The Namesake - worksheet

 And it finally happened...

            And finally it happened, we went to the Azores. There we could see the unique landscape of the Laurel forest of São Miguel. The Laurel forest exists only in a few places in the world and one of them is the Azores. We had the opportunity to see it, and we saw the beautiful, big and 'green' trees; the fresh grass and some fascinating plants that only exist in this type of forest.

            When I think that future generations may not be able to see landscapes like this, I am quite disappointed with what our society is doing to the environment. In a few years we will start to lose habitats, landscapes and have very polluted waters, all of this due to the pollution that we are doing. We are destroying the environment.

José Machado, nº19, 11ºA

Cleanse your soul in São Miguel

This photo was taken on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, in one of the most beautiful and paradisiacal places we visited, although all of them are unique and equally beautiful. In this photo we can see the amount of plant biodiversity in the area, in addition to the lake full of animals. In this photo we see many shades of green and the fact that the sky in the photo is covered with branches gives us even more the feeling of nature. We also see some tourists who invaded the photo, but who, on the other hand, are also part of it, showing the direct connection that people have with nature in this magnificent place.

The Azores have this ability, to make us feel the nature around us like very few places on earth. It seems to cleanse our souls. It makes us think and at the same time not think about anything in the midst of so much green, blue and the colors of flowers. There is noise from animals and tourists almost everywhere, but we seem to hear nothing. Made you feel at peace and at home. Definitely a place to visit again.

José Bule F., nº18, 11ºA

Azores

            This photo was taken in Miradouro de Santa Iria, the northern most point of the São Miguel Island. It is, as you can imagine, one of the hundred of photos I took in this trip. However, all of them have at least a characteristic in common: a breathtaking view.  Looking right ahead, you can see some mountains of volcanic origin, covered by vegetation; The Atlantic sea; a blue sky, along with some fluffy clouds and a warm and bright sun. If you observe a little closer, you can notice how the waves break in the coast, or you can even try to imagine their sound when they peacefully hit the rocks.

When I think of our trip to Azores, this is all that comes to my mind: we were surrounded by fields and fields of the greenish and softest looking grass. Contrasting with this cheerful colours, it was the Atlantic sea, with its deep, but at the same time light, blue colour and refreshing breeze. One of the things I miss the most from those days spent in Azores is the feeling of happiness that filled me everytime I had the glance of the sea, hidding in every corner of the island.

 Lucília Rita, nº20, 11ºA

Azores (São Miguel Island) - Parque Terra Nostra

    On our first day in São Miguel, we went to Parque Terra Nostra, which was basically a garden space with many different spots, but we spent most of the time on the ironed water pool. The pool´s water was very warm. The borders of the pool were full of oxidised iron, meaning, if you rubbed yourself on them, your skin would be covered with an orange “painting”. The pool was really large, and, in the middle of it, it was also a little deep. I couldn´t get my feet on the ground, so I needed help to walk through out the pool, since I would get tired of swimming. The pool´s water was a light brown color. We had to be careful, since, if we spent too much time inside the water, we would get dizzy, because of the water´s high temperature.

    It was really fun to spend time with our classmates while enjoying the beautiful view.

Maria Ventura nº21 - 11ºA

Azores, São Miguel  Caldeira Velha

 On our fourth day in Azores, April 4th, we visited Caldeira Velha, which was in Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island. Caldeira Velha is part of a regional and natural monument. It has a large biodiversity, four natural pools with thermal water, which had a temperature around 34°C, a waterfall and a beautiful view.

   When we walked in Caldeira Velha, most of our classmates had to change into their swimsuits, in some small changing rooms, right before the pools. When you go inside the pools, you feel the water’s heat right away. Every pool smelt a little like iron. Even though the pools were very cozy, you couldn’t remain in the water for too long, since the heat and the smell of iron could be a little sickening. If you kept walking through the main road, you’d find a waterfall. When swimming in the waterfall, you had to be careful, since it was a little deep, and at the bottom, there were sharp sediments. But it’s whereyou can get the best view in Caldeira Velha.

During this experience, I was able to have a lot of fun with my classmates, and the memories I made, I will never forget.

Ruben Zhang Nº25 11º A