Well this is it, the final entry. It's taken me a little while to get around to writing it, mainly because I've been racing from airport to airport, from plane to plane. As you've probably guessed or know, I'm at home now. I really wanted to write the final entry and finish up this blog while I was still away, but everything was such a rush at the end that I've only just had a chance to do it now.
The other reason its taken me so long is procrastination. I really didn't want to have to wrap this blog up. I've really enjoyed writing it. I hope I have given you some insight into what it is like to travel when you have a physical disability, and encourage you to realise that it can be done!
I started the day with a cup of tea. Then my sister and I went for a walk to the shops to get some gifts to take back to my friends in Australia. After that we came home and I started packing for the journey home.
The trip to the airport was interesting. We got a wheelchair accessible taxi, but one that probably never been used before, because the driver appeared not to know how to open the door. Not only that, but once the door was open, there wasn't lift a that I could wheel onto, but a very steep ramp that the driver pulled down and leant against the massive vehicle.
They say that bad luck comes in threes, right? Well, you guessed it, there was a third problem. Although the taxi had the appropriate straps and clamps to tie my wheelchair down (thank goodness!), there was no seat belt for me! So I clung on to the seat in front of me for the whole trip. Fortunately the driver had tied my wheelchair down extremely well (which is something that drivers in Australia could learn to do better) and I hoped like crazy that those straps wouldn't come undone.
The first flight, Vienna to Zurich, was pretty smooth. It was only an hour. First we ate, and then we slept and then it was time to get off the plane. As the plane slowed down and got ready to land, a funny thing happened. Several of the tray tables fell down, one by one. I watched mine closely, and saw the switch that kept it secure slowly rotating, until eventually the table fell down with a thud. It provided a bit of humour to start the flight!
We had two hours at Zurich airport before the next flight, the grueling 13 hour flight from Zurich to Singapore, and I wanted to use that time to do things like write my blog and check my email - but the computer desks weren't low enough for me to use, which was really frustrating.
As soon as I had finished dinner and dessert on the next flight, I put my seat back and tried to sleep. Wearing my noise cancelling headphones helped a little bit, and eventually I fell asleep, but only for a couple of hours. I listened to music for the rest of the flight.
The final flight was the worst - 8 hours from Singapore to Sydney, and I didn't sleep for 1 minute of that time. By this stage I was so completely over it, and just wanted to get off and not have to get back on to any plane. I called this plane the party plane. The lights inside changed from pink to purple to yellow to white, which made the flight a bit more interesting, especially for the flight attendant who was trying to pour coffee as the lights went purple, making it difficult to see.
Eventually we landed. We were back. The holiday was over. It had been the most brilliant holiday of my life. The new experiences, the fun times, eating, drinking sightseeing and just spending time with my family, all together. Yes there were challenges, yes there the occasional hiccups along the way, that's a guarantee when you have a disability. I probably won't travel overseas for a few years, because of how big the a challenge it is, but would I do it again? DEFINITELY!!!
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Continuation of yesterday AND today
Last night we had dinner at home and then we went out for dessert, to a stunningly elaborate palace-like coffee house called Cafe Central. It was amazingly decorated, with gold chandeliers, and curtains. We had two small cakes between us and I also had a hot chocolate, which was served in a glass with whipped cream on top.
The coffee house was reasonably accessible, except for three our four steps, and I used the stair climber they had there to go down the stairs.
When we had finished we caught the tram home and tumbled into bed after a big day.
Today I started the day by having a long and luxurious bubble bath and then I tried on all the clothes that I bought yesterday. I was really happy because everything fit except for one pair of jeans.
Tonight we are going out to dinner but have no plans for the day so I will write more later :)
The coffee house was reasonably accessible, except for three our four steps, and I used the stair climber they had there to go down the stairs.
When we had finished we caught the tram home and tumbled into bed after a big day.
Today I started the day by having a long and luxurious bubble bath and then I tried on all the clothes that I bought yesterday. I was really happy because everything fit except for one pair of jeans.
Tonight we are going out to dinner but have no plans for the day so I will write more later :)
Saturday, 13 July 2013
And it's almost the end...
This morning I woke up with the almost overwhelming realisation that it is almost the end of our holiday, almost time to leave this sunny, warm, friendly, inviting paradise, and almost time to come back to bleak, cold Sydney.
We had breakfast, and then went to have another look at the shops. I bought more clothes, including some warm clothes which will be handy for our return to cold Sydney. I also bought a few tops and a couple of pairs of stretchy jeans. I had trouble getting into the change rooms because the doorways were too narrow but bought things to try on at home and then return.
We spent the afternoon sitting, drinking tea, eating pastries, talking and relaxing at my sister and brother in law's apartment. It was lovely to just sit and relax, and tonight we are going out for dinner.
We had breakfast, and then went to have another look at the shops. I bought more clothes, including some warm clothes which will be handy for our return to cold Sydney. I also bought a few tops and a couple of pairs of stretchy jeans. I had trouble getting into the change rooms because the doorways were too narrow but bought things to try on at home and then return.
We spent the afternoon sitting, drinking tea, eating pastries, talking and relaxing at my sister and brother in law's apartment. It was lovely to just sit and relax, and tonight we are going out for dinner.
Friday, 12 July 2013
Cobblestones and apricots
This morning we went for a walk in the sun to find some breakfast. I had a chocolate brioche, which wasn't very chocolatey, and a mocha, which they had never heard of but I told them in it was half hot chocolate and half coffee, and it was perfect.
After breakfast we went back to our hotel, packed and checked out. Then we began the long drive back to my sister and brother in law's place in Vienna, but not before going to the apricot festival in Krems. It was a bit of a let down in terms of the apricot produce there, and the entire area was paved with cobblestones. By the end of the day my neck, shoulders, head and back were aching from the continuous jarring.
After breakfast we went back to our hotel, packed and checked out. Then we began the long drive back to my sister and brother in law's place in Vienna, but not before going to the apricot festival in Krems. It was a bit of a let down in terms of the apricot produce there, and the entire area was paved with cobblestones. By the end of the day my neck, shoulders, head and back were aching from the continuous jarring.
We went back to my sister and brother in laws house and had dinner. Then my sister and I went out for the night.
Catch up entry - from yesterday
Yesterday was another long day of driving, to Tirol. By the time we arrived at our accommodation it was dinner time so after a quick, refreshing shower we headed out to see what we could find. Dinner was simple but one of the best meals I had had since being in Austria. I had turkey cordon bleu - which was turkey breast stuffed with ham, cheese and onions. For dessert we shared a molten chocolate pudding with passionfruit parfait, and everything was delicious.
After dinner as we left the restaurant we watched a light show in the sky, over the Danube. It was magical and there was a band playing below us and the buildings around us were lit up in brightly coloured lights, which moved and changed in time with the music.
After dinner as we left the restaurant we watched a light show in the sky, over the Danube. It was magical and there was a band playing below us and the buildings around us were lit up in brightly coloured lights, which moved and changed in time with the music.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
A Day Full of Firsts
This morning after breakfast I decided to take advantage of the amazing facilities this hotel provides for people in wheelchairs, and went on a bushwalk with my parents and my sister, using the Swiss Trac. I was completely blown away by the freedom it gave me and the opportunity I got to unleash my inner speed freak. The feeling of the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair was indescribable as I drove further and further, faster and faster, over surfaces and terrains that I would find near impossible in my normal wheelchair. After walking for a couple of hours we turned back to our room, and by the end of the walk I realised I had driven a distance of about 5 or 6 kilometres. It was an experience that I will never, ever forget.
In the afternoon I made the decision to continue my day of new experiences, and keep the "I'm up for anything" attitude, and my sister and I went to the hotel's sauna. At first I was quite nervous about the idea of being naked in a room full on strangers (including men), but I told myself that this holiday was about firsts and things that I never thought I would do (after all, I never thought I would get to Europe!) and that at the end I would be pleased I had done it.
As we got there I saw a row of wheelchairs, and I immediately calmed down, as I remembered that this hotel catered for people in wheelchairs, and I had seen many people in wheelchairs so far, so my "weird shaped" body would be no different from other people's. We entered, took our robes off, and sat in the hot, steamy room for about half an hour. There were about 6 or 7 other people in the room and other than a very quick glance around as we entered, I faced the wall and kept my eyes glued to a crack in the paint work for the entire time. Gradually people got up to leave and I heard them taking showers to cool off. Because of my wheelchair, I couldn't go in the shower, so I just ran my arms under the shower and that was enough to cool me off.
My wheels were scorching hot from the heat of the sauna but, wrapped in my robe, I pushed myself outside into the fresh air to cool off. That was something I could tick off my bucket list, and it definitely wasn't as scary as I thought. I might even do it again in another country, sometime in my life.
In the afternoon I made the decision to continue my day of new experiences, and keep the "I'm up for anything" attitude, and my sister and I went to the hotel's sauna. At first I was quite nervous about the idea of being naked in a room full on strangers (including men), but I told myself that this holiday was about firsts and things that I never thought I would do (after all, I never thought I would get to Europe!) and that at the end I would be pleased I had done it.
As we got there I saw a row of wheelchairs, and I immediately calmed down, as I remembered that this hotel catered for people in wheelchairs, and I had seen many people in wheelchairs so far, so my "weird shaped" body would be no different from other people's. We entered, took our robes off, and sat in the hot, steamy room for about half an hour. There were about 6 or 7 other people in the room and other than a very quick glance around as we entered, I faced the wall and kept my eyes glued to a crack in the paint work for the entire time. Gradually people got up to leave and I heard them taking showers to cool off. Because of my wheelchair, I couldn't go in the shower, so I just ran my arms under the shower and that was enough to cool me off.
My wheels were scorching hot from the heat of the sauna but, wrapped in my robe, I pushed myself outside into the fresh air to cool off. That was something I could tick off my bucket list, and it definitely wasn't as scary as I thought. I might even do it again in another country, sometime in my life.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Innsbruck to Kaunertal
Today we left our luxurious accommodation in Innsbruck and continued our road trip, but not before an amazingly huge and varied breakfast of many different types of tropical fruit, sausages and bread, and meat terrines of different sorts. It was an amazing and great start to the day, and we ate at a table overlooking the mountains.
Our next destination was Kaunertal, where we are staying for the next two nights. It was another long drive and the best part was when we stopped off at Swarovski Crystal World. We did a self guided tour where there was many different rooms to view crystals, as well as see different lighting effects, a room where you felt as if you were actually inside a crystal, plus many other interesting rooms.
At the end of the tour there was a gift shop with lots of very expensive Swarovski crystal items, and some cheaper ones. I bought myself a ring with tiny pink crystals on it, and it was marked down from 30 euros to 15 euros, and then because I presented my entry ticket, I got another 2 euros off the price - absolute bargain, and I now have a ring on my finger!
After a bit more driving we arrived at our accommodation. I was surprised by two things as we drove in to the carpark. One was that there was a van with a wheelchair sign on the back, which suggested to me that a group of people in wheelchairs was staying here, and the second thing was that among the many motor bikes in the car park, there was a motorbike with a wheelchair attached to it, parked near us. I was a little perplexed about where the occupant of the wheelchair was, but very surprised and interested to see it.
When we went into the hotel, it became obvious and another surprise to us that the hotel that my sister had chosen catered for people in wheelchairs and people with motorbikes. As we walked to our room we saw pictures of people in wheelchairs on the walls, as well as two sit-skis in glass cabinets. This was going to be a very interesting place to stay for the next two nights!
For dinner we went down to the dining room, where dinner was a set menu. There were three courses: The first was like a sausage roll in broth, and a slice of beef with lettuce, the second was salmon and potatoes with a creamy sauce, and dessert was a chocolate dumpling with a berry sauce.
After dinner we wandered back up to our room and went to bed.
Our next destination was Kaunertal, where we are staying for the next two nights. It was another long drive and the best part was when we stopped off at Swarovski Crystal World. We did a self guided tour where there was many different rooms to view crystals, as well as see different lighting effects, a room where you felt as if you were actually inside a crystal, plus many other interesting rooms.
At the end of the tour there was a gift shop with lots of very expensive Swarovski crystal items, and some cheaper ones. I bought myself a ring with tiny pink crystals on it, and it was marked down from 30 euros to 15 euros, and then because I presented my entry ticket, I got another 2 euros off the price - absolute bargain, and I now have a ring on my finger!
After a bit more driving we arrived at our accommodation. I was surprised by two things as we drove in to the carpark. One was that there was a van with a wheelchair sign on the back, which suggested to me that a group of people in wheelchairs was staying here, and the second thing was that among the many motor bikes in the car park, there was a motorbike with a wheelchair attached to it, parked near us. I was a little perplexed about where the occupant of the wheelchair was, but very surprised and interested to see it.
When we went into the hotel, it became obvious and another surprise to us that the hotel that my sister had chosen catered for people in wheelchairs and people with motorbikes. As we walked to our room we saw pictures of people in wheelchairs on the walls, as well as two sit-skis in glass cabinets. This was going to be a very interesting place to stay for the next two nights!
For dinner we went down to the dining room, where dinner was a set menu. There were three courses: The first was like a sausage roll in broth, and a slice of beef with lettuce, the second was salmon and potatoes with a creamy sauce, and dessert was a chocolate dumpling with a berry sauce.
After dinner we wandered back up to our room and went to bed.
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