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 and certainly complete, bliss, when I’m here. How can one not be? Surrounded my lovely mountain 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. Yes, many pertaining to my family, who many still call and love this place as home. And yes, where I too hope to transform family lands. 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, many, are so dense and rich with fog a stranger would assume a gloom day lies ahead, but us locals know in fact that a hot sunny days awaits to be enjoyed! There are endless, and I truly mean endless reason beyond being surrounded by nature, yes a biggie. there are many more reasons why I call this small corner in the world home.

Over the years I’ve began writing notes and 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. Well after a few years of hand written notes, virtual notes saved on my iPhone or emailed to myself of things that crossed my mind — feelings, lots of smells, sights and sounds that made me smile. A bit of everything why I love so many lovely gems in Portugal, so let these sayings, little quotes whatever you’d like to call them, best explain what living in the Serra is like ….. 

This is our little aldeia in the Serra da Estrela area during the Summer season. Each day and each year is different and beautiful. Most of these photos from a few weeks ago while a few others were from my summer trip two years ago. But the beauty remains are eye catching and mesmerizing as ever!

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

Coco birds saying hello whenever you pass by

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

Family stopping by just because. to talk and see how all are doing. To give baskets of cherries, nêsperas, apricots and blackberries, or lend you onions straight from the dirt because you hadn’t picked them that morning. or whatever it is that is growing and bountiful in their gardens to share with us

 You never have to go far if you run out of an ingredient when cooking. If you need some fresh berries for a pie or ice cream you simply go next door to one of your family’s garden and pick from the endless varieties. Because when there’s so much that grows, wasting precious summer fruit, or any homegrown produce, is not acceptable

 

Here time hasn’t had much of a chance. It may have had its battles with Mother Nature, but time and technology hasn’t destroyed its pureness. It still feels as if you’re trapped in some other time, a more simple and stuck in its old ways — that’s exactly why I love it.