguese hosts and went home with full hearts and many great impressions.

Photos visiting Portuguese partner