21.2.15 - Vidago | Pitões das Júnias | Lindoso | Soajo | Monção | Vidago

Based on the peaceful village of Vidago, once famous for water and the way to Santiago, was gifted by a cold day and, like we say in Portugal, with S.Pedro as a friend: disappearing rain and bringing the sun to illuminate a path way through peaks and valleys, with plenty to see and water from Vidago up to the heart of Geres.
Leaving Vidago towards Boticas, after crossing Tâmega river, the road is winding through the curves and its inclination. Reached the top we may think " it worth", "it's beautiful". The harshness of the stone extends to Rabagão river and Pisões dam. A huge water mirror reflects the sun, clouds, blue sky, making that heavenly place.
Leaving behind Rabagão the zigzag continues to the upper Cávado dam: a spectacular given by the size of Rabagão becomes cozy by the smallness of this dam.
Entering the Peneda Geres National Park, a plateau region, we will towards Pitões of Junia and the landscape of hardship compresses us: how to inspire the neo-realistic?!
Herds of the best Barrosas - a specie of cow - copies greet us on the road and hardly let us continue way.
To whet your appetite for lunch, a small trekking to enjoy the waterfall emerging from the rock and the monastery. With the strongest sun, higher, visualized a perfect postcard.
Speaking about lunch, "Casa do Preto" due to the friendliness of the owner, I had tasted "ceboleira" and barrosã steak, accompanied by an Albariño. The restaurant is not referenced in the Michelin guide or the slow food chains but the quality of presenting is superb. Clients eat what the earth gives, literally!  Photography of cows, goats and chickens are exposed on the menu, touring the country and the identification of the producer.
After the excellent lunch it was time to head to Spain to get back to Portugal by Lindoso.
At Mugueimes, and Lobios we saw Lima river grow:  broad and narrow, with dams creating the landscape.
Getting in Portugal by Lindoso, the course was the Soajo.
The granite granaries - or canastros, as they say in some land - rise up to heaven by keeping the income of the earth. With high crosses, seem to ask God to be always full.
The return was made by the route of Vinho Verde, by Monção, through Brejoeira Palace.
Then back to Spain towards Verin,

then Chaves and Vidago.