Portugal
participants
The goal of this day trip was to promote Portuguese culture, especifically Aveiro and its Venice-like canals, and to foster intercultural dialogue and friendships among the participants, since it was the first trip we organised during this semester.
Participants were asked to meet early at the train station in order to buy their tickets. They were met by ESN volunteers who, once everybody got in the train, shared the plan for the day. When everyone arrived, they all had a picnic together and then met ESN Aveiro's volunteers, who provided the group with a guided tour around the city centre. Afterwards, participants had free time to explore the area by themselves. Our volunteers had shared a list of fun things to try in the city, from the famous 'ovos moles' to a 'moliceiro' (typical Aveiro boat) ride, every participant had the opportunity to try something new and exciting related to the city and its culture. The group met a few hours later at the train station, and boarded the train back to Coimbra after a long day of exploring, new friendships and a greater appreciation for Portuguese culture.
Overall, the participants really enjoyed the trip. Unlike most trips we organise, this one was more relaxed (as in, it had no fixed programme; aside from the guided tour, participants had enough time to explore the city by themselves), and the participants enjoyed this register a bit more, as it allowed them to focus on what they wanted to see or learn, all while making long-lasting friendships with fellow participants and ESN volunteers.