The Great Disabled Travelers Finale: Some Final Words From Si
Posted August 31st, 2010 in access guides, Accessible Travel, general news, helpful information and personal
An Oxford sunset
Photo by: Sara Haj-Hassan (Stock Exchange)
Howdy, all! It’s been great sharing travel tips with you and whipping up access guides for your exotic travel destinations.
I do hope you’ve found Disabled Travelers useful, and that you’ll keep rolling wherever your urge to travel takes you!
Sadly, this will be my final post on our blog, so I thought I would take the time to share a couple of personal memories about my favorite travel destinations.
Naturally, I’ll include some accessibility information so you can join in!
Oxford: Oxford is the first “university town” in the English-speaking world, and has been hosting international scholars — the first of these from France — for thousands of years. The university buildings are spread out across a bit more than seventeen square miles, and are totally intermingled with the town proper. Students are divvied up into “colleges,” all with their own focus and culture. Tourists come from all over the world to see the ancient buildings, housing research libraries, meeting places, and living space. I can honestly say that Oxford was the origin of my love of travel, as my first trip abroad was to study as a history student there as part of Trinity College.
Official accessibility info from the city here. Transport, including accessible taxis, here. Accessible hotels through AOL Travel here. London-area airports service Oxford; a bus service is available that makes the complete journey in a very short time. See National Express Coach for information on this, and our earlier London post for disabled travel resources focusing on the local airports.
Stockholm: Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and easily the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. The city itself is located on 14 islands, so ferry accessibility is both a necessity and a priority for the locals. It also features some of the lowest income inequality in the world and a widely bilingual population. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to get around and communicate. In fact, in my entire time in Sweden, I never looked at a map for more than two minutes without being helped by a friendly local. Be sure to visit the Kingsgarten area, a wonderful place to while away the day; home to beautiful fountains, historic statues of famous kings, and outstanding local and American cuisine. Though I only stopped a few days on a whirlwind tour of Scandinavia, I can’t wait to get back!
Disabled Travelers has done Stockholm here.
Dublin: No matter where you come from, Ireland is truly the greenest thing you’ll ever see. Flying in over that patchwork of amazing emerald shades is a great experience, and that’s before you even get where you’re going. I definitely recommend setting at least part of your Emerald Isle journey out in the countryside, among the rolling hills. (Frankly, even the golf courses are pretty amazing.) Accessibility can be patchy out there, but that’s why there’s a thriving business in bed-and-breakfasts that cater to your every need, including your mobility impaired access needs. This is truly Irish hospitality at its finest, and something I enjoyed recently in a trip to Cork and Blarney.
Disabled Travelers has done Dublin here.
Boston: If you’ve never been to Boston, you might think of it as an immense, rushed, and kind of impersonal city, the way New York can be. But in fact, Boston has a style and a flavor all its own, and often “acts” like a much smaller town. With northeastern influences, a distinct love of seafood, and a long intellectual tradition intertwined with the founding days of the nation, you’ll be amazed at your first visit. While you’re in the neighborhood, please don’t forget to visit Cambridge, home to some of the largest and oldest bookstores in the United States, including a thriving community of family-owned and secondhand stores like you can’t see anywhere else! I definitely recommend a guided tour to point out the historic sites and locales that are literally around every corner. During my wayward history days, a Ph.D. candidate in American history showed me around, and it was truly amazing.
AbilityTrip provides good “one stop shopping” on accessibility in Boston.
Well, folks, that’s it for me! Thanks for joining me on this great trip, and as always, adventure on!
Si
