24.05. This project certainly was a relief for me. I started my travel day in university. I did my drawings until last minutes and still couldn't finish them. Then I hurried to the airport. I met with Marilind already in the airport and saw Meriliis in the plane. In Malpensa airport we had to kill about 4 hours. It wasn't the best airport to hang out, but fortunately there was enough shops to do shopping because I forgot my bikinis at home and had to find new ones. Fortunately I found new swimsuit and my vacation was saved. Our second flight went quickly and soon we arrived to Lamezia Terme. Gianni already waited us with Jane. We all got pizza to eat. What can be a better welcome present arriving in Italy than eating pizza. In the bus we needed to wait for Bulgarian team. Romanians had already arrived. So we went outside to make first meeting circle. It was high humidity in the air. I was afraid that all the time it is going to remain like that. When all the participants were together we headed to Sersale. On our way I opened radio, finally the possibility to listen to Italian music has arrived. I already heard many familiar artists. Haha, and tunnels stopped all the fun. We arrived to Sersale like superstars. Group of locals were waiting for us. To be honest, I don't remember who came to greet us on the first night. Just too many new faces. Struggling with our accommodation took some time. But finally we got a room on a second floor with Marilind, we shared a bed. We were not aware of the fact that also in the downstairs we have a toilet. So, everyone came upstairs to use toilet. First night there was freaking cold. So, we had to heat up our room. Sounds ridiculous that you come to warm Italy and you are freezing while sleeping. 25.05. We had a breakfast in our houses so after balcony brunch we headed to the main square. We got our first coffee experience. Meriliis and Marilind were obsessed by ginseng coffee. Well, the first meeting between group leaders took some hours. At the same time we were discovering the streets close by with Estonian girls. It was a hot day already and we felt the temperature even more when we hiked up to the church. Magnificent view to the town made us creative because we though about games we can play within the group. We had a lunch on the top of the hill/mountain as well. At first paninis felt a good choice to eat on a hiking. Soon after eating Carmine's father arrived with his goat Fiocco di neve (snowflake) Because people were just sitting there and waiting for next activity we decided with Estonian girls to discover the area. On our way down to the town we discovered some cherries and of course we couldn't resist and had to pick them as much as possible. They weren't fully red but tasted already sweet. Because in the noon all the shops and gelateries were closed we went back home. Somehow we got a dog. She randomly came into our house and were super-friendly with us. I named her Fiorella. Fun fact is that now everyone calls her like that. My legacy definitely lives on in Sersale. I have done one good thing in my life and thanks to me one stray dog has a name XD In the afternoon we met with mayor. We had an opportunity to introduce ourselves. and hear about others. And they an article about our project to the local newspaper. We also visited a local shop and noticed a poster about our project there as well. We were totally superstars. First dinner we had on a pizzeria. But because we didn't have any locals on the restaurant we waited for them and killed time by playing ninja game with Estonians and Guillaume. Mișu occupied Jane's camera and made couple of random photos. By the way, first day under the sun was harming for Jane's skin. I was glad that I survived first day without getting sunburn. They brought us many Margheritas already and suddenly even more tasteful pizzas. So, you definitely wasn't prepared to eat all of it. After pizza orgy we headed to a local party. I guess it is the weirdest party I have ever seen. Band was playing in front of the bar and people were hanging on the street. It was a first time when we met with locals. To be honest, Italian pick up lines were really candid. "Vieni con me?" is pretty extreme one but yeah you never should give up and try this method. 26.05. Morning started as usual in the piazza. Day was dedicated to plants that are used to color things. After breakfast we headed back to the mountain church. Carmine's father had already prepared a fireplace and water for the first layer. We put white T-shirts in the pot with some plant roots. Then we went by cars to the Canyon Valli Cupe. We started our path without knowing how hard it actually will be. All the way down was actually easy and also walking along the canyon. And there were so many lizards (L) and we looked so funny with our orange helmets walking there. But the way uphill was exhausting. Down there we gathered bark and on our way back to the monastery we picked yellow good smelling flowers. Carmine gave us a real off-road experience. We discovered the beautiful view of the reserve. Mountains make landscape so much more interesting. For lunch we had paninis again. While eating Mișu showed his Romanian skills and Romanian guys had to practice Estonian. I have to mention that Romanians can speak Estonian really fluently, without any specific accent. Then we went back to the natural chemical lab and finished our shirt coloring mission. In the evening we went to the wedding dress exhibition. We were like VIP guest, they had reserved the whole row just for us. Erasmus was like a magic word in the village. I loved the exhibition idea. Usually a pride wears wedding dress only once in a lifetime but it takes so long time to choose the right one and it is a pity if it stands in the closet for next 30 years. And local models had a connection with dresses. It would be so nice to wear your mother's or grandmother's dress. After fashion show we looked around in labor museum and headed to planetarium. Actually the planetarium was funny but at least they tried to create something cool. This evening we had a dinner in a restaurant near by. Suddenly locals started gathering on the stairs and singing. At one point every national team had to sing something as well. We chose Raffaella Carra's notorious song Estonian version. And at some point we were surrounded by regional songs and then appeared a guitar and more singers. In front of the restaurant we made a spontaneous singing festival. I call Sersale a singing village. I guess all the citizens can perfectly sing and play some musical instrument. They should make a TV show orsm. about this talented place. 27.05.
Thanks to our great group leader we were able to sleep a bit longer and around 10 o'clock we went to the seaside. Actually I couldn't sleep long because 7 o'clock beautiful church bells melody woke me up. Fortunately Radio Italia is playing amazing music on Sunday morning and I didn't regret my lack of sleep. Oh, and after I understood that this church music was a holy call to me for visiting church like normal person do on Sunday. I just ignored it :P Beach was beautiful but a bit rocky. Even though nobody from locals didn't come to the water with us we didn't hesitate to swim in Ionian Sea. First time swimming in the sea this year, yeey. Romanians found a ray orsm. and started with anatomy class on the beach. Jane went for a walk but because we didn't have an information when we should go back she was lost by the time we were ready to live. But thanks to phone is possible to find every lost soul and after five minutes we were ready to leave. Then we went to a new place where to have a lunch. It is amazing that around Sersale are many dining places. For our luck, we didn't have bread anymore, we had pasta instead. Carmine showed us how to make coffee without coffee beans and other useful culinary tips. Then we drove a long time until we stopped. We had a beautiful view from there but then we started our way down. We passed some fences but actually there was a reason why they were there. I saw about 100 ways to die and understood why we had a life insurance. I handled the situation pretty calmly but Mihkel came without footwear and Jane wore a dress. It was a pity that they didn't warned us about their plan to visit a WILD place. Canyon itself was amazing but full of shit XD Anyway, after that extreme road all other paths felt easy breezy. I was content that I was alive even though my legs were scratched. After that hard hiking tour we needed some refreshing. So, we demanded Inferno visit. The way there was long but place itself nice. We had another opportunity to swim and jump into the water. I just couldn't throw away the idea of Dall'Inferno by Marco Mengoni when someone mentioned Cascata Inferno. I wouldn't say that the place was hell but it was inspiring and maybe the place inspired the song as well. I see a similarity by cascata water and a phrase "Tu sei acqua che scorre nel tempo". Chissà? Anyway back in Sersale we though that we should visit shops with Jane. But hell no (inferno ovviamente). On Sunday everything is closed! We already had suffered under that siesta habit. We usually had break during the lunch as well but it was kind of impossible to visit gelateries because they were closed :( In the evening we had another singing festival on our restaurant entrance. I showed to Liis Fy Faen dancing moves and no matter that Marilind and Jane had never heard the song it became haunting them as well. My humming is annoying and I know it :D And party continued between Estonian and Bulgarian team + Guillaume in Irish pub. They didn't offered any ciders instead of that only good beer and we all received free gifts from staff. Two bracelets and a keychain. Totally a superstar life, free gifts and a lot of attention.
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AuthorMy connection with Erasmus+ projects. Youth exchanges and training courses. Archives
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