Hello everyone and welcome to my blog :-)

It was one of those summer days that seemed like they had been taken from the heart of the desert. The thermometer showed a scorching 40 degrees, and we, in a mix of enthusiasm and madness, decided to look for a river beach. In the previous post I said that we weren't going to take the fossil route but we were wrong. Well, we discovered, to get to the beach on foot the only way was right through the middle of the mountain under the scorching sun.

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Estava um daqueles dias de verão que mais pareciam ter sido tirados do coração do deserto. O termómetro marcava uns abrasadores 40 graus, e nós, num misto de entusiasmo e loucura, decidimos procurar uma praia fluvial.No post anterior disse que não íamos percorrer a rota dos fósseis mas estávamos enganados. Eis que, descobrimos nós, para chegar à praia a pé o único caminho era mesmo pelo meio do monte debaixo do sol abrasador.

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From the beginning of the walk, the sun showed who was in charge. Every step seemed to be a battle against the heat, but our determination to take a dip was stronger than anything. The landscape, although arid, was breathtakingly beautiful, with rock formations that looked like natural sculptures.

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Desde o início da caminhada, o sol mostrava quem mandava. Cada passo parecia ser uma batalha contra o calor, mas a nossa determinação em dar um mergulho era mais forte que tudo. A paisagem, ainda que árida, era de uma beleza deslumbrante, com formações rochosas que pareciam esculturas naturais.

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During the walk, we saw a group of Chinese tourists who, like us, wanted to put their feet in fresh water. They were equipped with wide hats and colorful umbrellas, which made us feel a little less prepared for the adventure. We exchanged a few words and realized that the passion for discovering new places knows no cultural, climatic or age barriers.

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Durante a caminhada, avistamos um grupo de turistas chineses que, tal como nós, desejavam colocar os seus pés em agua fresca. Eles estavam equipados com chapéus largos e guarda-chuvas coloridos, o que nos fez sentir um pouco menos preparados para a aventura. Trocamos algumas palavras e percebemos que a paixão por descobrir novos lugares não conhece barreiras culturais, climáticas nem idade.

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As we descend, we pass next to the famous Lapa cave, a place that exudes mystery and history. We tried to look inside, but it was already overcrowded with visitors. However, our mission was clear: continue to the river beach.

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Ao descer passamos ao lado da famosa gruta da Lapa, um local que exala mistério e história. Tentámos espreitar lá para dentro, mas já estava sobrelotada pelos visitantes. No entanto, a nossa missão era clara: continuar até à praia fluvial.

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The descent was a challenge in itself. The narrow and rocky path required extra care. Halfway along the way we started to see what looked like some little houses and we started to wonder what they were. Sometimes I don’t know if I think out loud, but I immediately heard a little voice next to me say:- “I’m not going to see all those little houses!! I want to go in the water! It's very hot.."
Closer to these small buildings, it was possible to see that they were small rolling mills, usually open to the public but as it was a public holiday this was not the case.

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A descida foi um desafio à parte. O caminho estreito e pedregoso exigia cuidado redobrado. A meio do caminho começamos a ver o que pareciam ser umas casinhas e começamos a peguntar-nos o que seriam. As vezes não sei se penso em voz alta mas ouvi logo uma vozinha ao meu lado dizer :-“ Eu não vou ver aquelas casinhas todas!! Quero ir para a água! Está muito calor..”
Mais perto destas pequenas construções, foi possível perceber que se tratava de pequenos moinhos rodizios, habitualmente abertos ao público mas como era feriado não foi o caso.

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Finally, we arrived at the river beach, where the refreshing river water felt like a miracle. Without hesitation, we dove in to alleviate the heat that consumed us. It was a moment of pure joy, shared with the Chinese tourists who had also reached their final destination. Between laughing and splashing in the water, we momentarily forgot about the infernal heat that accompanied us throughout the journey.

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Finalmente, chegamos à praia fluvial, onde a água refrescante do rio parecia um milagre. Sem hesitar, mergulhamos para aliviar o calor que nos consumia. Foi um momento de pura alegria, partilhado com os turistas chineses que também haviam alcançado o destino final. Entre gargalhadas e chapinhar na água, esquecemos momentaneamente do calor infernal que nos acompanhou durante toda a jornada.

I hope you enjoyed.
See you around.
Wishing you much peace and health

Those who pass by us do not go alone. They leave a bit of themselves, taking a piece of us."
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince.

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Text & Photography by @Onyfest

With love @onyfest