For the first time, AEGEE Porto organized a recreational event during the student’s week – Queima das Fitas do Porto.

To be honest, it was a bit difficult to nail this event. We had some trouble getting a lodging place, some participants lost their flights and couldn’t come, and it was supposed to rain all week long. But in the end everything turned up just perfect! The lodging was awesome (and for free ;D), located in the best place we could wish for, the weather was perfect, sunny and shinny, and the participants… what can we say about them… AWESOME!!! And, of course, very romantic!

But what was this event about?

Well, Queima das Fitas is an event promoted by the Academic Association of Porto during the first week of May, in which freshmen students celebrate their joining the college community and last-year students celebrate their recent achieved degree and say goodbye to their life as a student. Here in Porto we have a very strong academic tradition and in this week is very often to see many students wearing the traditional outfit - black suit and cloak (quotes from participants would be “I feel like just entered Hogwarts!!”, “They look like a bunch of Harry Potters walking around!!”). During this week, lots of activities take place in our city: the serenade, the students’s parade, “Tuna” (not the fish, it’s a students’ group of music) Festival, and of course, nights at the “Queimodromo” with live concerts and lots (and I really mean LOTS) of drinking at very low prices!

In our program, we decided that it would be nice to have some cultural activities. So we visited water pavilion, Museu de Serralves, boat trip in Douro River, visit to the Port Wine Cellars, pic-nic at the City’s park, Peddy-papper in the city centre and many other things. Actually, one of our participants was brave enough to dive in the Atlantic Ocean!! Well done Vlad! The Mediterranean people were chickened out by the cold! Shame on you!!! :p).

Of course we also had the usual AEGEE stuff, like European Drinking Night, Drinking Games, sharing of AEGEE experiences and so on (in the end, this WAS an AEGEE event :D).

In the end everything went smoothly. We believe everybody had a great time (if you don’t believe it, just check our photos on Facebook :p). As usual, new friendships were built, it was hard to say goodbye in the end, but we are definitely seeing each other somewhere in Europe.
And what about you? Don’t you wanna join us next year?