Strasbourg in September

I was looking at for a more interesting way of presenting photos and found animoto to be useful – turning it to a video:

Strasbourg September 2009

There are many reasons to go to Strasbourg but every 2 years since 2003 there is the Freedom Drive that disabled people from all over Europe congregate for a rally to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

I should have blogged about it much sooner but it took me some time to catch up with myself and my schedules, work etc. Also to absorb what the impact of whole rally .

Here is ENIL (European Network on Independent Living) program and information about it. I always found the camaraderie enriching and inspiring and this year was no different.

Shaking hands with Jerzy Buzek

But there is much written about the Freedom Drive already elsewhere. I won’t go on abut it here.

I enjoyed being a guide and doing some research on Strasbourg as a destination. I wanted to see if there is public transport to go do some wine tasting in the surrounding villages – it is that time of the year – vendange. When I lived in Strasbourg, we’ve always gone in the car.Well, I didn’t have to drive but I never really did the spitting out business….

grapes on the vine

This is the information I found about access for SNCF you can call this number – 0 890 640 650 – 48 hrs in advance with details of what sort of access needs and they would sort it out. Now this number cannot be accessed except from a French line but they will, apparently, get you to the nearest accessible station and then from there accommodate you to get to your destination with accessible transport (which might be a taxi).

Accessible Taxi in Strasbourg (I spoke to the driver but have not tried his services , they do not have a website yet) Access Cible (Transport de Personnes à mobilité réduite) -+33 388771579 54, rue de Prés, 67380 LINGOLSHEIM

Some restaurants I tried out with disabled friends who were there and can recommend the food as well as the access -

Hippopotamus 40/42 rue du Vieux Marché aux Vins
67000 Strasbourg (right next to Homme de Fer)

Tél : +33 3.88.23.84.90

Good for bigger groups. Accessible WC. Good for steak dinners

Restaurant Au Pont Saint-Martin
15, Rue Moulins
67000 Strasbourg, France
Tél : +33 3 88 32 45 13‎

Needs booking for bigger groups. No accessible WC. Petite France is generally cobbley but picturesque.

L’Ancienne Douane

6 rue de la Douane, Strasbourg

Tél : +33 3 88 15 78 78

Best book for larger parties, free parking at Austerlitz,  wheelchair accessible WC. Brasserie food

Art Cafe, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

1, place Hans Jean Arp

Tram stop Musee d’Art Moderne

Tél : +33 3 88 22 18 88

Wonderful view especially when the terrace is open. Great brunches on Sundays.

Art Cafe Terrace

Its time to think about Christmas Market in Strasbourg again.Are hotels all booked yet? I am always amazed by the fact how fast the hotels get booked up especially during parliamentary sessions.

I think the best accessible hotel is the
Hôtel Ibis Centre Gare
10 place de la Gare
67000 Strasbourg
Tél. + 33  3 88 23 98 98

This is if you need a roll in shower. It also has a spacious room. It is also in close proximity of the station and great cous cous and kebab restaurants. I stayed at the Ibis Aux Pont Couvert this time round,

Hôtel Ibis Centre ‘Aux Ponts Couverts’
7, rue de Molsheim
67000 Strasbourg

Tél. +33 (0)3 90 22 48 70

Although there is a shower, the transfer is not as easy and the room size is not so generous.

So much more to write but enough for this time.

itinerary helps 2 families to enjoy London!

Its been so long since I wrote last – I thought I should go back to writing. I have been immersed in writing tenders and took on a part time job as Access and information coordinator for Disability Awareness in Action.

But for Connect Culture travel advisory service, I have helped 2 families enjoy London.

Firstly a family from Strasbourg who wanted a day trip to London as part of their son’s cultural experience and language course in the UK and another family of 5 from Northampton. This is the first time they have gone to London for a family holiday.

This is what Suzanne wrote:

Dear Connect Culture

We are having a great time in London. We have used most of your advice except for the one about not bothering to go on the London Eye (perhaps a mistake?). However, we booked our tickets on line and managed to save quite a lot of money.

We saved more than £60 by taking your advice on on-line tickets purchase for entrance to London Dungeons at 6pm. We have also booked to go to Roller Skating Disco at O2 on Friday and will go ahead and use the 25% discount offer at Iguanas too.

Thanks a bunch for everything. We have been to alot of the free museums you recommended and will talk to you soon.

Well, maybe I am blasé but I’ve always thought the iconic London Eye is a bit over rated. But maybe I am wrong.

Philippe, Isa and Rapheal

Hopefully I will get their review in French soon!

wiki on accessible restaurants

There’s a wiki on accessible restaurants in London, Paris and Strasbourg! Lets hope people would see it as useful for them and contribute.

Well, it was Nancy Proctor who gave me the idea of doing a wiki. When I asked her in a tweet if she could note the accessibility of the restaurants she would be going to when she goes to Paris next week, she sent back: “Would you like me to tweet it, blog it, add it to a wiki??” I suddenly thought how that  was a great idea. A year ago,  Jonathan Bowen had initially got me involved and interested in wikis – I helped him do some research for a museum conference paper and here I can actually apply the knowledge to a sharing space for accessible restaurants!

I think having a wiki in this context is muchy easier to mange – information wise – than using a social networking system such as ning (as Craig Grimes does so well for his accessible travel site). maybe its the wannabe librarian in me who actually likes being able to put order into lists..who knows…we shall see if anybody else actually contribute.

Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas

I am just back from Strasbourg where I spent Christmas. Strasbourg is self styled the Capital of Christmas. It is a place where the old traditional European connections are still very much in evidence. Somehow while it is has all the commercial trappings, the magic is still there, it is not commercial as it is in London with the impatient laden expectations of after Chistmas’ sales and bargains. It has the slight flavour of the fairy tale magic of Hansel and Gretel land like many of the villages in Alsace which has that chocolate box picturesque touch in the air.

It is not just the half timbred multi coloured houses with the many elegant lights in the streets, nor the spiced cookies or even the hot mulled wine – its something in the air. Just as being at the Christmas service at the Cathedral had a resonance just  by being held in that beautiful and grand edifice, the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame  – the atmosphere in the cathedral seems to be steeped in tradition, suffused with the many years of  prayers that had gone yesteryears and everyday.

Strasbourg Cathedral stained glass window