Sunday, 19 April 2026
Off to Portugal – the Adventure Begins
We started our Erasmus journey from Berlin Airport, full of excitement and curiosity about what was waiting for us. As the plane took off, we looked out of the window, watching the city slowly disappear beneath the clouds. It felt like the beginning of a new adventure.
After our flight, we finally arrived at the airport in Porto. At the airport, we were welcomed with a German flag. It was a pleasant moment that marked the start of our exchange experience.
After arriving at the airport, we were picked up and taken to our campus, the Mobility and Friends Campus, which is near Barcelos. From the first moment, we could see that it was a welcoming and lively place.
The campus has great facilities and offers everything we need for our stay. There are colourful little houses, a pool, and the whole area is nicely designed and well organized. It feels like a small community where everyone can feel comfortable.
Overall, the atmosphere is very positive and relaxed. It’s a place where we can enjoy our time, meet new people, and have an unforgettable Erasmus experience.
In the evening, we went for a walk to explore the area around our campus. It was a really nice way to end the day. We had a beautiful view and could see the surroundings from above.
During our walk, we saw many colourful houses, which made the place feel lively and unique. The small town we are staying in is very charming and spreads a relaxed atmosphere.
As the day quietly came to an end, everything still felt new and exciting, leaving us with the comforting feeling that this journey would become something truly unforgettable
Megan Sander
Ready for Take off. On the Way to Porto. Campus Gamil. View of the campus Team Meeting
Monday, 20 April 2026
Bridges, Colors, and Hidden Gems – Porto in one day
After breakfast on campus, our drivers picked us up, and we went to Porto.
Once we arrived in the city of bridges, we first explored it from the water. From there, we had a majestic view of all the bridges and the beautiful surrounding nature.
After the boat tour, we went to a small restaurant to recharge. That’s when the trip really began. We crossed the famous Dom Luís I Bridge. On the other side, we tried some local ice-cream.
In the sunshine, Nuno, our tour guide, showed us the most beautiful spots in Porto, such as the famous bookstore Livraria Lello and the church Igreja do Carmo.
During our hour of free time, Anton, Oskar, and Niklas visited a local super market, while Hannah, Megan, and Lydi explored a fruit market and some tourist shops.
After regrouping, we made our way back across the bridge. From there, we admired the beautiful, colourful houses along Douro River. Porto is definitely worth visiting, and we highly recommend a trip there.
Back on campus, we had dinner and played volleyball with people from other countries. That’s how our first day in Portugal came to an end.
As the sun set on our first day in Portugal, it wasn’t just the stunning views of Porto that stayed with us, but the warmth, laughter, and shared experiences that made it truly special.
Lydia Grabner and Hannah König
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
A Day by the Atlantic – Discovering Beaches, Stones, and New Friendships
On Tuesday, we spent one day with a group of Portuguese students. Mario accompanied the students. First, we went to Apulia Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Our task was to clean the beach but it we didn’t find much because the beach was very clean, which is good for nature. The beach is surrounded by wonderful dunes and it was interesting to see such amazing beauty.
After that, we visited Belinho Beach. This beach is different because it has many smooth and beautiful stones instead of sand.
Later, we gave presentations to the Portuguese students about Dresden, Leipzig and Delitzsch.
Finally we played volleyball with our Portuguese friends and other students in the camp.
As the day came to an end, it wasn’t just the beauty of the ocean that stayed with us, but the shared moments and connections that made this experience truly unforgettable.
Niklas Rohne und Niklas Zeidler
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
From Beach Finds to Masterpieces – What We Created from Wastecrap and Trash
Today we only stayed on the campus, unlike the other days and did a workshop with the help of the professional Mario and with the things we had collected on Tuesday. Our task was to make something useful out of scrab and rubbish we found at the beach.
One group built a beautiful bird home with a colourful design. For the other groups, it was not easy. Both of them had different ideas at the beginning, but changed them in the process and made two pretty flower pots and a very aesthetic wooden chair.
In the afternoon we worked on a diary about the activities we did in the project, for example like this one and in the late afternoon some of us played in a volleyball tournament, others played football and cards.
By the end of the day, we didn’t just feel proud of what we had built—we realized that even the most overlooked things can become something meaningful if you’re willing to see their potential.
Anton Wirkner and Oskar Wiese
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Mingling with the Locals and Getting Things Done
The sun is shining, we all slept safe and sound, had a decent breakfast - it's the perfect day for going to the market in Barcelo, mingling with the crowd and, most of all, marvelling at the variety of offered products there. You name it, they have it: fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, jewelry, clothes and textiles, pottery, plants, flowers, etc. It's a shopper's paradise and so it was no wonder that after a two- hour stay, our shopping bags were full of wonderful things to take home with us, for example, a Portuguese sausage, earrings, T-shirts and a rooster figure made of wood. The colourful rooster image, which has become a very popular souvenir and symbol of the Barcelo region, goes back to a legend. The story is about a pilgrim who was accused of stealing some chickens, but was able to prove his innocence with the help of a rooster.
The second half of the day we finished the work on our waste-crap products. Mario, the Portuguese designer, was ever so helpful again. Obrigado, Mario!
From 4 - 6 pm we joined the group of Polish students for two hours of fun with board/card games, quizzes and a volleyball match.
he time after dinner we used to work on our Erasmus diary and prepare mentally for tomorrow's day trip to Guimarães. It had been Mario who told us to visit the city and from what he's told us, it's going to be another awesome experience!
Simone Rahn
Friday, 24 April 2026
Last - but not least – Day
Time sure flies! It's our last day at the Mobility Friends Campus in Gamil, but it was packed with interesting activities once more.
After breakfast we received our certificates in a cheerful ceremony next to the pool:)). Each of us was also given a wooden Barcelo rooster figure and a bright blue t-shirt, which came as a lovely surprise. Of course, there was the ultimate group photo for the records and some short video clip recordings full of praise and gratitude for our pleasant time here.
We then got on the campus bus with the already familiar ‘particular’ (Sonderfahrt) sign and travelled along busy motorways, passed at least 4 toll stations and saw a lot of construction work. About 40 minutes later we arrived in front of the impressive Castelo in the medieval city of Guimaraes.
Guimarães is called the 'Cradle of Portugal' because it is believed to be the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, and the site of the 1128 Battle of São Mamede, which led to the nation's independence. To make the most of our time, we had to do several tasks while exploring the impressive UNESCO heritage city on our own, for example, count the chimneys on the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, take a selfie with a local person, make a video on the city wall or find out the price of the famous pastry Tortas des Guimarães. Beyond the history, there was also time left for last minute souvenir shopping, enjoying ice-cream or walking in sunshine.
At 3 pm it was time to say goodbye to the charming city of Guimarães and head back to the campus where another parting gift was awaiting us. It was a cake with icing in the colours of the German flag, which was sweet, but delicious as well.
The rest of the day we spent packing our suitcases and saying goodbye to our newly made friends and campus stuff.
Adeus! Tchau! Até breve!
We'll be back :))
Simone Rahn
Beyond Borders: A Journey That Stays With You
Made possible through the Erasmus+ funding programme, this experience opened doors we didn’t even know existed.
Some journeys don’t just take you to a new place — they change the way you see the world.
This experience was more than a trip. It was a feeling. A feeling of connection, of discovery, of stepping beyond the familiar and realizing how much more there is out there. New cultures, new friendships, new perspectives — all coming together in a way that words can hardly capture.
What makes it truly extraordinary is not just where you go, but who you become along the way. The laughter shared, the moments of wonder, the quiet realizations — they stay with you long after the journey ends.
Opportunities like these are rare, and they remind us how important it is to be open, curious, and brave enough to say yes to something new. To every student out there: if you ever get the chance, take it. It might just become one of the most meaningful experiences of your life.
And none of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication and passion of the organizer “Mobility Friends”. Thank you for creating something so special, for bringing people together, and for making memories that will last far beyond these days. We have come as a guest and stay as a friend.
https://mobilityfriends.org/
Grateful. Inspired. Unforgettable.
Anton Wirkner, Hannah König, Lydia Grabner, Niklas Rohne, Niklas Zeidler, Oskar Wiese, Simone Rahn und Birgit Kapitza