Having ALS doesn't mean the end of traveling or one's social life; it does mean adapting. I LOVE to travel. As my ALS has progressed where and how I travel has changed.
Before ALS I went to Europe several times. My grandfather was born and raised in Switzerland so I have a special fondness for that place. My grandfather's family still lives in there. When I have been there I feel like I am home. It just feels right. I have been there three times and wish I could go back but Europe is not handicapped-friendly at all. I am very sad about that.
I have been to the Netherlands twice, concentrating on Amsterdam and the surrounding area. If you have never been to Europe, excluding England, this a great place to get your feet wet. English is the unoffical second language and everyone speaks it. Signs, menus, etc. are all in English and Dutch.
I have traveled all over the US. Since my diagnosis I have gone on some of my dream trips. First we went to the coast of Maine; beautiful scenery and lots and lots of seafood. Then we took an Inland Passage Cruise in Alaska on a 100 passenger boat; icebergs, whales and so much more. Last year we went to New Mexico to see Santa Fe and Georgia O'Keefe's Ghost Ranch among many things.
In Maine I used an ordinary cane, in Alaska I used a quad cane, in New Mexico I used a walker with a seat. Now that I am using a power wheelchair my options are more limited partly because flying feels like too much of a hassle for me. Road trips this year. We have a second home in Door County, WI and will continue to go there.
One of the biggest challenges for handicapped travel is accomodations. Not all "handicapped" rooms are created equal. Too many rooms labeled as handicapped don't have grab bars at the toilet or in the tub or a tub chair. Or the room is too narrow to allow someone using a walker or a wheelchair to manuever. It is very important to be specific as to what you need and have someone at the hotel physically check to see if the room will suit your needs.
A good resource: http://www.access-able.com/tips/
Friday, April 4, 2008
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