THE AZORES
From volcanoes to lava tubes , pineapple to tea plantations , Year 11 geographers experienced a little taste of everything on this trip . An archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean , the Azores feature everchanging landscapes and constantly shifting winds . The geography can be compared to that of Iceland , located on tectonic plate boundaries . This results in the formation of volcanoes , and stunning views to go with them , both of which we experienced first-hand .
A point of triumph ( or desperation for some ) was the Mount Pico climb , where we ascended to 2300 metres above sea level . The first 200-metre ascent was the toughest , however our group quickly acclimatised and endured the climb , even enjoying it at times . We had renditions of Christmas carols and performances of popular jingles by students and teachers alike keeping our spirits as high as our altitude . Having been engulfed by the clouds , we lost sight of the ground , but kept our eyes trained upwards . Finally , we reached our goal , basked in the scorching sun and took in the view .
Along the way , we also engaged in local culture and geography , led by our expert guide , Pedro . This included learning about famous football players from the Azores , how certain geographical formations developed , as well as how these islands came to be occupied and their rich human history .
Travelling between islands involved tiny airports , propeller planes and also scenic boat trips . Each island had something new to offer , which made the trips even more exciting and novel . On Sao Miguel we dived into geothermal pools and bathed under waterfalls , on Faial we searched for hidden pictures in the dockyards and climbed hundreds of stairs up an ancient lighthouse , and on Pico we felt the heat and the strength of a volcano ourselves .
Our sunburns will heal , but the memories , experiences and friendships we gained will stay with us . Thank you to Mr Lilley , Mr Woodroofe , Miss Hill and Pedro for bearing with us and making our time that much more enjoyable .
Tess Hunter and Allegra Cuomo , Year 11
108 TRIPS , CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES