Thank you for sharing this story. I am so glad this worked out for you! The eclipse WAS incredible. I am shocked someone they didn't allow you down on the field.
I enjoy following your travels. My brother is an amputee and uses his manual wheelchair 99.9%, so I pass on what I learn from you about access.
While we only had a partial (50%) eclipse here, you should check out Petco Park baseball stadium in San Diego. The local PVA chapter (Cal-Diego) was consulted during the design of this stadium, and it has great unobstructed view accessible seating areas.
We were at the Vatican on their December Disability Visibility day. The participants has lined up at the far left security entrance, not the general public one. We were at that entrance for the Scavi tour. I currently use a cane but I know in my future that I will also be using a chair. I was SHOCKED to see there was no ramp over the curb for wheelchair users. They were all being lifted. Every last one of them. Many of the nurses were older and having a difficult time, no help was provided from staff. If a nice person noticed they may have helped for a bit. But there were literally hundreds of people in wheelchairs. It can’t have been their first time doing this. I thought maybe someone has run off to get the forgotten ramp, but no, many hours later when we were leaving people were still struggling.
Europe is not handicapped or senior friendly. Most rest rooms are in basements or upstairs, narrow stairs. No railings in France to Seine River, no elevators in subway stations. only using cane and I struggled, never in a wheelchair.
Little surprises me when it comes to ignoring the needs of the handicapped. Until about 5 years ago I could walk and run - my last trip out of the US. - was to Canada - and I was competing in an x-c race. It helped a great deal that the surface. was grass - my balance was pretty good on grass - not so much on hard surfaces. That did not last long and before long I needed walking poles and then a rollator. Now I own 2 rollators-one for indoors and hard surface outdoors and one for use on trails- Swedish made - they know how to make. well built things. The rollator that I use. indoors and take in my car - is the standard not well built one that folds up that if I tried to use on grass - the wheels would snap off. Going to any indoor event is always. a. bit of a "crapshoot" - maybe it is handicap accessible according the ADA standards- or not - I live in NH - many historic buildings - maybe a curb that is6-8 inches high , maybe stairs and no elevator - if alone - no way I can get into the building - if with friends - maybe just a curb to climb over - and no steps. and and an elevator. In my early post-colllege career - I was a physical therapist - I have a professional understanding of of what a wallking and stair climbing disability is -what is needed - and what the ADA requires and how so many places ignore. it. Historic buildings are exempt from ADA mandates - more recent buildings are not - but too frequently no one seems to care. On the other hand - many able bodied people are kind and want to be helpful - perhaps it is because of my white hair and obvious old age - or maybe there are. still many kind people in this world. As difficult as it can be for me using a. rollator -using a. wheelchair is much more difficult. I have not travelled by public bus, train or airplane for almost. 5 years and probably will not do so again.
Thank you for sharing this story. I am so glad this worked out for you! The eclipse WAS incredible. I am shocked someone they didn't allow you down on the field.
I enjoy following your travels. My brother is an amputee and uses his manual wheelchair 99.9%, so I pass on what I learn from you about access.
While we only had a partial (50%) eclipse here, you should check out Petco Park baseball stadium in San Diego. The local PVA chapter (Cal-Diego) was consulted during the design of this stadium, and it has great unobstructed view accessible seating areas.
CA is awesome for accessibility.
We were at the Vatican on their December Disability Visibility day. The participants has lined up at the far left security entrance, not the general public one. We were at that entrance for the Scavi tour. I currently use a cane but I know in my future that I will also be using a chair. I was SHOCKED to see there was no ramp over the curb for wheelchair users. They were all being lifted. Every last one of them. Many of the nurses were older and having a difficult time, no help was provided from staff. If a nice person noticed they may have helped for a bit. But there were literally hundreds of people in wheelchairs. It can’t have been their first time doing this. I thought maybe someone has run off to get the forgotten ramp, but no, many hours later when we were leaving people were still struggling.
Europe is not handicapped or senior friendly. Most rest rooms are in basements or upstairs, narrow stairs. No railings in France to Seine River, no elevators in subway stations. only using cane and I struggled, never in a wheelchair.
Little surprises me when it comes to ignoring the needs of the handicapped. Until about 5 years ago I could walk and run - my last trip out of the US. - was to Canada - and I was competing in an x-c race. It helped a great deal that the surface. was grass - my balance was pretty good on grass - not so much on hard surfaces. That did not last long and before long I needed walking poles and then a rollator. Now I own 2 rollators-one for indoors and hard surface outdoors and one for use on trails- Swedish made - they know how to make. well built things. The rollator that I use. indoors and take in my car - is the standard not well built one that folds up that if I tried to use on grass - the wheels would snap off. Going to any indoor event is always. a. bit of a "crapshoot" - maybe it is handicap accessible according the ADA standards- or not - I live in NH - many historic buildings - maybe a curb that is6-8 inches high , maybe stairs and no elevator - if alone - no way I can get into the building - if with friends - maybe just a curb to climb over - and no steps. and and an elevator. In my early post-colllege career - I was a physical therapist - I have a professional understanding of of what a wallking and stair climbing disability is -what is needed - and what the ADA requires and how so many places ignore. it. Historic buildings are exempt from ADA mandates - more recent buildings are not - but too frequently no one seems to care. On the other hand - many able bodied people are kind and want to be helpful - perhaps it is because of my white hair and obvious old age - or maybe there are. still many kind people in this world. As difficult as it can be for me using a. rollator -using a. wheelchair is much more difficult. I have not travelled by public bus, train or airplane for almost. 5 years and probably will not do so again.
Being isolated at any age is difficult, I hear you. There is lots of kindness out there, just not enough.