The Local Guides program means for me being connected to the world today. Being a local appraiser has become much more than a hobby, more than a challenge to explore points, stamps and levels. Being close to level 9 means the great path I have taken and the skills and perceptions developed in this path. It is delightful to learn at any stage of life. It is wonderful to be part of this global community of Local Guides at the age of 60 and to be able to have a look at a more critical and sharper world.
In 2016, at the age of 56, after a marriage of 31 years, I decided that I would start to go around the world, little money, but a lot of desire. I made my first international trip alone. I set up my itinerary through Google Maps and Local Guides reviews: hotels, sights… This was my first contact with the Local Guides program. I started to send my photos to Google Maps. I was motivated when Google sent me reports saying: Congratulations! Your photos set a new record on Google Maps.
Three months after this incredible trip to Europe, where my photos of Rua Rosa in Lisbon and the photos of the Erotic Museum in La Rambla in Barcelona had a wide range of views, which were fundamental in becoming a Local Guides. Soon after that, I had a stroke. But I didn stop. I opened a channel on YouTube showing positiveness to my rehabilitation development saying: STROKE - LIFE GOES ON! (In Portuguese is a kind of acronym - AVC - A VIDA CONTINUA).
Even with the support of my cane, I travel, I walk, I go shopping, I go to the cinema, theater and shows. I encourage, motivate and influence people to leave home. Accessibility of cities as a possibility and condition of reach has become an important item in my evaluations.
Every place I go, where I arrive, I immediately check in on Google Maps, and then calmly, I do my evaluation since from the market on the corner of my street in my small city in São Paulo - Brazil to the efficient priority service provided to people with special needs, where the objective is to point out barriers in establishments, public roads, urban places and buildings that hinder urban mobility and, with the help of different projects, such barriers will be eliminated. This means contributing to social inclusion for me, so being a local appraiser has become part of my life.
