Tree Planting in Spain

Gloria Zavala Start Date: May 4, 2017 - End Date: Jan 8, 2018
  • Madrid, Spain
  • Extremadura, Spain
  • Lisbon, Portugal

My Travel Story

by: Gloria Zavala Start Date: May 4, 2017 - End Date: Jan 8, 2018
This tour to Spain and Portugal will impact 50 people (teachers and middle school students). We will be completing an archaeological excavation near the Portuguese border. Additionally, we will be working alongside students from Valverde de Leganes in the land known as "El Rebellao" in Extremadura, Spain. We will also visit the Jesuit San Jose School in Villafranca de los Barros and do some activities there. This past March, we donated and planted a cork tree at their school that honors our school, Pershing Middle School.

No visit of the Iberian Peninsula should miss the wonders of its capitals. Madrid is with no doubt the gateway of Spain with an enormous offer of culture, history, diversity of nationalities, and gastronomy. Lisbon's settings are just as magnificent! Its natural landscapes at the mouth of the Tagus River and at the gates of the ocean make this capital in Portugal one of the most appealing in Europe. During the visit, we shall sample and discover both cities.

Extremadura is in the southwest part of Spain. Set between the two Castiles, Andalucia, and Portugal, Extremadura stands out as a unique, rural area with a remarkable rich history and heritage. The pristine countryside is dotted with small towns and villages that lay in valleys where the olive and cork trees flourish along with a great variety of Mediterranean flora.

This area is also where Rome decided to establish a large colong known as Lusitania, that was to overshadow the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. The capital was Emerita Augusta, which is now Merida, the capital of this autonomy. Not only is this the land of the Romans, but also of Moors and of explorers to the Americas. We shall experience these sophisticated cultures on our journey.

Most importantly, we will be interacting with the memorable and fascinating culture before we get there. We will have our students write their pen pals and participate in some lessons that will prepare them for the trip.

Lastly, Mr. Victor Gibello, archaeologist from Merida, Spain is already collaborating to develop activities for our visit. He is well known and highly respected in the region and will head the excavations at "El Rebellao".
  • Madrid, Spain
  • Extremadura, Spain
  • Lisbon, Portugal