On a sunny summer day, myself and four friends — all from different places (Sintra, the Algarve, Italy, Hungary, and Sweden, a common feature of life together at Ananda Valley) — wanting to unwind, discover the beauty of the great mountain always present on Ananda Valley’s horizon, and immerse ourselves in the natural landscape of Serra da Estrela, drove to Covão d’Ametade. It’s a place some of us had already heard about for its immense beauty, and where we began our hike. With no particular destination in mind, but curious to explore, we followed a trail up to the top of the largest chunk of granite we could spot.
We first passed through a Silver Birch grove full of life — those famous models posing with their white trunks by the source of the Zêzere River, the site of so many photos taken there. The crystal-clear Zêzere, which cuts through the valley we walked along, painted a lush green wherever it flowed, and the cool breeze so characteristic of the river’s proximity and the altitude keeps all the flora green throughout the Portuguese inland summer.
We continued on, forging our own trail as we climbed, and between pauses for water and adventurous steps, we exchanged words on deeply philosophical themes — from the meaning of life and death to natural cycles — while the surrounding landscape, growing ever more golden, filled our eyes.
Reaching the top, as we defined it, we came upon granite giants reaching for the sky, leaving us with a feeling of smallness before their monumental, overwhelming forms. Looking out over the path we had climbed, a horizon stretching as far as the eye could see beneath a fully open, blue sky, we sat down to contemplate and eat our snack, taking care to collect all our trash — those human intrusions that so often spoil the landscape.
After our delicious snack, and inspired by the whole bucolic scene, each of us, equipped with our own art form, expressed our essence in a different way. Me with watercolors, Guilherme with his bamboo flute, Serena with her colored pencils drawing mandalas and flowers, Boglarka with her book, and Isabella with her brush.
In what was one of my first attempts at painting, inspired by an image of Guilherme playing the flute to the granite giant, I painted it with all the skill and concentration I could muster. Below follows the paper drawing and the photo:
After our artistic expression session, we headed back up toward the top of the path, losing our way a little among tall shrubs and jutting granite, until we came upon a pure, crystal-clear lake that invited us in with its irresistible freshness. Its icy, piercing touch didn’t let us linger for more than a few brief moments enjoying the water, and we stepped out into the welcoming rays of sun, which dried us off and, together with the Zêzere, recharged us with vitality for the journey home after such a breathtaking day.
In short, Covão d’Ametade is a sheltered, lush nature reserve that left me inspired by its beauty and filled my soul with a range of enriching sensations, felt while taking in its landscape defined by the purity of the Zêzere’s source, the white, verdant Silver Birches, and the monumental granite giants. This piece of nature found in Serra da Estrela is also waiting for your visit. Don’t forget to bring water and pick up your trash, so that those who come after you can enjoy it just as much as you did.
Written by João Domingos