Contrasts

Looking back at my last vacations, contrasts were felt. On my first days, the desolation of the landscape, razed by the fires.

All around the village, the fires took a heavy toll: no side was left untouched, and I can imagine some of the house owners lost a few nights sleep in the worse days.

Not even the blackberries escaped... and no, they didn't taste better after cooking. I like them raw, as they should be, picked up directly from the bushes.

Most, if not all, of the little farms not far from the village ended up going up in flames. And if some crops can grow next year, the trees that stood for years will only be replace in a far, far future.

So I decided to spend the last days of my vacations in Luso, a small village closer to the litoral. And there, the lush green was the huge contrast with the view just a couple hours away.

Maybe a #monomad challenge isn't the best way to talk about contrasts. All is black and white, after all. And although the big forest is apparent in this first photo, stripped of its green canvas it doesn't seem that different from the devastated trees... but it was.

In this magical place called Mata do Bussaco, the amount of green and different flora species is staggering. It was created by monks long ago, and it will hopefully be featured in a full post, with all its colours. For now, I'll let the contrast reside in you imagination as well.

The green moss covering this tree doesn't seem so alive now. Nor the impact of this cork tree is the same in a monomad fashion.

But it is still beautifull nevertheless. And also a huge contrast with the cork trees whose cork is removed frequently; likely, no cork was ever removed from this ancient tree, and hence the strange aspect of its bark. I doubt I would recognize it a a cork tree if the plaque wasn't there, stating the species.

Let's hope the country doesn't have more of these contrasts in the years to come!

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