Allan P. Says:
What is Portugal like for people with mobility issues?
IL Contributor Terry Coles Writes:
When we first moved to Portugal, we rented a house in the country on the Silver Coast. Often, we would see old men or women hobbling along the roadside with walkers, canes, or even wheelchairs. Some were making daily trips to nearby tiny grocery stores while others were going to visit friends. All were locals who had lived in these parts their entire life.
Portugal, like most of Europe, is riddled with cobblestone walkways and sidewalks, often hilly and narrow. Terrain here can be treacherous for an able-bodied person but extremely dangerous for those with mobility issues.
While there are many laws mandating provisions for everything from ramps, Braille, and audible crossing signals to wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and lodging, in many cases this is not possible due to laws protecting historical sites.
Additionally, the streets themselves are uneven and often quite narrow. It is almost impossible to retrofit a country for special needs after centuries of construction that didn’t take accessibility into account.
In major metroplexes like Lisbon or Porto it will be easier to get around, but you may still find challenges.
If you need particular supplies, most likely the physically challenged will have to find special stores, as grocery stores and general pharmacies in most cases will not carry products that are not in high demand.
That said, the people in the country by nature will try to be as helpful as possible in most situations.
Learn more about daily life in Portugal in Escape to Portugal.
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