Mobility in the Basque Country took place from 18.11.2019 to 24.11.2019.

We were warmly greeted and received by students from Zubialde HLHI school, teachers and parents!

We sang, danced, and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know new friends.

After the welcome in the gymn, students presented their countries and their schools to their partners. It was very interesting because there were different formats and different ways to focus the topic.

In the afternoon, while students played some traditional games and sports, teachers had their first meeting: an in site event by the e-twinning ambassador  Amaya Alonso.

On 20th November we started our day visiting an old water mill in the village. It has been owned by the same family since it was built in XVIII century and it is still working to produce the flour they use to bake bread.

Imanol Larizgoitia, the miller showed us how water power makes wheels move and how that movement is transfered to the millstones that grind the grain ( either wheat or corn).

After the visit we all made our " talo" ( traditional bread) with the help of some elderly from the village. Then we put some " txistorra" inside  and... it was delicious

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Once at school, teachers met at school for the seminar  " Project Based Learning :practical examples".

Project Based Learning: practise

In the afternoon, we visited a smithy´s museum . There was a time in which Zeberio had lots of smithies along the river. There was always work for jacksmiths. Some years ago, the Town Council collected pieces of their local history in this museum.  You can find hand operated old machinery and iron tools.

Back to school, students met their families and teachers sat again on the project. We did  not have enough time to go through all items.

On 21st November , we travelled by bus to " el Pobal", a forge in which we learned how iron was produced, stored and used to make different tools before the Industrial Revolution.

In the XIX Century, Bilbao became an important city because of the iron mines in its sorroundings and the good quality of its iron that was exported to Great Britain and Germany.

There were a lot of mines not only in the city itself but in many of the towns along the left side of river Nervion as well .

In the afternoon, we visited one of those areas now reconverted into a big park. After a nice walk in La Arboleda, we reached the mining museum, where we were told about the different minerals from which iron was extracted.

We went downhill in a funicular that followed the same track from which mine carts used to transport the iron to the coast.

Next day, November 22nd we started the day with a teachers´meeting to talk about the rest of the items in the agenda.

Then, we went to Mutriko. In that coastal town there is a power plant that takes energy from the strength of waves.It is the only one in the world.

In fact, there are other two: one in Azores and another one in Scotland but they only work for researching and not for commercial purposes and they only have one turbine wereas this plant has 16 working turbines.

The busy day in Mutriku and La Arboleda did not finish when we came back to Zeberio. Parents were waiting there for us with delicious dishes prepared by themseves: sandwiches, omelette, pies and biscuits, " pintxos"...

We not only shared food but good conversation and flok music as well. Meanwhile students from all the schools enjoyed themselves in the gymn playing together.

The next day, November 23rd we travelled by train to  Bilbao. There we visited the Guggenheim museum with a very special guide: one of our student´s mum.

After a quick lunch in the park outside the building, teachers from Latvia , Czech Republic and Cyprus had some free time in the city while local teachers took students on a tour which included some shopping.

We all had great fun in spite of the rain that fell from time to time.

On 25th November, partners left for home. It was sad to say good-bye  but now all of us have good memories to share and the feeling that we are closer to each other ready to work as a group.

Thanks to all partners for the unforgettable week we had together!!