The idyllic image of Portugal as a seaside paradise attracts thousands of foreigners every year, but the reality of everyday life ends up dispelling the initial charm of many newcomers. A North American family, who decided to live on the outskirts of the capital, decided to publicly share the difficulties and negative aspects they encountered after moving to Portugal.
The American family, author of the blog American Family in Portugal, describes their experience in the country with a mix of love and frustration, alerting other potential immigrants to the challenges they will face. Although they recognize the country’s qualities, the family matriarch was peremptory when describing the state of hygiene in the capital, stating categorically that “Lisbon is disgusting sometimes”.
This statement comes in a context of severe criticism of the way public space is treated in large Portuguese cities. The family confesses to loving Lisbon and visiting downtown frequently, but admits having difficulty understanding the lack of civility they witness on the city’s streets.
Trash on the floor and lack of civility
The criticism focuses on the incomprehensible lack of care taken by locals and tourists towards urban cleanliness. The couple reports that they frequently find rubbish thrown on the ground and dog waste left uncollected on the sidewalks, lamenting that there is so little respect for the cleanliness of a city that they consider charming.
It indicates the same source that the proliferation of graffiti is another massive problem affecting the urban landscape. Americans are shocked by the amount of vandalism on walls, considering that the country has gone from extreme control in the past to total permissiveness where property is damaged without consequences.
Opportunism and prices for foreigners
One of the harshest complaints relates to the feeling of being seen as “walking pickpockets” by some local traders. The couple denounces the existence of restaurants that offer menus with prices for locals and more expensive ones for foreigners, a practice they consider dishonest and abusive.
The aforementioned source explains that this distrust extends to the construction and home repair sector. When asking for quotes for work on a house, they received disparate proposals ranging between 200,000 and 850,000 euros, creating total uncertainty about the honesty of the service providers.
Fragile sewers and high electricity bills
The basic sanitation system is described as rustic and unable to cope with modern conveniences in some areas of the country. Americans are surprised by the fact that in many places it is not possible to put toilet paper in the toilet and by the unpleasant odors that emanate from surface pipes.
Furthermore, the mild climate hides serious housing challenges related to humidity and cold indoors. Mold is identified as a recurring health problem, requiring the constant use of heaters which caused their electricity bill to skyrocket to close to 800 euros in a winter month.
Slow bureaucracy and strikes
The slowness of administrative services and excessive bureaucracy are highlighted as exhausting obstacles for those coming from outside. The family describes the system as antiquated and strongly advises hiring lawyers to handle any paperwork, given the complexity of the processes.
The blog also explains that the frequency of strikes is another factor causing instability in the family routine. The couple recalls that their children were left without classes for more than a week due to strikes, something they consider difficult to manage for those who work.
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