CASA DO POETA SETABUL PORTUGAL

PERFECT LOCATION, GREAT PRICE POINT, 

LARGE ENOUGH FOR A FAMILY OF 3-4 TO LIVE IN -- NOT JUST VISIT!

I could have stayed a week or a month at this Casa do Poeta.

It is footsteps from a grand arch that leads to the main drag into the fascinating old town.

Just below the hill is the region's main boulevard -- Avenida Luisa Todi -- and all of its parks and amenities.

Casa do Poeta Setabul is a 5-minute walk to the famous choco frito restaurants. Maybe 10 to Praca Bocage, the place for visitors.

It's 15 minutes tops to get to Marcado Livramento -- one of the greatest public markets on earth.

The ferry to Troia is very close, as is the entire old town.

CASA DO POETA SETABUL PORTUGAL

PERFECT LOCATION, GREAT PRICE POINT, 

LARGE ENOUGH FOR A FAMILY OF 3-4 TO LIVE IN -- NOT JUST VISIT!

The only demerit in a sea of positives at Casa do Poeta Setabul was the tiny liquid soap dispenser in the bathroom.

Even unique, family-owned properties have figured out it's good hosting to have a large bottle of shampoo/bodywash mounted in the shower and a full bottle of hand soap in the bathroom sink.

On arrival, there was one dispenser, basically out of soap, by the sink.

This may have been an oversight by the cleaning crew -- but it forced me to waste 40 minutes walking to a grocery, waiting in checkout line and walking back...just to have soap and shampoo.

The neighborhood looks a bit dodgy with graffiti. Don't be put off.

The town is transforming and every other building is being renovated.

But I never heard noise from construction during the day our bars and night.

CASA DO POETA SETABUL PORTUGAL

PERFECT LOCATION, GREAT PRICE POINT, 

LARGE ENOUGH FOR A FAMILY OF 3-4 TO LIVE IN -- NOT JUST VISIT!

I was so fortunate to book this property.

The owners were fabulous about keeping in touch before I left the US and while I was in Portugal leading up to this visit and during my stay.

They shared many tips on places to see, things to eat, etc.

I'm a history buff and the apartment shares a wall with the birthplace of legendary Setubal and subversive poet and writer Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage, which serves as a museum to his works and also as an archive of photographer Americo Ribeiro.

The unit even comes with free parking if you can nab a spot at the next door church square.

Bed was comfy, AC worked well, kitchen facilities were top notch and shower had endless hot water.

PONTA DA PIEDADE GROTTO TOUR IN LAGOS BY VIATOR

GREAT VALUE AND SAFE AT SEA WITH SUPER PROFESSIONAL

ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE

As most of you know, Viator works with thousands of subcontractors.

They are up front about telling you what sub is conducting your tour.

When I arrived at the docks, an English speaking person told me I was the only one that booked for my time.

I feared I would be left to fend for myself, despite having a very tight daily schedule.

No, he placed me on another boat with a top notch captain and English speaking guide.

All was well.

No worries with Viator.

PONTA DA PIEDADE GROTTO TOUR IN LAGOS BY VIATOR

GREAT VALUE AND SAFE AT SEA WITH SUPER PROFESSIONAL

ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE

I have been in some of the most exotic parts of the world -- done on my own and without a guide.

So when I swear by Viator -- that means the company is doing something right.

We left right on time, returned right on time and every moment at sea felt safe and sound.

The narration was spot on.

Going out the channel gives a great view of Old Lagos.

Getting out to the rock formations and grottos -- on the way to and at Ponta da Piedade, gives you a picture post card view from the Atlantic up to the amazing cliffs and openings.

DANGEROUS BY DESIGN

PROTECTING OUT OF CONTROL CARS FROM HITTING UTILITY POLLS

TAKES PRIORITY OVER PROTECTING HUMANS FROM BEING RUN OVER

The DOT assault on humanity knows no boundaries.

Giant post on sidewalk forces vulnerable pedestrians within inches of dangerous Miami traffic.

Location is Coral Way, a designated scenic corridor.

BENAGIL CAVES SPEEDBOAT TOUR FROM PORTIMÃO BY VIATOR

GREAT VALUE, SAFE AT SEA AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING 

WITH SUPER PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE

The Viator guided boat stopped at so many hidden coves and sea caves that were as good or better as the famous Benagil.

The guide took photos of each person that wanted one of them at Benagil.

On the speedy return to port, he gave tips on what else to see and where to eat in the area.

This allowed me to visit the amazing network of boardwalks near Carvoeiro to Algar Seco, based on his insights.

The trip was a great value and felt very safe at sea.

BENAGIL CAVES SPEEDBOAT TOUR FROM PORTIMÃO BY VIATOR

GREAT VALUE, SAFE AT SEA AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING 

WITH SUPER PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE

I am NOT a group tour person.

So when Viator impresses me, it means its tours are the best of the best.

The Benagil Caves by speedboat left right on time.

We saw everything advertised and then some.

The guide had perfect English.

He was the ideal blend of informative about history, culture, etc. -- while also being humorous.

MONTE GERAÇÕES ALMANCIL ALGARVE PORTUGAL

TRANQUIL STAY, LUXURY HEATED POOL, PERFECT LOCATION 

CREATED BY A WARM AND KNOWLEDGEABLE HOST

Monte Geracoes has 5 units on its rustic site, but I NEVER heard another person.

The property is within 15 minutes walking distance to a commercial strip in Almancil.

There are major discount and gourmet grocery stores a 5 minute drive away.

The town has its share of great restaurants and the owner happily shared his favorites and what they specialize -- in a WhatsApp text before my arrival, so I could plan.

The greatest asset of all was something I really did not book based on. That is a very large, heated pool.

I'm usually on the go, so a pool is not a big deal -- plus, the Atlantic Ocean was 15 minutes away and part of half the towns I toured.

But getting back between 8 and 9 p.m. and doing an hour in the pool at sunset and moonrise -- it was divine.

MONTE GERAÇÕES ALMANCIL ALGARVE PORTUGAL

TRANQUIL STAY, LUXURY HEATED POOL, PERFECT LOCATION 

CREATED BY A WARM AND KNOWLEDGEABLE HOST

The Monte Geracoes owner fielded my myriad questions about best cities to visit based on what I love (history, architecture, authenticity).

He came by the property to chat and make sure I got in okay (there is a gated entry and you need a clicker to open it) and was set up -- arriving in less than an hour after I did.

The owner checked in throughout my trip.

He suggested an amazing, and fair priced seafood place in a hill town.

I was thinking coastal for fin and shell fish, but he was spot on with his recommendation, even suggesting I go for dinner instead of lunch -- so I saw the lights illuminating the city's dramatic Moorish castle.

MONTE GERAÇÕES ALMANCIL ALGARVE PORTUGAL

TRANQUIL STAY, LUXURY HEATED POOL, PERFECT LOCATION 

CREATED BY A WARM AND KNOWLEDGEABLE HOST

The only minus against 100 pluses at Monte Geracoes was the thinness and hardness of the mattress.

I realize this is a very personal thing -- as some folks like to sleep on something firm as concreate and others want mushy marshmallows under them.

I have a firm mattress at home, but I woke up with hip pain and was gobbling Tylenol the whole trip.

The overly hard mattress had to be the cause.

Maybe a mattress topper at the ready, would be a solution?

MONTE GERAÇÕES ALMANCIL ALGARVE PORTUGAL

TRANQUIL STAY, LUXURY HEATED POOL, PERFECT LOCATION 

CREATED BY A WARM AND KNOWLEDGEABLE HOST

I can't say enough about the property. It's perfectly located in the heart of the Algarve.

I rented a car at the Lisbon Airport and drove down. It was less than a 90 minute drive to the farthest point west -- Sagres and only an hour to Alcoutim at the boarder of Spain to the east.

All of the hill towns, which often are less overdeveloped than the beach and golf course communities, were an hour's drive from the property.

The kitchen was outstanding and clean.

I appreciated the full size fridge, microwave, utensils, plates and more.

The bedroom was large, well lit, etc.

It really is a small house, far larger than a hotel unit.

THIS BLOG HAS HAD MORE THAN 800,000 UNIQUE VISITS

SINCE IT WAS LAUNCHED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO

The vast majority of my posts have to do with Universal Design and creating a better built environment for people with disabilities.

Posts have touched on planning, urban design, transportation engineering, landscape architecture, economic development, sustainability and related issues.

I have tackled public policy and held politicians’ feet to the fire.

I have shared more than 4,000 images that I have taken on work on five continents.

The cumulative word count of my posts would fill 11 300-page books.

Here's to more travel photos, human-centered advocacy and plain language interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and more.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

NAR Sustainability Grants, available up to $5,000, provide funding assistance to state and local Realtor associations to aid in implementing a sustainability program, event, plan or update for their members, and to encourage the ongoing awareness of sustainability in real estate: nar.realtor/sustainability/narsustainability-grant

PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) allows property owners to receive upfront financing for a variety of energy-related home improvements, then repay the debt through voluntary assessments on their property tax bills.

PACE, which can be used by residential and commercial owners, exists in many districts in Florida: floridapace.gov/about-pace

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

ClimateCheck, displays the risk of flood, heat, fire, drought and storms by individual address, ZIP Code and city.

A Redfin report found nearly 50% who plan to move in the next year are relocating because of extreme temperatures or natural disasters, and 80% of those surveyed are hesitant to buy a home in places with increased natural disasters: climatecheck.com

Realtors Property Resource (RPR®), a nationwide, property database available only to members of the National Association of Realtors®, delivers parcel-level data to Realtors® to share with their clients and customers, assisting them in the process of buying, selling or leasing of both residential and commercial real estate: narrpr.com

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

WHAT CAN FLORIDA REALTORS DO TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY?

Get to know your local elected officials.

Encourage them to create master plans that protect valuable property and natural resources.

Following Hurricane Idalia’s nearly $4 billion in damage, the City of Crystal River hired Dover Kohl & Partners Town Planning.

The result is a master plan that supports rebuilding and future growth—embedded with techniques to mitigate flooding in ways that preserve a beautiful, walkable coastal community.

By partnering with government entities and promoting resilient building practices, real estate professionals can make a significant impact on the environment and their communities.

With proactive engagement, education and community involvement, everyone wins when Florida’s natural environment is protected.

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

WHAT CAN FLORIDA REALTORS DO TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY?

Create your own event.

Learn about native, hardy trees and landscaping that do not require heavy watering.

Work with a local brokerage, team and your local association/board of Realtors to organize an event.

A simple tree planting can restore shade canopy and make neighborhoods cooler.

Understand the issues.

Learn about local and regional issues related to Florida’s hot summers and major storm events.

Most large counties have resiliency and sustainability offices.

They can be a great resource for ideas on hardening residential and commercial properties against flooding.

They can explain loan programs to pay for home improvements that improve energy efficiency.

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

WHAT CAN FLORIDA REALTORS DO TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY?

Get involved locally.

Consider serving on your local planning, zoning or parks board.

Advocate for planning that balances growth with protecting our white sandy beaches, the emerald coastline and crystal-clear freshwater springs.

A healthy environment is key to a robust Sunshine economy.

Join a cause.

Each year, primarily in the month of July, Florida Realtors® and community partners come together to clean up our lakes, rivers, streams, bays, Intracoastal Waterway, gulf and ocean. Find out about efforts in your area by contacting your local association.

Check out: floridarealtors.org/events/cleanup-florida-waters-about

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

WHAT CAN FLORIDA REALTORS DO TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY?

Support legislation. In its more than 100-year history, Florida Realtors® has supported numerous member-driven initiatives pertaining to the environment and the preservation of Florida’s natural resources.

Get to know these advocates who represent you in Tallahassee and make sure they approve legislation that protects Florida’s unique environment.

Learn how to get involved here: floridarealtors.org/advocacy

PASEO PROBLEM

PASSAGEWAY BLOCKS WHEELCHAIR USERS

Dear City of Coral Gables. 

Paseos do not work when they are blocked by tables and chairs when restaurants use them illegally for storage. 

This perpetually destroys mobility for people with disabilities on Giralda.

The trash can is highly symbolic.

It means merchants treat wheelchair users like trash. 

Because they block the paseo with trash cans etc. 

Ironically, this is one a pedestrian only corridor that should be great for people with disabilities.

How can hundreds of city employees and officials walk past this every day and not see this blocks those who use wheelchairs for mobility?

It took us pointing this out on social media for the city to address the long-festering problem.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

The City of Miami Beach is investing roughly $1 billion in resiliency.

Without a lot of wiggle room on a highly developed sand bar, the city is creating parks and rebuilding existing ones to handle stormwater.

Bayshore Park will retain a central lake featuring a boardwalk.

The nearly 20- acre park will feature meadows, jogging trails and walking paths—all woven into residency features. Brittany Bay Park on the Intracoastal Waterway uses a living shoreline to protect the community from storms and sunny-day flooding.

Maurice Gibb Park increases resiliency by raising the seawall, increasing drainage capacity, planting native trees and creating a living shoreline of mangroves.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Though Miami Beach’s permanent population is only about 80,000, its total taxable value has soared above $50 billion.

With a land mass of less than eight square miles, it is walkable, densely populated, but only four feet above sea level.

Some of the most valuable residential and commercial real estate in the U.S. is vulnerable to both sunny-day tidal flooding and paralyzing flooding simply when it gets heavy rains.

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

In Pasco County, Starkey Ranch’s master plan avoids tract housing and strip center retail while using 95% native plants in the 2,500-acre development.

Dix.Hite+Partners designed a community that connects people to nature. Boardwalks and pedestrian bridges float through nature without disrupting the land.

Rather than huge suburban lawns that require intense watering and chemicals to maintain, the community’s greenery is focused on a permanent wilderness preserve donated by the Starkey family.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

In Central Florida, which has plenty of waterways, but an elevation much higher than Florida’s coastal communities, a team of planners, developers, horticulturists, universities and nonprofits is looking at suburban building patterns that conserve land and water, while protecting nature and creating sustainable landscape practices.

 The Outside Collaborative, a proactive nonprofit group in Central Florida, promotes resiliency subdivision by subdivision.

Knowing that the combination of rapid growth, chemical runoff and saltwater infiltration threatens Florida’s sustainable freshwater supply, the collaborative has created a pattern book filled with designs that minimize or eliminate irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides.

 

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Monroe County, which has a Resilience Officer, commissioned a roadway vulnerability assessment for the 311 miles of county-maintained roadways.

They addressed ways to protect property in the face of rising water during king tides and other sea-level-rise events.

The estimated cost to elevate roads and add a stormwater system is upwards of $4 billion.

But the Keys do not have a large tax base.

While leaders lobby for state and federal dollars, they understand the concept Adam Smith shared at one of NAR’s Sustainability Summits.

“We can’t afford not to champion sustainability.

Adaptation can cost billions, but doing nothing comes at a much more staggering cost,” said Smith, a leading climate expert at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

In the Florida Keys, water is both a blessing and a curse. 

The narrow land mass—a 120-mile-long string of tropical islands with coastline on each side of it—has created a fun in the sun gold mine where nearly 50% of Monroe County residents work in the tourism industry.

But the 80,000 people who call the Keys home year-round are experiencing sunny-day flooding—roads made impassible by tidal activity—no tropical storm rainfall required.

Sea levels in Monroe County have risen nearly four inches from 2000-2017.

A net additional six to 13 inches has been projected from 2018 to 2040, according to Monroe County government statistics.

THE CITY OF MIAMI ROUTINELY ALLOWS MILLIONS IN RENOVATIONS

WHILE APPROVING FAULTY WHEELCHAIR ACCESS 

THAT FAILS ALL THE TIME

This is what happens when you segregate the wheelchair accessible entrance from the main entrance in an urban area.

An impenetrable gauntlet of human waste, broken glass and homeless person’s bedding.

When a city allows adaptive reuse of a building, but permits lousy wheelchair access – it is ableism at its worst.

Millions of dollars were spent converting an old post office into a craft brewery in downtown Miami.

The excuse is historic preservation prevents an appropriate ramp at the main entrance.

It’s total BS.

Stairs are NOT historic.

Facades are.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Protecting real estate is of the upmost importance, but when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed gray, 10- to 30-foothigh seawalls as flood barriers, the Miami Downtown Development Authority took another tact.

They commissioned a landscape architecture firm. As an alternative to view-destroying sea walls,

Curtis + Rogers Design Studio proposed nature-based solutions, such as living shorelines, natural breakwaters, nearshore artificial reefs and some raised seawalls.

The approach also would add 39 acres of waterfront, eco-friendly park land for the citizens of Miami. 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Florida’s explosive growth—rising to a population of roughly 23 million in 2024, up from 16 million in 2000—challenges planners, builders and residents as more ground is covered with pavement and rooflines, reducing the places high water can be absorbed back into the sandy soil.

The Sunshine State’s low-lying land, especially along its enchanting coastline, makes it vulnerable to flooding, rising sea levels  and saltwater intrusion.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline— second only to Alaska.

It also has experienced some of the most frequent and devastating hurricanes in the nation.

Many buyers factor the cost of insurance—sometimes exceeding $1,000 per month, including windstorm and flood coverage—along with the base expense of a downpayment and mortgage.

Savvy real estate professionals are learning about higher ground, sunny-day flooding and how to become active with local elected and appointed officials—to make sure resiliency is at the forefront in a state dependent on real estate.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

The GRANNAN Group created a nonprofit, and their Plant Your Roots Program is a big hit in the Gulf Coast area that they serve.

“You can increase your buyer and seller pool by getting involved in green development and protecting the environment, Angela Grannan says.

“Greenscapes can filter stormwater. EDUCATION IS KEY Just as Realtors® serve customers by knowing about the market and community—they also must learn about the many programs that help keep Florida’s natural environment protected.

 

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Angela Grannan noted that houses on treelined streets tend to have a higher value. For commercial properties, many tenants and investors seek an efficient building with energy savings—so green building can equal more green in terms of leasing and sales.

 “One of the things we are doing soon is a multifamily, mixed-use building. It will have a green roof for residents, with edible things that grow perennially in Florida,” she says.

In 2023, The GRANNAN Group partnered with Keep Pinellas Beautiful—a Keep America Beautiful affiliate—and various state and local organizations to launch the Plant Your Roots Program.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

EVERYBODY WINS WHEN FLORIDA’S 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED

Angela Grannan has always been passionate about protecting the environment.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and management, and she worked as an environmental consultant for commercial real estate for more than two decades.

When she and her husband and business partner, Chad Grannan, formed The GRANNAN Group in St. Petersburg in 2022, they knew environmental stewardship would be a core part of their brokerage.

“Creating shade and building green are not just good for the environment, they are good for business,” Angela Grannan says.

“In our last couple of residential listings, we played up the big live oaks.

When buyers walked under them, they could feel the cooler temperature.”

 

 

 

 

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST FIX ADA VIOLATIONS

CONSTRUCTION THAT CREATES BARRIERS DESTROYS INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY FOR THOSE WHO USE ASSSTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES

The triumph and failure of cities can be evaluated in the way they accommodate the vulnerable pedestrian population. 

In the case of Miami, its inhumanity shows abject failure.

This is the gateway between two of Miami’s biggest icons — the waterfront skyscraper Brickell district and culturally vibrant historic Little Havana.

Yet it blocks people with disabilities and is a tripping hazard to all with bumpy crappy asphalt.

This is an Americans with Disabilities Act violation.

Barriers created by construction then neglected for ages strip all independence and dignitiy for those who uses wheelchairs for mobility.

WHEN DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION

STEERING AWAY FROM CAR DEPENDENCY

Straightforward Planning Tools to Serve Nondrivers

Make nondrivers visible. 

Place nondrivers on mobility advisory boards, make sure surveys include them, hire nondrivers for transit and transportation planning positions.

Reduce traffic speeds. 

Planners know it's not just lowering speed limits. 

Road diets, bulb outs, traffic circles, and raised sidewalks can slow traffic and make it pedestrian-friendly.

Allow for longer crossing times at crosswalks. 

Know that 30 seconds to cross is not enough time for a person using an assistive mobility device or younger or older citizens.

Take public ownership of sidewalk repair and maintenance. 

If a nondriver must walk six blocks to a transit stop, clear it of barriers and make it accessible to all. 

Treat sidewalks as any other infrastructure — plan, fund, and maintain them.

Make transit at least as reliable as driving. 

Approach transit as an equal part of the mobility ecosystem, making it safer and more connective for citizens.