71.08 Geres, Portugal: Reaching the peak opposite Sao Bento Church, yet another beautiful hiking and viewing opportunity.

Jen on the way down about to walk through a sparsely inhabited village below before she enters the forest/jungle.
She continues down toward the river in a beautiful, isolated environment.
Part-way down, bottom to top view. It never feels great to know that when a mountain and river meet, it invariably means dropping down to water level to make the crossing and beginning the climb from the lowest point. Of course, the reverse results in completing a climb after having ascended to the peak and back to the low point of the river. I'm just not smart enough to find a solution to this issue. Fortunately, we are strong subscribers to the maxim, "Cui Bono". We would not have it any other way.
We may have discovered the lost city of Atlantis. Of course, we're presuming it still is unfound.
Jen strides it out as she ascends steeply, showing a woman in her youth, vibrant and energetic. "Okay, perhaps we should lose just one of the adjectives."
Unfortunately, the environment is 'dry, sparse and quite colorless'. Hopefully, the rains will help.
We don't think it will take much to begin to love this environment...actually, began at first sight.
  We love the deserts, mind you, in the winter mostly and the mild times of two other seasons. We won't mention which season we do not visit such harsh regions. 

  However, we have not been on the dry sand for a while as we have spent most of our time in Europe and Nepal of late. I suppose it's the nature of travel or the odd way in which our minds function. Nevertheless, Europe is not big on deserts. I don't even know if there is one stretching even over a tiny part of the continent. I remember having some communication with Nancy, a person from Seattle. She mentioned she was tired of our desert displays and she, being from green-country, preferred to enjoy forests. At the time, it had no effect upon me. However, a couple of years following that conversation, I stopped to think that it had been a while since we've been to the sparsely inhabited and low rain areas, previously a frequent occurrence. Perhaps, in some psychological manner, Nancy got through to us and created a desert block within us. Got us thinking. I don't know whether to thank Nancy or be upset with her. Fortunately, we are still partial to both environments.

  Thinking of Geres, I doubt whether we've spent time in a region as well 'watered', as fertile and covered with such intense colors and growth in a myriad of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants as it is. It truly is the ultimate. As one commentator used to announce as he opened/closed his 'talk show', each day: "G-d's green earth." 

Sao Bento Church complex somewhere within the greenery. We began at the complex, moved down to cross the water and are continuing much further up, or until the boss decides otherwise.
To try to create a more vibrant and colorful environment, look to the the south (left) as we catch sight of a little of Lake Canicada.
Jen passes the only other hiker she spotted all day. The lazy sod looked like he'd spent the day snoozing. You never know what strange sights a person will find in the wilds. (The position gives a perspective of the path on an edge (left)).
She looks toward where he faces and loves the view; unfortunately, not the sight of the fellow. Not only is he lazy but it appears his main activity is eating and drinking.
Catches a great shot of the complex and its surround.
Let's add a tree for variation.
Never seems to resist spending some time on the rocks...taking the gap at the peak.
Heading back down into the color and dense coverage.
On the road again, somewhat easy and open for a while.
Loved this sight as we looked down into the valley and up again at the tall trees as their majesty grabbed attention.
Looks like sheep dogs being herded by goats...not for us to judge.
A weakness for reflections or perhaps, a strength.
Jen now making inroads to the peak...about time, I'd say.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey 

2 to close a wonderful day, too.

For cat lovers, we did not seem to break down the barrier existing. It was difficult to determine whether the shack was occupied by humans or only felines. 

"Seriously guys, we think you are far too suspicious."  

The vegetation and coloring is overpowering...hard to leave the position.