LISBON, PORTUGAL

 ESTRELA STROLL

Long stroll through Estrela.

Love this beautiful working class Lisbon neighborhood filled with parks, churches and fabulous azulejos on its buildings.

All served by the historic 28E tram.

LISBON, PORTUGAL

 ELEVADOR DA GLÓRIA

The colorfully painted and always graffitied Elevador da Glória is a funicular in Santo António, Lisbon, Portugal. 

It connects the Pombaline downtown with Bairro Alto.

LISBON, PORTUGAL

CITY OF SEVEN HILLS

Lisbon is so hilly that when I walked 13 miles per day, I felt like I was getting 20 miles worth of workout. 

The inclines justify outdoor escalators. But to my engineering friends — how do they not break down in rain?

LISBON, PORTUGAL

ELÉCTRICO 28 HISTÓRICO

Be it poem, novel or short story — Pessoa, Saramago or a contemporary author — the historic trams of Lisbon figure prominently in Portuguese literature. 

Here, the tram chugs toward Largo da Graça.

AN IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION OF “SAUDADE”

THROUGH LITERATURE, ART, AND OTHER MEDIA

I am honored to be among the world class multimedia artists included in Amy Serrano's colorful, engaging Saudades book.

My back cover photo is on the bottom right.

More of my street photography in Portugal is in the book.

Official book sales started July 31.

It’s available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million and powerhouse Miami local Books and Books.

The Miami Launch event is on Oct. 4.

For much more information, click on the press release:

https://files.constantcontact.com/be755cbc401/7673ddfe-4756-4c76-b51a-0527d29455a1.pdf

HONORING A LEGACY WHILE LEARNING FROM JAPAN

MARK BOOKMAN AND THE 34^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

It is fascinating that Japan does not have underlying legislation as strong as the ADA, but it has better access to essential public transit.

The lesson is that the ADA is a strong foundation, but true inclusion is only realized through a commitment to universal design.

We celebrated the ADA anniversary in July, but must realize we all have a responsibility to create a world where the built environment is accessible to people with disabilities.

This commitment, which pays huge dividends for society as a whole, is especially imperative on architects, planners, mobility engineers, builders, employers and government.

Let's make the world accessible to everyone.

To watch the trailer and learn more about GLIDE Fund -- a nonprofit in Mark Bookman’s honor “established to provide financial assistance to disabled students interested in education exchange experiences to foster an inclusive society in which anyone can lead an independent and self-determined life.” – visit:

https://www.glidefund.org/documentary

HONORING A LEGACY WHILE LEARNING FROM JAPAN

MARK BOOKMAN AND THE 34^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

The other huge takeaway -- from my trip to Tokyo to attend the world premiere of “Mark – A Call To Action” -- was the super clean and accessible public restrooms.

Even the largest commuter train stations in America often lack restrooms and when they have them, they are filthy and often ill-equipped for people with disabilities.

Virtually every restroom area had a men’s, women’s and unisex/accessible restroom.

The accessible ones were huge – and featured easy to toggle levers, located low toward wheelchair height, for locking the stall for privacy.

Some even had automatic door openers and closers and a good number featured adult changing stations.

Equally clean, well-maintained and fabulously-accessible free public restrooms are everywhere – at parks, by bridges, even in narrow old alleys famed for tiny shops serving ramen and Japanese beer.