When someone asks you to travel to a place that you never been before what do you say?

For some time I had a goal in my mind to conquer the highest peak in  continental Portugal, Serra da Estrela. After some chat with my friend  Daniel, a fellow adventure photographer from Lisbon we decided that  was time. Our vision is to travel and to document Portugal's  landscape and hidden corners. So one day he calls me and says that has  found a cool camper and we should go with some friends. So,  YES!

Four  photographers into one Indie camper, packed for a full weekend of  adventure and sleepless nights with sub zero temperatures! Was already  night when we arrived at a riverside park and strait away. FREEZING!!  Though about camping but quickly figured out that, NOPE! So we slept ed  in the Indie and prepare ourselves for a early morning.

 There was an  initial plan but after  we failed to catch the sunrise due to a heavy clouded sky,  we went for  some exploring around the top. The conditions were against us,  it was snowing and freezing, at one point I was the highest person in  Portugal, with an outside temperature of -3 C, what doesn't seems pretty  cold but reminder that I live by the beach. 

We kept exploring the  mountain top and as the sun went up, all the surroundings were emerge in  clouds and with a new pair of socks we endure a long day documenting  and exploring the amazing landscape that nature provides us with.

After  discussing where should we watch the  sunset and still with some ideas in mind about a longboard session,   both things come together and we eventually spent the rest of the golden  hour cruising down the icy road. Marsha being a crazy dutch was killing  it, even with leather boots haha !

 As the night progressed we started  our way down the mountain, stopping  for quick views of the  surroundings. Our final day was spent cruising around those awesome  mountain roads looking for waterfalls and hidden corners, has the sun  went down was time to pack and return home.

''Finally completed a long time desire and went for first time  to Serra da Estrela,  the highest peak in continental Portugal!   Mountains and snow made me feel like being a kid in a candy store!''

Spent three days and two cold nights and for  a first time there I couldn't ask for a better experience. At the end,  watching all natures beauty I did realize something. I realized that most  people and when I say people, mean photographers, they all wake up  early to catch the sunrise, go there shoot and walk away. Most of us are  only concern about the content for social media and personal portfolios  that we forget to enjoy the real life, planet Earth and all its beauty  is the best portfolio that you will ever have. Social media has changed a  lot of life's, including mine but one thing it cannot and shouldn't be  changed are our love and appreciation for the things that makes our work  possible and all we have has a human species. We should be grateful for  what nature has for us!

I'm super thankful to  experience a place like this with such great people and amazingly  grateful to Indie Campers that support us with an outstanding way to  travel. There's more to see and explore in Portugal and this is only the  beginning!

 Cheers, Leo

 If you enjoyed this post please feel free to check my  Instagram page, where I often post and blog about my travels and  adventures! https://www.instagram.com/leodomingox/