Travel Guiding
My family, friends, and co-workers are my best travel guides. Unfailingly, they come back from trips all over the world with detailed reports about accessibility. It’s pretty amusing sometimes because they are often surprised at how many accommodations they are now aware of.
They notice when accommodations aren’t good.
“You should have seen what they call a ‘curb cut!’ It was absolutely ridiculous…steep… no clearance for your chair… totally unworkable. I took a picture for you.”
They also notice when accommodations are excellent.
“You could do everything at the resort. There was even a paved path along the beach, and a lift at the swimming pool!”
And they start piecing together solutions for me in not-so-accessible environments.
“Rome is not that accessible,” Caryn IMed from Italy yesterday. “But if you took cabs, or hired a driver, and went with someone who had been there before it could happen.”
Y also has her eye on Italy for me.
“Take a look at this!”
I’m aiming for Italy in 2010. So let me know if you have any tips to share. I’m not a tour bus girl. I’d rather have a local experience. And I want to eat! Big surprise, right?
See, when PA and I went last year, I was impressed to find that there's actually an elevator at the Colosseum... Rome didn't seem so bad, but Venice, I think, would have been very tough for you. I remember talking with PA specifically about how the water taxis there were just completely inaccessible.
Another fine example of how friends give the best advice. Thanks Sister M! Venice does seem like it would be really rough. Perhaps a fine, strong man to haul me around would be the best solution? ;-) I had heard about the Colosseum, which is very exciting! More research must be done. But I'll take recommendations from experience first any day.
I think you can go anywhere you want if you think it out and plan ahead enough. If it is something you want to do badly enough nothing should ever stop you.
I absolutely agree.