Handicap Travel in Italy

As I got out of the small commuter plane from Brussels to Milan it appeared it was going to be one of those days.  I was dead tired having just flown from the US and they weren't at a ramp but rather you had to walk down the steps but I gathered up my strength and did it and there was my TravelScoot waiting for me.  We went outside the airport and a guy with a large van was sitting and negotiated him to drive us to a hotel we would stay for the night. A nice dinner in our room with wine and pasta made it all better and the next morning we 'scooted' 2 blocks to the Milan Italy train station.  We learned that there in Italy there is a group of offices at all major train stations called Sala Blu.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=720b1855a74ea110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

Just ask at the train station and they will escort you out to the train, use a special hoist to put you and your TravelScoot into the train and help you with your bags.  I suggest you not book 1st class since the most friendly handicap rail cars are 2nd class but nice.  We then took the train to Venice and when there a special water taxi awaited me.  It had a hydraulic lift and you stepped off of the dock onto it and then it lowered you down and you sat in the beautiful wood boat.  I have to admit that the tides in Venice are a bit of a challenge and make getting on and off a challenge but I did it.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187870-c3011/Venice:Italy:Venice.For.The.Disabled.html

The water taxis which go all over the area go to stops and the stops are a bit of a challenge because the tide moves but people are happy to help you and once one the boat I just held on and sat on my TravelScoot.

There is no reason NOT to go to Italy if you get a chance. Your TravelScoot will allow you the freedom to wander around and eat the fine foods and drink the fine wines.  We even went on a tour and went in a factory that makes parmigiana  cheese and another that made balsamic vinegar.

Everywhere I went people stopped me and I gave out cards and told them I travel constantly on mine.    I suspect Tony at TravelScoot can keep up with me from weird calls he gets from the places I travel to.      

Dean Hughson, Omaha Nebraska

Lymphedema and the TravelScoot

Coming to Grips With Ones' Frailty

Submitted by Dean Hughson

As your lymphedema progresses you may find it increasingly difficult to walk.  Many people never reach that point,thankfully, but for those who do, adjusting to it is difficult.  Thinking back I can remember when walking into a theater or a large mall, 'hurt' but I would soldier it on and do it.  I started finding ways to park closer to the door and ultimately I began using a mobility scooter and finally 'www.travelscoot.com'.  Once I found the TravelScoot I was no longer 'isolated' and could do the travel that I used to do. In fact I did 180,000 miles in one year and my faithful TravelScoot never failed me once.

Obviously I'd rather not have to use it but I do and it makes me mobile again.  I urge people not to 'avoid' the reality that they are not moving around as much and get some help.  There is nothing to be ashamed about: diseases happen to many people.

I am not the strong guy I once was but I am still able to get around and that makes all the difference in the world.

IKEA

Melissa and I went to the Houston IKEA in March.  I'd wanted to shop at IKEA for years and it didn't disappoint!  Thanks to our TravelScoots, we were able to spend many hours shopping.  I wish I had pictures of us pushing and pulling our loaded carts.  We were able to buy three bookcases and TONS of other items and haul it all ourselves.  Lucky for us there was someone available to help load the van.

Can you find the TravelScoot in this picture?

This is like one of those "hidden object" puzzles.  Can you find the TravelScoot in this picture?  Rhonda and her family recently vacationed in Washington, D.C.  I don't know which Smithsonian museum they're at in this picture, but her TravelScoot is certainly coming in handy for all those bags!