Dear diary, we want to tell you our experience in Istanbul, with the “COMENIUS” project.

Fri, We left Catania at 9:20 and we arrived after two hours in Istanbul. After the tiring journey, finally, we met the turkish family who would host us for 6 six days. It was very exciting. At first we were very shy and worried but we soon felt at our home.

We went out with our hosts and they showed us some places of Istanbul but we came back home very early because our day was very full.

Sat, We got up at 5.30 and we went to the meeting point. We couldn’t wait for seeing each other, hugging each other and telling how the day before had been. We caught the bus and we went to visit beautiful places. In the morning we visited: “Blue Mosque”, “Hagia Sofia” and “Basilica Cistern”.

The most beautiful place we visited was Blue Mosque because it was characteristic: we had to take off our shoes and wear something that covered our heads.

We had lunch and we ate typical Turkish food. Than we visited “Topkapi Palace” and in the evening we had the Bosporus tour. It was very great because there was a wonderful view and then we came back home.

Sun, We had breakfast all together at Starbucks Coffee. We had some free time and we walked around a little Bazaar where we bought some souvenirs. We visited the “New Mosque”; it was magic because we felt like in a movie.

For lunch we ate Turkish kebab with yogurt. Then we went to visit Dolmabahce Palace and other Turkish royal palaces. We went out in the evening all together and had lots of fun!

Mon, We got up very early because we went to “Big Island” where was the school of our hosts. There every team of guys of different countries gave a performance and showed us their traditions. We danced “Tarantella” the Sicilian folk dance, and we presented a video with the interview to the fishermen at Ognina port. We also offered them “Turkish salami” made by us.

Then we went to “Prince’s Island”, it was very funny because there weren’t cars and we rode horses. We visited “Aya Yorgi Church”, a little monastery where lived only two monks. After that we went to eat a delicious waffle all together. That evening we had to say goodbye to our Spanish, German and Polish friends. It was very sad !!

Tue, We went to the meeting point and then we ate Turkish desserts. After that we went to the “Big Bazaar”, there was a mix of diferrent colours, smells and sounds. We had lunch and then we went to the “Galata Tower”.

It was wonderful because we could see all the city from the top of the tower. The landscape was fabulous. It was the last evening all together, so we went to a pub where we danced, sang and had lots of fun together.

Wed, We met Comenius group at 6:00 a.m. and we had to say goodbye to our Turkish family. It was so hard and sad. We hugged and kissed our Turkish friends and we left Istanbul at 7:00. Our plane left at 1:00 p.m. and we arrived in Catania at 2:00 p.m.

We met lots of fantastic people from all around Europe and knew different traditions and costumes. We improved our English. We miss all of them, but we are sure that we will meet one more time because we are like brothers and sisters now. This was the best experience of our lives !!