Adventure in Azores

Friday 27th October, enthusiastic Leighton Park Geography students set off on an exhilarating journey to Azores, Portugal from Heathrow Airport. Their five-day excursion was filled with a diverse range of activities that allowed them to expand their knowledge beyond the classroom, enrich their education with adventure, and experience Geography in a way that was nothing short of awe-inspiring. 

 After travelling on day one, day two included a visit to a Tea Factory on the Island of São Miguel, the only place in Europe where tea is grown commercially. Following this visit, they embarked on a trek to the summit of a mountain overlooking Lagoa das Furnas (Fire Lake). The breath-taking views left students speechless as they beheld the geothermal hot springs surrounding them. The day rounded off nicely with scrumptious fresh local food and bathing in the iron rich, naturally warm waters of an 18th century botanical garden.  

 Day three was equally as action packed, with students hiking through varied terrains and sites, including a dormant volcano. Fostering cultural exchange and connections, students geared up for a friendly football game with the locals!  

 Not only did students discover the geographical phenomena on land, but in the Atlantic Ocean also. As they ventured westward, the boat made an abrupt and definitive turn – the spotters on the coast had seen something! Arriving at a random part of the ocean that looked just like any other deep blue patch of water, suddenly, without warning, the engines roared, heads turned and fingers pointed. A spout of water shot from the ocean and a blow-hole was spotted! A local male sperm whale had been deep diving underwater and come up for breath within a few hundred meters of their boat! They sat and watched the majestic animal take some breaths before it casually lifted its tail into the air and dived again. Moreover, the trip explored deep underground through lava tunnels. The long dark tunnel ran right under houses, farms, and roads, an amazing example of how human life coexists with volcanic landscapes. 

 The final day of the trip approached, with sleepy students quickly becoming excited for their fun activities day. Setting off to the largest crater lake in the Azores, Sete Cidades, they spent the day mountain biking, kayaking, and paddle boarding in the middle of a dormant volcano! Many of the students jumped into the blue waters and stopped off for ‘the best lunch of the week’- a Portuguese buffet with meats, cheese, cakes, biscuits, and a plethora of other food they did not recognise but ate and enjoyed.  

 The culture enriching Geography trip left both students and staff hesitant to come home after a fabulous time away, however they landed safely back at Heathrow Wednesday 1st November, in time to recharge before the start of a new term.  

 The Azores adventure had truly been an enriching experience for all, providing the students with memories and insights that will last a lifetime.