Traveling to … Serra da Estrela Living :: Part I

What is there to say about a minha linda Serra da Estrela. Spending my summers here, growing up, as a young girl submersed in nature, food and family, it intertwined itself into very much who I am. My soul and heart are blissful when I’m here. How can one not be? Surrounded by lovely mountain and countryside views, with distant shadows of the Serra da Estrela outer mountain range. Family lands and farms, nestled between and below those rolling hills of greens. Many of which still belong to my family, who call small corner of the world, home. {…and where I too hope to one day transform these family lands into something even more special.} No matter the season, it’s always a sight to see and experience. I love the sounds, sights and smells of nature the moment you wake up each morning. Some, are so dense and rich with fog a passerby would assume a gloom day awaits, but us locals know in fact, a hot sunny day to savored is only just beginning. There are endless, and I truly mean endless reasons beyond being surrounded by nature, why I’ll always cherish this lovely corner as home.

This is the small aldeia in the Serra da Estrela I’ve spent a lifetime, especially during summer vacations from school. And here we are once again enjoying the beautiful vibrant months of Summer in the Serra. Each day and each year is different, each one a bit more special and charming. Most of these photos were taken on my trip a few weeks ago, while the others from my summer trip two years ago. Because when surrounded by the pureness of Mother Nature in the Serra, time moves slowly and so to does its scenery — like a landscape being delicately painted with the changing of the seasons. No matter when, the beauty remains as mesmerizingly eye catching as ever, especially my favorite sunsets!

Over the years I began writing notes and random thoughts of reasons why I love certain things on my travels and experiences in Portugal, a sort of “let me count the ways I love thee…” kind of thing. Hand written notes, virtual ones saved on my phone or emailed to myself. Things that crossed my mind; feelings, smells, sights and sounds that made me smile. A bit of everything I love, the hidden gems, the moments that left imprints. Whether you call them sayings, little poems; Portugal, Let me count the ways I love thee…. 

…looking out the window, seeing nothing but green trees and far off mountains. It’s my favorite thing. I’d give about anything to have these views everyday. The more time I spend here the more I need it in my life. I need nature to surround and engulf my every being. It’s when I feel my happiest. It’s when I feel whole. 

…the scents of the hand cut eucalyptus wood burning in the antique stove

…the early morning fog hiding faraway trees and mountains, the kind that brings on a hot sunny day

…the buckets of fresh seasonal fruit. like cherries of all kinds, yes even sweet white ones. Endless blackberries, and honey-like peaches, nectarines and plums. so juicy you have to eat them right away. the smaller the better, for then you can enjoy even more

…the air, its purity. its natural invigorating scents of eucalyptus, pine and wild greens

…nature’s beautiful soundtrack of birds signing calming delicate melodies, nothing but the wind whistling, leaves wrestling in the vine branches, the flowers gracing the fence – their sweet floral scents filling the ever passing wind

…the birds saying hello whenever you pass

…peaceful walks into Mother Nature whenever the feeling to do so fills your soul

…serene nature walks that find you under the fig tree in search of dark beauties. cracking them open, their sweetness filling you with delight. yes, that instantly as you will eat these delicate and sweet fruits as quickly as you picked them 

…every sunset is a splendor. often, bold bright and blinding — the kind that rejuvenates and reminds you just how magnificently awe-inspiring Nature can be

…other times, every pastel color shines and fills the sky. you’re left feeling a calm serenity. we’re all so lucky to be felt by nature. 

…pastel colored sunsets with every shade of blue, purple, pink and orange, light to dark perfectly showcasing the most golden sun rays behind

…The darkest of night skies brightened with