# data[].attributes.body
We intend our project to contribute to a change in participants mobility and so help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The
area around Vera is rural, as is Grevenbroich, and the car is people’s first choice of transportation. With our project we
would like to convince our students that there are sustainable alternatives. In this way we want to contribute to a turnaround
in mobility. Climate change is a global challenge and can only be tackled by the community. The European cultural
exchange encouraged by this project will help reduce language barriers and prejudice, allowing students to experience
Europe as a community, and so be able to tackle climate change together. To achieve this, the fundamental language skills which thus project helps to develop are necessary.

# data[].attributes.body
When we got to the airport  the ending of this awesome week finally really got to us and made us realise how precious the time we spent in Spain was.
After meeting in front of the school at 6:30 in the morning and saying goodbye to all of our friends and families, which was more emotional than expected, we all got on the bus and made our way to Alicante airport. Although it was early we all didn’t feel too exhausted. The ride was calm and even the time at the airport went very well. The return makes us all think about the happy moments spent together once more. Every day was so exciting, the whole program was organized very well, leaving us enough time to do something in private together and getting to know each other better. Seeing another culture and way of living made us feel a little anxious but also curious and excited. We all got along so well it made the heartbreaking farewell even worse. But even though this amazing week had to end already and it hits us now that we cant stay any longer and really have to leave, we can return with new experiences and happy memories and will cherish them in our memory. This week was one of the best weeks we’ve all had and we’re happy to have gotten the opportunity to experience this.

# data[].attributes.body
Today we had breakfast all together in the morning. There were donuts, cornflakes, muffins, cacao and juice. As we finished we had time for brushing our teeth and tiding our cabins. Afterwards we met and seperated into mixed teams of eight people for an orientation walk. We learned to read a card of a landscape and tried to find places we’ve never seen before. In the orientation walk there were ten points we had to find and mark them on our control sheets. As all groups finished we had a snowball fight with all teachers and students, after this we had lunch. For lunch we had migas and paella, which was very tasty and really nice to try.
At three o‘clock the bus came to pick us up and bring us back to Vera.

# data[].attributes.body
We started the day with a walk to the school while the temperature was freezing. As soon as we arrived at the bus we had a 2 hour trip to Granada.

The arrival had to be really fast because we had no parking slot.
We took some pictures and went down the city.
After some time we could walk in groups and buy souvenirs and some food. At around 13:15 we had to go back to the bus and start the bus trip to the next destination.
The next destination was Alhambra. We learned a lot about the Muslim culture and a guide showed us the most important buildings. We went back to the bus at 6 and arrived at a camp site at 8:30. Surprisingly there was snow! After the arrival we ate dinner (bocadillos) and then we all met and talked for hours until midnight.

# data[].attributes.body
We set out early this Thursday, the cool air invigorating as we pedal through the rolling hills of our host-town Vera. The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and the scenery is breathtaking because of the beautiful mountains of Andalusia. We drive from Vera-Pueblo, which translates into “Vera-Town” to Vera playa which means “Vera beach”. We need around an hour for our journey because we take a break at a beautiful lake full of flamingos and eat our well deserved sandwiches. After the little stop we go on riding our bikes and after another 15 minutes we arrive at a small tower. This was used as an outpost to spot pirates from North Africa, on their way to kidnap the local people. That’s also the reason why this coast was called “the pirate coast”. After that the we leave our bikes there and start to go up the hills that are way bigger than you expect from the distance. Our host-teacher Carlos tells us that silver was found there some centuries ago and that they cut a whole forest to melt the ore into ingots. That’s why the hill once covered into a see of green trees nowadays is only a mud hill in comparison. Furthermore there were bombs accidentally dropped over this area but they never actually exploded. Even though nothing exploded the inhabitants needed to check themselves for radiation every year and the city had to pay them a lot of money as compensation. At last we take our bikes again and drive the same up- and down hill bike route until we end again at the school of our hosts. All in all a great day :)

# data[].attributes.body
We started the day off by going to school by bike.
It was a fairly cold morning, it was raining, and the route was hilly.
Upon arrival, it was immediately apparent that there were not a lot of students who got to school by bike, as there was only one bike aside from ours in the bike rack (which was the only one and designed to hold 4 bikes).
Our group activities began with making and doing a survey, going around all of the different grades of the I.E.S El Palmeral, collecting answers to mainly bike-, but also sustainability-related questions.
After making short presentations about the results which revealed only the already obvious fact that motorized vehicles were a much preferred options to get to school, we went on a minor "hiking"-trip to see the ruins of the old houses which once built the core of the former city, way back during the time of Arabic reign and influence in this part of Spain, but also after the slow retreat of the "Turks", as they were called.
Walking up around a comparably big hill, we got a guided tour to all of the archeological sites dotted around the mountain.
Finally, atop the hill, we got to see a statue of Jesus Christ, opening his arms toward the city.

Although it was raining throughout the whole trip and we all got soaked and cold, it is valid to conclude that all activities which commenced on that day were helpful in understanding the place we were staying at; both historically and in modern times.

# data[].attributes.body
Wednesday morning at 8am we set off from the IES el palmeral school in Vera to explore the Eco Village Los Molinos del río aguas, near Sorbas.

After an eventful bus ride, we reached our destination at 9:30am.

There we met Tim Bernhard and Marco, who guided us through the Eco-Village.

Marco, who has travelled to many countries in Africa and Europe, led us along the river that fed the village, through caves and over hills to the source of the river. We learned that the area is home to many animals and plants that have adapted to the specific environmental conditions. We were also educated about the history of the village and the surrounding area, which went back to the Roman Empire.

Tim Bernhard originally comes from Hamburg, where he also studied. But, he had decided a long time ago to move to the Eco-Village, where, among other things, he makes quality musical instruments from agave wood. He also offers workshops and supports international projects on sustainability and art.

After he showed us around his house, which was full of elaborately homemade musical instruments, we went back to Vera, where we met in the evening at the bar "Moya" to end the fourth day in Vera.

# data[].attributes.body
Today started at 8 am. We saw the head teacher who welcomed us and we listened to a student band which played 3 Spanish songs. After that we were shown around school. Then we went on a tour around Vera. One of the highlights was meeting the mayor and talking to him about sustainability! After the tour was over we played football together in the stadium which was so fun! In the evening we all went bowling and to a restaurant in Mojácar. It was a great day!

# data[].attributes.body
Our trip to Spain started at 6 a.m. at the airport in Düsseldorf. Everyone was very excited to visit Spain and see his/her friends again. We took off at 8 a.m and landed at 10.30 a.m. in Alicante. After that we went by bus to Vera and finally we could see each other again. The rest of the day we were with our host families. In the afternoon we met at the beach and enjoyed talking to each other.