The Shoe-Shiner (Lisbon)
I'm Paolo Oliveira, I'm 50 years old. I've worked in this job as a shoe-shiner for 30 years. We're here in Lisbon, in St Domingo's Square in Rossio.
Yes, I like this job. This was my first job because there were many of us children - we were eleven children - and the older ones had to work. We had to work to support the younger ones.
I always try to do my best. I like to see a shiny shoe. So, I spread the polish on the shoe. Polish all around the shoe to soften it, to make it smoother. Then I leave it to dry for a bit, then I polish a bit all around the shoe and finish it off nicely. The shoe shines...the customers like it and thank me.