POUSADAS IN PORTUGAL

This is just day 2 of our 5-night stay in Portugal.
The scenery, the people, the food, the coffee, the wine, the architecture just knocks my socks off every time.

But I have to say that wheelchair access is a really dreadful.  The cobblestones are charming to look at as are the stone sidewalks but murder for the TravelScoot.  There are almost no flat paths atop the cobblestones and very few curb cuts or dropped curbs. Every church, shop, library, hotel, restaurant has steps, a lot of steps.  If I were truly wheelchair bound, it would be impossible.  

We wanted to take the walking tour tomorrow morning and every morning at 10 am but our one foray from the amazing pousada made us realize that we couldn't keep up with a walking tour.  So we went to the tourism office to enquire about alternatives.  There is a horse-drawn carriage ride but the horse is poorly this week. So no go.  It was too late to reach the association of tour guides. 

Our pousada reception desk-concierge was able to arrange a tour of the town with an English-speaking guide who will drive us in his car.  We have to see the Chapel of the Bones, among other sights.  Luckily we are right in front of the Roman Temple of Diana and adjacent to the cathedral.  Great location.

I wonder how the handicapped Portuguese manage to ever get out of their homes and around the town.
It must be very difficult and frustrating.  Monaco is a very richy-rich place and could well afford to build paths, ramps, elevators, smooth sidewalks, curb cuts, etc.  And they have done a poor job.  Perhaps Portugal could ask the European Commission for funds to make the cities accessible for their own as well as for the tourists.

Backtracking to Queluz, the pousada had a rough entrance with cobbled parking lot and surrounding property and no ramp provided to enter the hotel even though they displayed the handicapped logo.
Once inside there was an elevator to the room and a
spacious room and bathroom designed for handicapped access while still retaining old world charm and a gorgeous room with beautiful drapes, border along the walls close to the ceiling, wallpaper borders, comfortable chairs, plush carpet, comfy beds with duvets and crisp sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers.  Just the way a fine hotel should be not minimalist, grey and boring like so many chain hotels in the big cities and at airports.  Very helpful staff at reception who handled luggage and concierge duties with aplomb.

Bye for now.