Lazarow World-Hike-About: 64.01 Utah / Geres: As we await autumn in Geres, Portugal, we cannot help but grieve over Mario, a true friend and gentleman, lost a couple of years ago.

Tribute to Mario Baptiste:

I met Mario through my brother more than forty years ago. Apparently, Mario had a rough start with me as I was unable to provide him a parking bay at our garage. He perceived I wasn't amicable at the time. Although I don't remember the incident, to this day, I still carry the pain. Anyway, our relationship blossomed. Although we did not see much of each other, especially as we emigrated, during each visit to the home country we spent time with Mario. In fact, Mario never missed greetings for each member of the family, including birthdays, marriages, babies, holidays.

When our son, Robbie, arrived in the world more than 36 years ago, Mario gave him a gift of a koala bear, a cute little stuffed toy. When Rob's son, Casey, followed nearly 5 years ago, we walked into the baby's room and behold, there sat Mario's koala. Rob had realized something special about Mario, too.

Mario fled Mocambique in his teens and settled in Johannesburg. His parents moved to Portugal later while he remained. He eventually established a couple of successful photographic stores. In that regard, after our first Hike-about outing, he told me that he could not stand to look at our photographs with their pink and blue shades. He was quite insulted. Acting in typical Mario fashion, he walked to a shelf in the store and removed a point-and-shoot camera and gave it to us. After the usual resistance and argument, we left the premises and attempted to rid our shots of the artificial pinks and blues. Mario did so much more...what a true friend he was.

Why this mention of Mario? Since we decided to visit Portugal, all I have ever wanted to do was to meet Mario and at least travel a little with him in what was his mother country. The thought of him showing us around, interpreting conversations and more importantly, just being with us is what my heart and soul desires. Where is Mario? G-d only knows. He just left the world without us knowing until a few weeks after his death. One can't get over a tragedy such as that easily, if ever.

"Mario, we arrived in Portugal in a typical Lazarow fashion. It amounted to more adventure (chaos) than we ever have on the mountains (something we don't need in our lives (chaos)). Heck, as always, we needed you and dammit, we miss you. Bless your soul!"

Mario holds a very special woman...maybe (because) that's when I got 'cross' with him.

(Photo provided by Gavin L with appreciation. Photographer should remain anonymous to avoid further embarrassment.)

We await the arrival of autumn colors in the mountainous region of Portugal, town of Geres, for starters. While we are often wrong, we don't believe we will experience the autumn we celebrated in Utah during 2021. Set out below are many photographs from this incredible region outside Salt Lake City. However, they are a tiny sample of a 9-week stint in the colorful mountains of one of our favorite states.