A KALEIDOSCOPE OF WARM COLOURS

 

When I heard about a forest bathing in a sea of beech trees it sounded wonderful, and it was, indeed! 

Not very far from where I have been living, there is the largest contiguous beech forest in Portugal. So, on one day of the commonly called Indian summer, off I went towards the destination that would take me to an area that would make me feel as if I were hiking on a fairytale forest, even if I would not see any fairy, a prince riding a white horse, either. 

It was fantastic to hike under huge beech trees and enjoy the harmonious combination of forest, blue sky and a mild temperature. Time and time again, I was surprised by the wide views over a glacial valley. 

Mind you, the trail is the same that the shepherds use to lead their cattle to the grazing places.

The trees looked like dancing and singing as their yellow leaves were falling on the path giving me the illusion that I was hiking on clouds… 

The route alternated between wide and well-maintained hiking trails and narrow and overgrown paths. Thanks to my hiking boots and Nordic walking poles, I never slipped or fell on the wet leaves that carpeted the trail. 

Meanwhile, I had to pay attention at the red and yellow marks to always stay on the right trail that had taken 5 hours to cover it from the departing point to the car parking area.

Anyway, this unique forest of great beauty with its kaleidscope of warm greens, golden yellows, orangey reds and lots of golden browns yellows had triggered a sense of gratitude to Nature for a gift that money can’t buy …

Back home, I was happy for several reasons: I had explored some gems in silence and solitude and I had been to a place where I could forget everyday life and let my soul breathe. .

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HATS OFF TO THE MUSEUM...

Last Sunday, I visited The Hat Museum that was born from an ancient hat factory. Unique in the Iberian Peninsula, the museum is a tribute to all men and women who made this industry one of the most important activities in the history of  a town in the region of Oporto.

I was pleased to see how artifacts and machinery are exhibited showing the hat production methods and also the human, social and cultural dimension of the community to which this activity was really important. It was interesting to get to know the life of the workers  and go back in time to an age when nobody would leave their house without a hat.

So many hats were on display, a large part of which were as much elegant as sophisticated. Criativity along art made them true pieces of art... If I had to pick one out of all those exhibited, it would be very much difficult for me to make a choice.

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AN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH NATURE

 

Not until this week has the temperature gone down and allowed me to go hiking and enjoy an intimate contact with nature. 

The mountain trail was along a stream ending at a spa village. It afforded spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. It consisted of narrow footpaths, sometimes flanked by stone walls, once used as herd paths.These paths were originally built to avoid disagreements beween farmers and hersdmen who, every season, moved their herds from pasture to pasture. 

The trail markers were good which prevented me from getting lost. Even though, it was not an easy one. There were long-distance and narrow sections full of rocky and slippery terrain, vertical slopes and downhills. Sometimes, I looked downwards and saw the stream flowing smoothly.

STARTING POINT

As I started seeing the hotel, I got relieved... I was about reaching the end of the trail.

Hardly could I believe that this old man who had been a shephard before, walked that trail everyday, carrying food that is supplied by the hotel for his beloved dogs... 

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~~ May you have a wonderful weekend ~~