Roaming and Reading: Richard Zimler's Lisbon

This week's Roaming and Reading lands us in Lisbon, Portugal. Our guide is Richard Zimler, author of "The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon."

He recently wrote about Portugal in Up Magazine:

The characteristics of Portugal that make me feel most at home might seem unimportant to others. And yet, the value the Portuguese put on what is small and beautiful makes the country special. An example: gardens. Even the most modest Portuguese homes usually have a garden with roses, bougainvillea and a lemon or orange tree, and a vegetable patch with collards and potatoes. What a difference it makes to live in a land where people value the presence of flowers and the taste of home-grown vegetables! And it means something important for visitors, as well, because out-of-the-way, unsophisticated restaurants often offer the freshest food.