So interesting! I had never heard the story of Ganda, but I have seen many of the calceteiros at work. Good for Brazil for trying to keep this tradition alive, too! Such artisans, working for low pay. We know what market forces will do to this tradition, so I hope that Lisbon and other public entities figure out a way to preserve it. I took a look at the website for the Escola de Calceteiros and it is municipally owned.
I remember walking on the Geira last year, in a rural area, and all at once I heard the familiar clink clink clink. I knew what it was before I saw it, and I really enjoyed getting a little lesson from one of the men working. He wasn’t doing anything decorative, just repairing a road, but it was such fun to watch and hear him describe it. I learned the word for those little rocks — paralelos.
These guys explained to me that It’s a much more environmentally responsible way to make roads and sidewalks — better drainage because of less impervious surface. Also, ripping up the road to get underneath for some pipes will most always allow them to reuse the the same rocks. I don’t think the environmental aspects were rationales for instituting the method, but may be reasons for preserving it.
Thanks so much for this link, mspath, and for all the great information you keep sending our way!