Cais do Sodrè, Cafè Tatì,

Lisboa, 27.10.15; 18.30h

Ana is an architect.

She lives and works in the center of Lisbon, and she is satisfied with her quality of life.
She invites me to meet her in a pleasant cafe, where sometimes there is a live music program.

Ana has worked in urban management for the Camera of Lisbon and now she is part of a new team working on local programs of Housing and social rights.

The study of different indicators (old-age, poverty, vulnerability), shows, together with the data coming from Observatorio de Pobreza (Observatory of Poverty), an aggravation of the situation.

Ana observes homeless people living next to her and for her it is hard to believe that someone could rationally choose this sort of life.
At the same time, she considers that the absence of responsibilities could indeed permit them to feel a certain freedom…

For Ana, life in the street is very important, almost as the one she lives inside her house.

In the street she can meet people, but also walk alone, anonymously, while at Home she feels quiet, in a place that represent the possibility of a pause, and the warmth of a family.

When she chooses to rent a flat she takes into consideration the street and the neighborhood in which it is placed, preferring a flat in the center, within walking distance from all facilities, more then a flat built-new and with garage, but less central.

She explains that, at the moment, she still considers tourism as a positive phenomenon, that should anyway grow in a controlled form and without colliding with the daily lives of people.

...to listen is to imagine...

Thank you Ana for your friendly energy and for describing and letting me share a bit of your life!

Good listening!

SPACE:

This interview recording took place in a bar located in the down-town district of Cais do Sodrè in Lisbon.

The space, Cafè Tati has a low ceiling and it is composed by two rooms fully furnished. It was full of people at the moment of our meeting as a live jazz concert was going to start within an hour...

I always accept the suggestions of the people for our meeting places:

I think it is a richness to have different backgrounds for our conversations even if the listening conditions are not always ideal.