Stories & connection
The social landscape here is a peculiar and beautiful one — older residents with deep roots in this ancient land, and a diverse wave of newcomers who heard the call of the valleys and rivers. I try to document something of what's here before it changes, and to pass it on to those who are arriving.
On Instagram I share daily life in central Portugal — walks, seasons, the people I meet, the properties I visit, the slow rhythms of rural life. Follow along there for the most current view of what's happening in these mountains.
I sing in a local group called Canto d'Eira. We sing traditional Portuguese songs — the old ones that carry the history of these mountains — and write our own, rooted in this particular landscape and the lives being lived here.
It's one of the ways I stay genuinely connected to local life, to the older residents, and to the wider community around us. Music crosses the language barrier in a way that nothing else quite does.
You can follow the group on Instagram to hear what we sound like and see where we perform.
Follow Canto d'Eira on Instagram →
Photo: Julien
Photo: Julien