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:

Accessible travel or holidays for disabled people?

Today I was told there is another travel service out for disabled people. Of course I was curious and interested. It is not a question of competition as I am not so profit minded – which might not say much for my entrepreneurial spirit – but for me, I think the more the merrier, its about time disabled people had more choice.

I am more orientated to offering an informational service, Connect Culture is not geared to taking commissions from hotels or restaurants. However this new service is a customised service  tailored to your exact needs. On the one hand,  it is commendable on its intentions but the way it is offered makes me groan because the focus is still on your ‘needs’, so medical model. This customised service boasts of experts who would sort it all out for you. I am glad they have found experts who can take on the world as a destination. So much for inclusive tourism. This company also offer you dream honeymoons. I ‘ ve been told that there is such a market – especially in places like Las Vegas or in this case in a tropical island by disabled people. I question whether the disabled person – yes the CEO is disabled- has actually sampled the delights he is offering. He is relying on his team of experts (where did he find them?) to get it right for his disabled customers. Yes he knows some of the barriers that disabled people faces when they travel but has he been a traveler? Has he been a consumer of holiday destinations? I suspect not. Is he not being just a broker then? Is that wrong per se?

Entrepreneurs need all sorts of management skills, including the ability to sustain interest, stamina to continue wanting and making a success. The process isn’t easy and its no different for a disabled entrepreneur and in actual fact, there are more barriers to jump over – and its not always nice. I should and do applaud disabled entrepreneurs but why just target disabled people and label it as such.   I am fastidious I  do not want segregation, holidays for disabled people. I want holidays for everybody, disabled or non disabled to be able to have the same holiday. Inclusive holidays – it means having the widened doors, the wet rooms, level access, deaf alarms, facilities for assistance dogs, good signage built seamlesslyinto the architecture/culture so that families, lovers, friends, couples can go on holiday together.

I know Scott Rains has worked tirelessly at getting the message of inclusive/universal design accross. I consider him evangelic in his zeal – in a good way.

he writes:

The concept of Inclusive Travel is itself traveling around the world. It is leaving an infrastructure that will allow the pleasure of world discovery to generations to come. It enables generations present to do so through all stages of their lifespan. That’s the vision of Universal Design applied to tourism — Inclusive Tourism.

I am left wondering if I am a ’snob’ in the sense that I have my eye on a vision and deny the fact that disabled people need their holidays to be located in ‘holidays for disabled people’. I, myself, seek to lessen the stress for other disabled people in the 3 cities I know and love, London, Paris and Strasbourg with Connect Culture. I would not promise I can provide information on access in places I am not familiar with. (Actually if anyone wants to have a honeymoon or wedding in Las Vegas I can deliver because I have done my research there or go to Disneyland – these places have access built into them because of the good customer service in US and the ADA and I have just found the perfectly accessible hotel in Blackpool.)

What I am trying to articulate is that having a holiday means being in a different environment, culture and being able to sample, meander and get lost in a new sense. It shouldnt be focused just on your access needs – I agree that we can’t get away from our access needs but can we not segregate ourselves? I try to tell people I also help families (as I have done) and solo women travelers. The research I have done leads me gain knowledge of other information not just access – for eg. vegetarian, halal restaurants.

I look to the day when disabled people can go into any holiday booking office and book their holidays. I was extremely frustrated today because I went to book my flight and hotel with the Coop Travel Agency. I bank with the Co op and they have a card which would give me points if I use the travel agency. I did my own research for Valencia – I found out which hotel was accessible and told them which I wanted. I also said I wanted a wheelchair accessible room. To my chagrin, after I had paid, the agent now tells me the wheelchair access room is not guaranteed. Now in an inclusive world the agent should not need me to tell her that it is essential for me to have that, it would be part of her training to check that. In fact I would say it should be common sense!

accessible hotel rooms?

These past two weeks I have been to 2 different cities and stayed at 2 hotels, both these hotels are from hotel chains: the Radisson SAS, Leeds and City Hotel, Manchester.

I asked for wheelchair accessible rooms both times and got one both times – however neither of them had showers/ wet tooms that I could use. And the Radisson had quite a double bed that I could not really park my wheelchair beside the bed.

Double bed with little space on either side

and the bathroom had a shower with a ledge and glass doors which virtually made it unusable for an independent traveler because you cannot park the wheelchair to transfer to the shower seat.

boxed in shower with doors

universal adapter

The staff was quite helpful but they were not very knowledgeable. I had a dual voltage charger and stupidly left the adaptor behind and they did not seem to be able to cope with adapters other than the EU ones. Somehow in a reasonably cosmopolitan city like Leeds, is it too much to expect an universal adaptor? One of the staff actually scoured the city centre for one but could not procure one. Am I unreasonable to think they should be able to provide an adapter.

My room in Manchester was nice and spacious. The door to the room was incredibly stiff.

Spacious room

I was really surprised by the design of the bathroom. The shower was a level access shower which would be perfect had there not been a glass screen which meant that the space was restricted and transfer could be hazardous.

shower with glass screen

The sink, although it was not a pedestal sink was set so low that a wheelchair user could not use it comfortably especially with a towel rail in the way. The shelf for toiletries was more than an arms length away making it really annoying when it came to teeth brushing.

badly designed sink

I find it puzzling and wonder who they consulted in designing these so called accessible rooms. They could be so obvious to wheelchair users had they asked some of us. These are not just adapted rooms. My fellow  wheelchair traveler preferred to have a bath – he has good upper body strength and can transfer well and he did get one of those adapted rooms. But I do think it is such a waste to have these details wrong because they rendered the wet room un usable for those guests’ access needs. The wet room was made to cater for those access needs – a bit more attention to detail would have served those needs better.

In Leeds for Projecting into the Future, charger problems and access search

I went to Jo Verrent’s Projecting into the Future: Representation & Interpretation of Disability in the Visual Artst last Friday – yes I am slow again but I needed to recover from the whole experience and then prepare to go to Manchester for the Equality 2025 Public Meeting. One thing that I have to get used to is to learn to conserve my energy when I take jaunts on the train…its getting harder and harder for me to bounce back.. I went because I wanted to experience some Disability art, to see the Light Night and Simon McKeown’s Motion Disabled. And to meet up with some friends – Peter and Carol from the days when I used to live in Chapeltown.

Anyway, according to Paul Darke’s blog on the event, I’ve missed quite a bit! I miscalcalculated the time I needed to get there and then the train was delayed. I was not a happy bunny having missed lunch and then found myself waiting on a drafty platform in Birmingham waiting for the train. I was there to hear some of the artists express themselves about their art and thier motivations. I felt somewhat deflated by the fact that it was not a numerous nor as diverse as I would expect from a city like Leeds. I understand that art is very personal and certainly people use art for all sorts apart from creating something out of personal experience. One of the presenters reminded me of classes for art therapy – her talk was peppered by remarks that she found beauty in the art of these disabled people pursuing art as part of community art and how they were happy to be there. There seems to be a lack of what I consider to be an awareness of disability culture but hey, what do I know?

Later that evening was Leeds City council’s Light Night where we would go as a group to see Simon’s work projected onto to the side of Leeds City Technology College Building. However I nearly missed it…

I went to the Radisson to check in and found that I could not really access the shower inspite  of being allocated the accessible room with the roll in shower.

Never mind and then I found that while I brought my wheelchair charger, I had not replaced the adaptor on it since Strasbourg and a conversation with the hotel made it clear to me that I would not be able to go very far if I want to make it home the next day.The staff at the hotel was very accomodating and offered to go out and buy me the correct US adaptor because they did not have adaptors other than European ones. (my charger is a compact dual voltage charger)

This is always the bugbear as a disabled traveller – to remember to charge and bring the charger! and all the associated paraphernalia! So I missed  the reception (at Carriageworks, Millenium Sq)  by being at the hotel and when I did get there, the group had already set off and I didn’t know where they had gone.

So this intrepid wheelchair traveler went looking for some food. I saw the Spice Quarter Buffet in Millenium Sq I fancied that so I meandered there only to be frustrasted by not finding the access to get upstairs – no signage. Someone told me to gain access from the lift in Carriageworks but when I got to the basement I was still baffled at how to get upstairs..finally I asked someone at the bar and he asked me to wait while he clear the lift and path leading to it. It took him at lest 20 mins and when I did get up there, I was dismayed by the question if I had booked because the restaurant was full! They offered a table apart from the restaurant – I suspect it is a waiting space – and was given waiter service, the food was scrumptious!

Replete and happy, I was wandering in the Square looking at various exhibits when I saw Jo waving at me and she showed me where Simon’s work was – not far away and went with some of the others to have tea at the tea caravan ( 2 ladies from Chapel Allerton) and then to stronger drinks back at the hotel.

All in all it was a good day and slept till midday the next day to have lunch with Carol and Peter at Red Chili – a lovely Chinese restaurant within a stone’s throw away and caught an earlier train home because my meetings with 2 others did not materialise.

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.

French appreciation for London visit

Un grand merci à notre guide !

Nous avons été  très heureux de la découverte de Londres que vous nous avez permise le 31 juillet. La traversée d’une partie de Londres en bus matin et après-midi, un excellent restaurant à midi, sans attente et loin des touristes, la découverte du cœur de Londres à pieds, … cette journée fut vraiment superbe.

Nous avons particulièrement apprécié cette longue promenade le long des quais de la Tamise, de Westminster bridge à la passerelle du Millenium, égayée par  les amuseurs publics, les stands de livres, les skaters. Vous nous avez ainsi permis de découvrir ou redécouvrir Big Ben, Westminster, Le County Hall, le Royal National Theater, La tour Oxo, Le Tate modern, Saint Paul et nous en passons.

Et vous n’aviez pas omis les pauses nécessaires !  A commencer par ce rafraichissement pris sur cette petite place aux accents méditerranéens dont le nom nous échappe et où travaillaient des artisans. Et cette glace prise sur une terrasse de Leicester square ! Sublime !

Nous vous sommes vraiment reconnaissants et ne manquerons pas de faire appel à vous lors d’un prochain voyage en Angleterre.

Maria Luisa, Philippe et Rafael

Philippe. Isa and Rapheal

translation
A big thank you to our guide!

We were very happy to explore London with you as agreed on July 31. The traversing of a part of London bus morning and afternoon, an excellent restaurant at noon, no queuing and away from other tourists, discovering the heart of London on foot … this day was really great.

We particularly enjoyed the long walk along the banks of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to the  Millennium Bridge, enlivened by street performers, book stalls, skaters. You have enabled us to discover or rediscover Big Ben, Westminster, the County Hall, the Royal National Theater, the Oxo Tower, Tate Modern, St. Paul and many more.

And you did not omit the necessary breaks! Beginning with refreshments we took  on a  small area with Mediterranean accents whose name escapes us and where craftsmen worked. And the ice creams taken on a terrace of Leicester Square! Gorgeous!

We are truly grateful and will certainly call on you at any  upcoming trips to England.
Maria Luisa, Philippe and Rafael

Chinatown

View of the Thames

St Pauls

Statue

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!

Paris, France Report – Wheeling into the Unknown!

Whatever I do, I try to test it to ensure the planning is robust and anticipate problems so as to develop solutions.  For this reason, I invited Miro to test out the guided tour I offer – I planned this as a budget tour where he can, in the future, plan to go on his own with help and with companions of his choice (as a university student). This is Miro’s account of his weekend break.

Miro

About a month ago, I was sat in my university library, writing my second research report in as many weeks, thinking ‘I need a holiday’! I run my own business as a Disability Equality Consultant, and as a result, spend much of my time travelling across the country, and sometimes, if I’m lucky, internationally, although it has been far too long since I have enjoyed anything that I could reasonably refer to as a ‘holiday’; the last time being a short break in London after my 17^th birthday.

Imagine, then, how I was more than happy to take Eleanor up on her offer of a weekend break in Paris.  Nevertheless, my immediate reaction, was soon replaced by more practical considerations; a different country, a different language, and an ignorance, on my part, of the daily issues faced by disabled Parisians.  Ironically, my London break was at first conceived as a trip to the French capital, but, for those reasons stated above, I made the decision to travel somewhere a little more familiar.

Raising my concerns, Eleanor reassured me how, with her assistance, and that of her team, I would have no problems with the unfamiliar surroundings, the language barrier, or my status as wheelchair user.  She explained that, with a little help, I could view Paris as a relaxing holiday destination, rather than a challenge, for someone with my impairment.  I agreed, and with a fortnight of preparation, all covered by Eleanor, I was set for a new destination and an experience that I’ll never forget.

I use Personal Assistants every day. However, I tend to forego their use when in informal social settings, and, with this being considered a holiday, I decided to take a friend, rather than a PA, on the trip.  Emma, a friend from university, accepted my invitation without hesitation – a weekend in one of the most cultured cities in mainland Europe, and a chance to try first hand some of the fine French cuisine that we have all heard so much about, not to mention the company of three tour guides;  who wouldn’t want to go?  Our Parisian adventure was set….

For ease of reading, I’ve subdivided my report into sections, foregoing a narrative approach, to ensure that the section most relevant to you is easily located.  If you require more information, or have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Enjoy and au revoir,

Miro Griffiths

wheels_r_me@hotmail.com

Transport

Eurostar

Miro getting off Eurostar with ramp

I’m sure any wheelchair user, especially those who operate power wheelchairs, would no doubt agree with me in saying that airplanes are largely impractical.  The likelihood of a wheelchair breaking in transit is eternally high, and, as a result, I do my best to avoid air travel, unless it proves the only realistic option. The easiest alternative to flight, is of course, in the case of Paris, the Eurostar.

Eleanor, to her credit, handled the travel arrangements, removing the hassle of booking tickets and assistance provision.  It was simply left up to me to arrive on time, and, as a Eurostar passenger, disabled or non-disabled, check in closes thirty minutes before departure; an important consideration for those relying on long-distance transport routes to travel to the terminal.

Access on to the train is relatively simple, with the ramp divided into two sections to minimise the gradient. Onboard, the wheelchair space is located in Business Class, so expect a free meal during the journey, and a ticket at a shockingly low price!  The companion seat is located parallel to the wheelchair space, and if the wheelchair proves too high for the tray table, there is an extendible alternative, which I was offered immediately after boarding.

Waiting time to board and alight the train at both Paris and London was minimal. At both stations the ramp was already trackside, and upon leaving the train, I waited until all passengers had disembarked, by which time the ramp was ready for use.

Buses

Bus ramp

Once in the city, Eleanor suggested that the bus provided the most accessible method of transport, since accessible taxis had to be ordered in advance, and are hired on a daily basis.  In England, I have always perceived buses rather negatively, often avoiding them as a result of the attitudes of the drivers, or the overcrowding of non-disabled people into that section reserved for wheelchair users.  However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy Parisian buses were to use.  Turning up at the bus stop, one of my three guides would signal to the driver that wheelchair users wished to board; at which point an automatic ramp was lowered from the middle door of the bus.

My re-evaluation of my relationship with the bus was to continue. Once on the bus, Eleanor and I moved to occupy the two designated wheelchair spaces, but at the next stop the bus slowed to reveal another wheelchair user waiting to board!  Assuming there would be no room for her, I obviously felt a little guilty, but despite my expectations, the doors opened, and out came the ramp – she was getting on!  I watched in amazement as two Parisians folded up their seats and moved from a newly created wheelchair space.  There I was, sitting on a Paris bus with three wheelchairs on board!  (Boris, these new buses in London will have to be superior to their French counterparts; take note – four spaces for wheelchairs). The spectacle was repeated later in the trip, where I watched the bus comfortably accommodate two wheelchairs and two prams in their own spaces!

I never paid for a ticket, nor was I asked to, and I remain unsure whether wheelchair users are exempt. All non-disabled group members were asked to pay, which suggests some form of concession, nevertheless, I suggest you carry money just to be safe.

Unfortunately, my revelatory experience with Parisian public transport was brought to an abrupt halt with the breaking of the ramp, and subsequent farcical behaviour of the driver in attempting to allow me to disembark.  Said driver initially offered to lift the chair; however, with the design of my chair preventing it being carried under any circumstance, this was an option I had to refuse. The result of my, entirely justified, refusal, was a two hour bus ride around the same Paris route, waiting for a solution.  In England, the procedure is to suspend service, and find a suitable method for disembarking such as a portable ramp; I found out first hand that Paris has no such legislation, and the depot manager instructed the driver to continue his route whilst he attempted to solve the problem.  If it had not been for Eleanor, and the involvement of her contacts, who worked to pressure those involved from a legal perspective, I fear I would have been entirely helpless; I am truly grateful to Eleanor and her team for their help in this matter. Incidentally, after 2 hours, the situation was resolved with nothing more complex than a change of driver and the identification of a suitably high curb.

ramp-solution

It is not my intention here to create a negative image of French public transport as it relates to disability issues. Indeed, although the trip was slightly marred, bus use in general was fantastic.  Eleanor, thankfully, rectified the situation very professionally, and I am aware that should a similar situation ever occur, I could contact Eleanor if need be.

Attitudes

Transport Staff

The Eurostar staff were exceptionally helpful. I didn’t request for assistance with luggage, although I may consider it in the future. I witnessed a member of staff assist a gentleman with his bags from the train platform all the way to the taxi rank, and, as I stated previously, onboard train staff offered the extendible tray as soon as I boarded, however it did take a few minutes to convince them, on both the outward and return journeys, that I didn’t require it.

Security at England appeared a little friendlier than its French counterpart; I was gently searched by English security, who were very considerate in their approach, particularly when moving my arms. The same cannot be said for the French authorities. In hindsight, I feel that, had I requested they be slightly more gentle, there would have been no issue. Perhaps I was a little grumpy because the officer didn’t tuck my scarf back into my coat.

Bus drivers, with one exception, were friendly and helpful, and were concerned to know at which stop I intended to disembark. With reference to that individual incapable of dealing sensibly, or maturely, with the broken ramp, I thoroughly believe that the presence of a coherent procedure relating to such problems within the French Transport System would have allowed him the space to act efficiently and professionally, rather than being more concerned with disciplinary action from his superiors if he broke the route to help.

Shop/Bar/Restaurant Staff

Always friendly, helpful and considerate; I met no-one whom I would consider rude or unhelpful.  The vast majority approached to ask if I required help, and if they were not English speakers, would always take the initiative to find a member of their own staff who was.  Similar consideration was shown with access issues, particularly in restaurants, where tables were always hastily rearranged if they were in any way obstructive.

Local Parisians

Friendly Parisian bar

Prior to travel, I had spoken to a number of people who assured me that native Parisians were nothing less than rude, obnoxious and inconsiderate. This, however, did not prove to be my experience.  It’s true, I believe, that city dwellers, by nature of their situation, or lifestyle, struggle to embrace friendship and familiarity. In Paris, however, strangers always appeared helpful at just the right time.

Emma, as an objective observer, noted how Parisians approached a disabled person in the same manner as anyone else, without patronisation.  A few people stared at me, but I had the impression that they were focused on the chair itself, and not me as its user.  I was also surprised that Parisians engaged with the disabled individual first, and the friend or PA second, since the opposite is most usually the case in England!

Accessibility

On the streets

The majority of pavements were provisioned with a drop-down curb. In those instances where they were not immediately accessible, I tended to be, as a rule, no more than 20 yards from an alternative accessible crossing point.  In my opinion, those curbs that had been lowered were of very poor quality; a majority appeared to be misaligned with the road surface, and provided the user with a small hump of approximately 2-3inches.  The gradient of the dropped curb slopes varied, and, while none would have caused a wheelchair to slide, the aforementioned hump could prove potentially damaging to the front of a chair, or drown the wheels when rainwater collects.

In general, pavements appeared flat, and more than wide enough to navigate, except where high volume of people on the street demanded we move in single file.  When crossing the road, lights were on timers, and so did not require me to reach out to press the button, something I found extremely useful given the nature of my condition.  A number of streets were cobbled, though the majority were so close-set that the impact on my wheelchair, and my back, was ultimately minimal

General shops/bars/restaurants

A lot of venues had single, small steps easily traversable by wheelchairs with curb-raisers; a little more of a challenge for users of rear-wheel drive, like myself, but nevertheless, manageable in most instances.  When steps appeared too high, a ramped entrance was often available.  Manoeuvrability inside venues tended to be easy, with plenty of space between points of interest.

Hotel – Ibis Paris Gare du Nord Chateau Landon 10ème

hoist

We stayed in the somewhat basic, but centrally located, Ibis, about a five minute walk from Gare du Nord (Eurostar terminal train station). It met my requirements to a suitable standard; the wheelchair-accessible room contained a double bed, with a walk-in-shower, with no threshold steps to overcome. Manoeuvrability within the room was fairly restricted, but not to such a degree that it was problematic.

The bed was low, with enough room underneath it to accommodate the base of a portable hoist. The single issue raised was the non-negotiable choice of a double-room; the hotel offered only a double bed, which dictates that, if you require assistance during the night, you should be prepared to share the mattress with your PA.

It is also of note, that the room generated a build up of static electricity in my power wheelchair, which had the potential to offer a mild shock to my PA upon contact. This is, ultimately, more annoying than dangerous, but is worth bearing in mind.

The hotel lifts were adequate enough in their dimensions to accommodate a wheelchair, a non-disabled person and one bag.  My one major criticism of the hotel, however, concerns its restaurant, where the two steps at its entrance dictated that I leave the building and travel 20 yards further up the street was situated up the street in order to gain access via the side entrance. A situation that is certainly far from ideal.

Pompidou Centre

On day one of the trip, we travelled to the Pompidou Centre, approximately a 10 minute bus ride from the hotel.  The centre was very spacious, with a broad selection of visitor attractions.  Taking the lift, we travelled to the top of the building, and were able to experience a fabulous view of the beautiful Paris skyline.  We also paid a visit to the Kandinsky Exhibition, which was free to wheelchair users and one companion.  Everything within the Centre was on flat surface.

Outside the centre, a slight incline led you back onto the main path, but nothing that should prove problematic.  The atmosphere outside was lively, with public displays of street art and performance.

Les Halles

Les Halles is a shopping mall situated approximately 10 minute on foot from the Pompidou Centre.  The mall was organised over a number of floors, with a variety of recognisable high-street brands, a majority, unfortunately, with a high-stepped entrance.  It was quite compact and Friday evening appeared extremely busy. Some of the surface terrain was highly uneven, and I could only find two accessible lifts, both next to each other, and both quite small.

Outside Les Halles there were many more shops, and, although some had high steps, many provided portable ramps upon request.

Au Pied du Cochon

Restaurant Au Pied de Cochon

At Eleanor’s recommendation, our first evening meal in the city was enjoyed here. The restaurant was impressively decorated, with a stylish mahogany and maroon theme continued throughout the building. Manoeuvrability within the venue was easy; access was provided by a small ramped ledge at the front of the establishment, leading through two large doors, wide enough for two power wheelchairs to enter simultaneously.  At the time of writing (April 2009), an accessible toilet was under construction on the 3^rd floor, which would eventually be lift-accessible.

The Louvre

This was easily, in my opinion, the most impressive and accessible building visited during my stay; extremely spacious, with flat surfaces throughout, and a lift which is truly amazing to both watch and ride.  To its credit, wheelchair users are allowed to bypass the main queue and enter for free with one companion. Travelling around the Louvre is quite time-consuming, and multiple lift journeys are often required to reach your desired destination.  At all times, staff at the Louvre were friendly, and more than happy to assist with manoeuvring past hundreds of tourists.

Galleries Lafayette

This shopping centre is aimed at the upmarket, and as a result is quite expensive. In layout, it resembles Macy’s of New York, and echoes the decor of Harrods in London.  It consists largely of open spaces with flat surfaces, and employs staff who proved extremely friendly (more so, I suspect, as a result of wanting a sale than from their altruism).  The lifts are quite small compared to the size of the building, and, as at Les Halles, I could only find two.  Indeed, one staircase lift appeared to break when I was there.

Notre Dame

We visited the cathedral at Notre Dame on the final day of the trip. The surrounding area was cobbled, but travelling at low speed minimises any discomfort. Wheelchair access was through the exit door, since the main entrance is, of course, stepped. In my experience, this may require a non-wheelchair user to stop the traffic of people leaving through the exit, to facilitate entrance.

Inside, wheelchair users can move about through only half of the building, since the remaining half is raised up at the height of step. The pews, however, Are accessible, and on a level surface.

Seine River through to the Latin Quarter

The river, situated just outside Notre Dame, is a scenic and relaxing observation point. Pavements surround the embankment, so travel alongside the river is not a problem. Eleanor informed us of a wheelchair-accessible riverboat tour; however, the ramp onto the boat is quite steep, so consider this in your plans.

Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter is made up of narrow streets, packed full of small shops and restaurants; many inaccessible as a result of high-stepped entrances. The atmosphere is, as expected, vibrant and it proved to be full of people even on a Sunday afternoon.
Pavements, as a result, became crowded, and in the event it proved easier to navigate by driving on the road.
Be aware that the occasional car will also be using the road, but the area remains something of an unofficial pedestrianised zone.

Eleanor’s involvement

My thanks are extended to Eleanor, without whom the trip would have been difficult to organise, and perhaps, would never have happened at all. For a disabled person, the key to success when travelling is advance planning; however, this is often easier said than done, particularly in the context of a foreign country. Eleanor demonstrated how, with careful planning, a trip such as this could prove extremely enjoyable. Having Eleanor there certainly enhanced my experience, and provided a welcome sense of calm, as I felt extremely at ease in the company of someone so familiar to the surroundings, and capable of dealing with any problems that could arise.

Eleanor and team

Eleanor was extremely professional and proved to be a mine of useful information, as well as maintaining a respect for my own need for privacy. Her aim was to convince me that Paris was an accessible and enjoyable place to experience for someone with my impairment; she was determined to provide an experience which prepared me to consider how I might undertake a similar trip independently of a tour guide, and in this she proved entirely successful. I thoroughly enjoyed Paris, and have decided to go back in July with a group of friends, and although Eleanor won’t be there as a tour guide, I would definitely welcome her guidance at the planning stage.

‘thank you for organising such an interest trip’ : connect culture’s first review!

From Judy -

Zara in front of Notre Dame

Many thanks for organising such an interesting trip to Paris for us -
and for laying on such nice weather. We were a bit apprehensive about
taking a wheelchair to a foreign city we hadn’t visited before and it
was good to know that there was someone at the end of a phone whom we
could call on at any time if an emergency arose – and that it was
someone who had personal experience of traveling with a wheelchair in Paris and some useful contacts on the ground.

Thanks to your advice we knew exactly what to expect from Eurostar,
both at home and abroad, and of course we we were royally treated on
board.

The hotel was excellent, with plenty of space in our room to move
around in. It was nice that it was within easy walking distance of the
Gare du Nord where we arrived as it would have been a bit daunting to
have had to look for bus stops straight away. Unlike some so-called
accessible rooms, ours did have a bathroom with doors wide enough to
accommodate a wheelchair. Again, it was useful that all this had been
road-tested by someone else using a wheelchair.

We got to all the places we wanted to without having to spend hours
pouring over bus maps and timetables as all the work had been done for
us beforehand. We also had good advice on how to use buses and which
ones were accessible. Thanks to your advice we also managed to get to
some places we might not otherwise have considered and enjoyed some
lovely meals in spectacular surroundings.

I would highly commend Sainte Chapelle to anyone else’s itinerary. I
was quite blown away by the beauty of it when I first went to Paris
about forty years ago – in fact it’s about the only thing I can
remember from that trip, particularly because I had never heard of it
before I visited. Unlike Notre-Dame it is amazingly accessible to
wheelchair-users considering its great age and small size – in fact we
saw bits that able-bodied people didn’t.

I’m sorry we didn’t go up the Eiffel Tower, which was entirely Zara’s
choice. Although I suffer from vertigo I’m alright as long as I can’t
throw myself over and I guess you are pretty contained up the top.
There were awfully big crowds, which I suppose is what put Zara off,
and hopefully things would be easier on a weekday rather than the sunny
Saturday we chose.

I expect Zara told you that as far as we could see all the many
falafel places in Rue des Rosiers had a step up into them. The
vegetarian Indian restaurant (Krishna-Bhavan) we found gave us our best
meal if not the most glamorous surroundings – and it was almost
certainly the cheapest – but you probably won’t get any more
vegetarians to complicate things yet further.

As regards costs, we are pleasantly surprised that a short break in Paris can be done on a low budget. People traveling on Eurostar with a wheelchair are upgraded, which means you get some nice champagne and a topnotch light meal. The journey flies past in no time at all and you can go straight into sightseeing mode once you have signed in at your hotel. It’s great that you don’t have to pay high prices to get a reasonably central and fully accessible hotel. Getting around Paris was cheap and easy on buses, of which there are many accessible ones, and it is a fairly compact city anyway.

You obviously have lots of experience which will be invaluable to other
wheelchair-users in the future. Thanks again. Judy

King’s Cross, St Pancras and a Travelodge

I had a meeting in London and another in Leicester the next day so I thought I would stay overnight instead of having 2 early starts and being overstretched energy wise. My meetings went well on Thursday and Greg Cowan of Architects without Borders who lives nearby popped in with Denise Stevens of Enabled by Design for an update on my apartment adaptation update. Denise is interested because her website is to provide support for those who aim to bring together modern design with assistive devices and Greg because he is interested in accessibility from an architectural perspective.

It is funny how hotel rooms can vary even if they are a chain. This Travelodge is obviously older and the adapts are not as good as those which were in the design from the onset-as is the case in Euston Travelodge. This hotel has several levels and uses a platform lift to negotiate between them which is far from ideal.

However this hotel does not have a roll in shower either and they only have a bath. The room was spacious enough however I couldn’t get to the window to draw back the curtains. The staff came up amost immeadiately and was very helpful.

I went back to have a cup of tea at Greg’s apartment and met his lovely wife, Claire, and went back, stopping to pick up a takeaway for me. The restaurantas around that area cannot be said to be too wheelchair friendly and I only found a kebab place. And it had started to rain!

The next morning  I struggled off to St Pancras – I missed the train I meant to go on because the station itself is confusing in its signage.  I questioned myself if I should have factored in an extra half hour on top of the half hour that I have to give as a disabled passenger needing assistance.

Kings Cross Travelodge