Tag: adventure

Milan l’è sempre Milan

 

Before writing an article, I always check on the internet in order to get some more accurate information and also make comparisons between what I have learned and other people experiences. I find internet fascinating and stimulating if used properly! However, when I “asked Google” tips for visiting Milan on a wheelchair, the first 3 results that came out were: “Arrested the famous wheelchair user who was always punching tourists” well, please do not stress and please calm down, Charles is fine and he is actually with us!

Apart from this, Milan was another great surprise and it ended up being another very accessible city.  It was amazing to stroll around and see how so many different people would walk in the middle of the streets as if we were to a fashion show, but this was part of the experience, however I still can’t understand why male wear pants to their ankles! My Nonna, would have just proudly  sewed a couple of inches of fabric and maybe ruined a 200$ pair of jeans, but if you wanted to go out from her house that would have been the only option!

So if we focus on the matter “accessibility”, pretty much all the subway’ stations have got lift, some line, like the yellow one has all accessible stops and if you arrive to the Central Train Station, you might want to exit outside the station where Piazza 4 Novembre is and take the outside lift that will take you directly to the underground subway!  If you want, you will then be able to stop just under the Duomo! It is always shocking getting out at the Duomo stop and finding yourself in the middle of the Main Square where the cathedral dominates!

However, if you are looking for some accessible activities to do, you should consider:

  • Visiting the Duomo Cathedral and catching the lift in order to have a great view from the top of the first terrace
  • Eating an ice-cream at “Cracco” (you might need to apply for a mortgage but it is worth it!)
  • Visiting the Brera Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera)
  • Visiting the stunning “Castello Sforzesco” with all his different museums and temporary exhibitions
  • Going to the Scala theatre
  • Shopping around the city for great fashion designers clothes
  • Strolling around the “Navigli” and trying every bar
  • Strolling around the city and watching people, while drinking a great cocktail in the city home of one of the most famous “aperitivo” in the world

These are some examples of things to do in this very busy city in just a short period of time because unfortunately it is already time to travel to Bologna and try all the different varieties of pasta!

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The General and a view from “the rear” of the Brera Gallery

V for VERONICARE’S or VIENNA’S ACCESS CITY AWARD

I have never been in Vienna before but after 3 days here I can confidently say that Vienna was definetely the most accessible city we have visited so far.  It was really well organized, kerbs are commonly ramped and cobblestones are really rare, but after our trip to Prague we made sure that every time we saw one, we would just cross it over and over back and forth because Charles missed them sooo much! Pretty much every train station and subway stations had lift access, trams and buses are low-level, often with raised street platforms, sometimes you might need to wait for the second tram for it to be accessible  but it will not take  a long waiting time. Just check the display at each tram stop showing a blinking wheelchair symbol indicating how many minutes until an accessible low-floor tram will depart. Another great surprise that needed to be mentioned is  the amazing intercity train that we caught from Prague to Vienna and then from Vienna to Budapest which comes equipped with a foldaway ramp right next to the door!

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Foldaway ramp on the train to and from Vienna! VIP service!

PANORAMIC ROLL THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS:

You should not miss a tour of Stephens Cathedral and the main square in the heart of Vienna (there is also a small lift that can take you up to the top of one of the tower but it is quite narrow and we were not able to fit in). Moreover,  if you want to have great views there are some amazing rooftop bars all around the city. We were staying at the “Sofitel Hotel” so the view was stunning just from the room but anyone can access the bar situated on the 18th   floor  to have a drink and an amazing panorama, great for taking photos! Also the FERRIS WHEEL – Riesenrad is a great accessible way to have a good panorama of the city from 65 meters into the sky!

ACTIVITIES FOR NERDS:

Since Vienna is one of the most accessible destinations we have visited, all the most popular Museum I can think about came with a lift, however since there was too much to see and I am not a Nerd, I have visited only the BELVEDERE PALACE MUSEUM  comprising the Upper Palace with the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s paintings, worth to visit and the Lower Palace! Also the Garden that connects the two palaces it is worth for a walk around and some great photos!

SOME OF THE ACCESSIBLE ACTIVITIES WORTH DOING:

Go to the Opera House to watch a performance or attend a concert and later on have  an Austrian cheese sausage on the street just in front of the Albertina Museum at the “Bitzinger Wurstelstand”.

Watching a live performance of the world-renowned Lipizzaner stallions at their home base in Vienna. The Spanish riding school  is a unique experience that I think is a must do and you can purchase wheelchair seats over the phone or via email.

WHERE TO EAT:

Visit the Café Sacher just in front of the Albertina Museum where  the Original Sacher-Torte, one of Vienna’s best known symbol, can be found (Charles did not let me have one because he said I am getting toooo fat and he can not afford another airlplane ticket)

Naschmarkt popular market full of great restaurants was a culinary adventure also for me that I am Italian   ( with  flea-market on every Saturday), however you can find great restaurants everywhere and the fun part is also getting lost in the city and find the perfect spot in one of those small streets where you would never have stopped if you would have known where you were going and try an oily Wiener Schnitzel!

So how could I end this article? Well if you are thinking to plan your first trip and  looking for an accessible city to start from, half of the job is done already, now it is time to just start from searching a flight or a train to Vienna!

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Panoramic view from 18th floor of the Sofitel hotel before we got drunk!

 

 

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Flat Michael project!

img_20190611_100824Dear General,

one year ago while chatting through your NeuroNode device during one of my 8 hours shift, I asked you: ” So General what do you want to do this afternoon? ” and you wrote using your assistive technology device : ” I want to tour Europe! ” I still remember my face when I red the message, I was hoping for a drink or a coffee in a nearby Cafe but you never liked simple and boring thing so I ended up thinking: ” Well that is easy enough! ” I went on youtube wrote : ” Tour of Europe ” and we started viewing 100 videos! Of course all of them were not fun enough for you so we ended up turning everything off and at that point I promised you that one day we will have travelled to Europe together! I still have impressed in my mind your 5 blinks of the eyes which means a BIIIIIIG YES and that was the ” end of the story! “

For me was ” just ” a new challenge and in my crazy mind I started thinking a way to make it possible and who knows maybe making a video that could gain your attention for more than 5 seconds!! So after all these months here we are, ready for this adventure! I have used intensely my only brain cell and finally I got it!! In fact, many years ago I remember that my cousin, who was studying in an American elementary school, sent me a request: ” helping him and Flat Stanley ” to visit Florence, my hometown! ” Flat Stanley ” if you do not know it, which is quite weird because you know everything, is a figure cut out of paper, with separate clothes, also made of paper, that are usually held onto the doll by paper folding tabs.  It is a great educational project designed to facilitate the improvement of the reading and writing skills of students, while also promoting an interest in learning about different people and places (this was centuries ago when internet was a dream). So after all this you might ask yourself: ” So come on Veronica, time is money ! What does Flat Stanley  have to do with me?? ” Well ” Flat Michael “, just relax and enjoy the trip because as I promised you, we are going to Europe! ” and you know what ? You also look thiner in this photo!! 

 

READY- SET- GO now please listen carefully to the Captain because our Flight to Valencia is leaving shortly!!