The world is round ... Disabled?! So what!!! E-Book

Karin Bretz

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 245

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

106 days by wheelchair on a cruis ship around the world

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Forward

Day to Day Itinerary: Friday 6th January 2017 (on the way to Italy)

Saturday 7th January Marseilles (France)

Sunday 8th January Barcelona (Spain)

Monday 9th January Relaxation at sea

Tuesday 10th January Casablanca (Morocco)

Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th January 3 days relaxation at sea

Saturday 14th January Mindelo(Cap Verde)

Sunday 15th to Wednesday 18th January 4 days relaxation at sea

Thursday 19th January Recife (Brazil)

Friday 20th January Relaxation at sea

Saturday 21stJanuary Salvador da Bahia (Brazil)

Sunday 22nd January Relaxation at sea

Monday 23rd January Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Tuesday 24th January 2nd Day in Rio

Wednesday 25th to Thursday 26th January Relaxation at sea

Friday 27th January Punta del Este (Uruguay)

Saturday 28th January Buenos-Aires (Argentina)

Sunday 29th January 2nd day in Buenos Aires

Monday 30th January Montevideo (Uruguay)

Tuesday 31st January Day at sea

Wednesday 1st February 2017 Puerto Madryn (Argentina)

Thursday 2nd February 2ndday Puerto Madryn

Friday 3rd February Cap Hoorn Passage

Saturday 4th February Cap Hoorn Passage

Sunday 5th February Ushuaia (Argentina)

Monday 6th February 2nd day Ushuaia

Tuesday 7th February Chilean Fjords Passage - Magellan Straits

Wednesday 8th February Punta Arenas (Chile)

Thursday 9th February Amalia Glacier Passage

Friday 10th February Chilean Fjords Passage

Saturday 11th February Puerto Chacabuco (Chile)

Sunday 12th February Puerto Montt (Chile)

Monday 13th February Relaxation at sea

Tuesday 14th February Valparaiso (Chile)

Wednesday 15th February 2nd day Valparaiso

Thursday 16thFebruary - Sunday 19th February Relaxation at sea

Monday 20th February Easter Island (Chile)

Tuesday 21st February 2nd Day Easter Island

Wednesday 22nd February Relaxation at sea

Thursday 23rd February Pitcairn Island Passage

Friday 24th February to Saturday 25th February Relaxation at sea

Sunday 26th February Mo´orea

Monday 27th February Papeete-Tahiti (French-Polynesia)

Tuesday 28th February 2nd day Papeete-Tahiti

Wednesday 1st March 2017 3rdday Papeete

Thursday 2nd March Bora Bora (French-Polynesia)

Friday 3rd March Relaxation at sea

Sunday 5th March

Monday 6th March NukuÁlofa (Tonga)

Tuesday 7th March to Wednesday 8th March Relaxation at sea

Thursday 9th March Auckland (New Zealand)

Friday 10th March to Sunday 12th March Relaxation at sea

Monday 13th March 1st day Sydney (Australia)

Tuesday 14th March 2nd day Sydney

Wednesday 15th March Relaxation at sea

Thursday 16th March Melbourne (Australia)

Friday 17th March 2nd day Melbourne (Australia)

Saturday 18th March to Monday 20th March Relaxation at sea

Tuesday 21st March Perth (Australia)

Wednesday 22nd March to Tuesday 28th March Relaxation at sea

Wednesday 29th March Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Friday 31st March 2nd day Kochi (India)

Saturday 1st April 2017 Goa-Mormugao (India)

Sunday 2nd April Mumbai (India)

Monday 3rd April 2nd day Mumbai (India)

Tuesday 4th April to Wednesday 5th April Relaxation at sea

Thursday 6th April Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Saturday 8th April Muscat (Oman)

Sunday 9th April Relaxation at sea

Monday 10th April Salalah (Oman)

Tuesday 11th April to Good Friday 14th April Relaxation at sea

Holy Saturday 15th April Aqaba-Petra (Jordan)

Easter Sunday 16th April Suez Canal Passage Relaxation at sea

Easter Monday 17th April Suez Canal Passage Towards the Mediterranean Sea

Tuesday 18th April Relaxation at sea

Wednesday 19th April Heraklion (Greece)

Thursday 20th April Relaxation at sea

Friday 21st April Civitavecchia (Italy)

Saturday 22nd April 2017 SAVONA (Italy)

Epilogue

FORWARD

Insight

It was discovered many years ago,

That the wonderful world

Where we live, is not only multi-coloured

But also round.

And so we are able,

By night and also by day,

From one side to the other,

To fly, swim or roam,

This would be not impossible,

If our earth would be just a disc.

Where, as you know for sure,

Of everything on earth (only some) are sugar!

(A poem by the German Poet Heinz Erhardt with a little adaptation by me)

Is this just coincidence... I don´t think so... fate... to reveal an impostor!

Advert in the weekend edition of the Westerwald Newspaper:

Travel companion

I am looking for a travel companion (m/f) for a trip on a luxury cruise ship from January 2017. Trip length 108 days to 5 continents (45 stopping points).

Normally this trip costs more than 20.000€ -my companion only pays half of this price.

You will never get a world cruise like this for 10.000€. Phone: [phone]...

On 24th July 2015 I visited this man at his home in Altenkirchen.

He lives in a 2 bed apartment with a small kitchen and a little balcony, in a building with a lift and several more elderly people.

When we talked previously on the telephone he told me he was 71 years old.

When we meet he reveals… in June 2015 he celebrated his 80th birthday.

“H.” is not a typical 80-years-old man. He is tall, slim, wiry and mentally on the ball.

He has already travelled the world and can talk at length about it.

All of his home furnishings and also all of his souvenirs tell of his journeys... Turtles... Screens... Fabergé eggs... Pictures... Sculptures... Carpets... Weapons...

“H.” told me about the planned trip, showed me the documents and gave me copies and prospects.

After extensive study of these brochures and research on the internet I decided to take this trip with him.

It fulfils one of my dreams and I will seize the opportunity.

I will borrow the deposit of about 6.000€ from my longest and best friend Dieter. I will pay it back to him after I receive the money for the house (divorce) from the bank. The rest of the travel costs will come out of this money too.

And if I do not come back from my trip I will have nothing to regret...

I will write a diary to accurately record all my experiences and the lessons I learn.

Today -27th June 2016- in the meantime, I repeatedly question my decision to undertake this trip.

Maybe I’m just scared, about backing out just before the start and losing all the money I have paid. I have no travel cancellation insurance.

It may also be related to my stressful situation owing to my house renovation and everything else on my mind.

The plan was, to start the journey by bus from my home town. I would then stay overnight in a hotel in Switzerland before arriving at the ship in Savona/Italy. However, after a long talk with my daughter, I decided to fly from Frankfurt to Milan.

My travelling companion “H” insists on taking the bus. He doesn´t want the extra costs and accepts the inconvenience.

So I will fly unaccompanied and will have to face the problems of luggage and transfers at the airport and the cruise ship on my own.

At the airport there is an EU-Guideline for the assistance of disabled people. This help must simply be requested by the passenger or the tour operator 2 weeks before the travel starts.

So someone will escort me to the plane and at Milan there will also be someone who will take me and my luggage to the airport exit.

Now the question is, how will I get to the transfer bus with my luggage and my wheelchair on my own? Since I cannot get into the bus on my own, the tour operator gives me the option to transfer by disabled access bus (Handivan). I have so far rejected this for cost reasons and would like to try and find someone myself on the spot in Milan who can assist me.

After checking Google Maps I noticed, the transfer bus takes over 2 hours to get to Savona. I would rather pay the extra cost and travel faster and be more comfortable.

With all the many small additional costs the cruise will cost more than 10.000€.

But whatever…

This is a once in a lifetime journey!

In the meantime, after many phone calls and emails with Costa and Lufthansa I book my flights for the round trip Frankfurt / Milan / Frankfurt myself and save 100€ altogether.

Since I have booked Business Class, I can take 2x 8kg carry-on bags and 2x 32kg suitcases. That sounds good!

Also I have booked by myself a "Bergamotaxi" for the transfer from Milan to Savona and Savona to Milan and have again saved 100€.

In the airport I will be picked up by my chauffeur and taken to the ship in Savona and picked up there again after the cruise and chauffeured to Milan Linate Airport.

My comfort and convenience is worth the price.

This problem is solved and now for the next obstacle…

How do I get my foldable shower chair in my luggage?

Even if I disassemble the chair it is still 55cm wide and 88cm high... too big for a normal suitcase.

A steamer trunk would probably be big enough but without any contents weighs more than is allowed.

So I need help and ideas from clever people!

Fortunately I am surrounded by such people.

My friend Dieter found an XXXL travel bag with wheels and extendable handle on the internet... This bag was light but very big and we had to take care that we didn´t add more than 32kg.

We have 32kg in the bag but it is only half full... so we had to bind it all together with straps to stop the contents flying around.

Applying for visas is down to me!

We need a visa for Australia and for India. I have never needed a visa for all my travels before so I look for information on the internet.

The visa for Australia is quite easy... I can apply online and it´s not expensive.

For India the application takes considerable effort...

First I have to download the forms and then fill them out by hand...

There are many questions I have to answer...

Who are/were my father and mother... specifics... professions...???

were my grandparents of Pakistani descent etc

These forms must then be sent to a service provider (in our case Frankfurt) with your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after the visit and have two blank opposite pages, with two biometric photos (special size 5x5cm). They then apply for the visa from the Indian consulate and either you can pick it up with your passport at no extra cost or have it sent to you for an extra fee.

You can apply for a visa for 3, 6 or 12 months.

I will apply in October 2016 for a 6 month visa which will be valid when we call at three different ports in India on our trip in April 2017.

The first problem with my travel companion “H.” was when I applied for his Indian visa.

Although I told him the custom size of passport photos (5x5cm) needed, he gave me normal biometric photos, and he insisted that I send these to the service provider.

Of course there was an immediate objection and it required multiple phone calls and explanations to “H.”, before he gave me the correct latest photos and I could apply for his visa.

I got my visa without problems!

“H.” offered me a suggestion...

I will settle all incoming invoices from the trip with my credit card and he would pay me later with cash...

I SAID NO!

Only my personal expenses on the cruise will be charged to my credit card!

So “H” had to take a lot of cash with him because he has no credit cards himself.

In hindsight, I'm happy about my decision, as it turns out, “H”. is a CONMAN!

Day to Day Itinerary

Friday 6th January 2017 (on the way to Italy)

Depart Frankfurt 8.45 am

Arrive Milan Linate 9.55 am

Transfer with Bergamotaxi from the airport to Savona harbour

Embarkation on LUMINOSA

Depart 5.00 pm

My daughter and Manfred, my new boyfriend of 3 months, took me to the airport.

After handing in my luggage, a very nice lady assistant collected me and took me through security control and then to the gate. There we were greeted by a technician who concerned himself with the rechargeable batteries for my wheelchair. I had put all the necessary documents for the batteries in my take-on bag and so had no problems. The batteries must be kept in your hand luggage because it is not allowed to place them in the cargo hold.

So to arrange this journey in one and a half years must be good.

On board the Lufthansa plane I was welcomed very politely and escorted to my chair in the second rank of Business Class.

The plane was delayed...5 passengers didn´t turn up and their luggage had to be unloaded...

After this the flight started without further incidents.

Now it smelled of freshly brewed coffee and baked buns.

The breakfast tray was very appealing...

1 small bowl of quark and 3 small profiteroles, 1 plate of two sorts of hard cheese and some slices of fresh Mango, some blueberries and raspberries and cream cheese with olives. I took a roll and a cup of coffee.

Breakfast was hardly over, when the plane started its landing approach to Milan.

There was some minor turbulence but after a little jolting we arrived at the correct stand.

After all the passengers had left the plane, a young steward lifted me from my seat and handed me to two eager Italians already waiting for me with my wheelchair at the door of the plane.

The two young men took me to the baggage conveyor and collected both my bags, which were there lonely and abandoned doing their rounds. I was taken to the arrivals hall where Alessandra from “Bergamotaxi” was waiting for me with a sign with my name on it.

The four of us went to the car park, the two young men put me in the taxi and then they placed my luggage and my wheelchair into the car boot and on the back seat.

I gave each of the young men a 5€ tip and with a cheerful laugh and a wave as well as good wishes for my journey we said farewell.

Alessandra is a good driver and we had an entertaining talk on the way to Savona.

She jogs every morning and has already run some marathons. This morning she jogged at 5 o'clock and then I was next on her list.

For the journey from Milan to Savona, 2 hours 30 minutes was scheduled...We left the airport at 10.30am and at exactly 12am, after only 1 hour 30 minutes we arrived at the cruise ship in the port of Savona.

Alessandra arranged everything in lively Italian... she organized a young man who loaded my luggage and lifted me out of the taxi and placed me in my wheelchair. She nearly forgot to take the450€ taxi fare. However, I forgot to get a receipt that I had paid...

I think, on the return trip on 22nd April, she will only want the balance of 210€.

Now I realised, the carry-on bag which contained the batteries for my wheelchair and my netbook, was with my other luggage and I hoped that everything was in one piece. So I had to use my arm muscles to push myself to the check-in point.

It was hard but I did my best and at the check-in I was treated preferentially because I was travelling in a superior class in addition to being a wheelchair user.

Of course, there was another security check before you could enter the quay! Nobody helped me this time!

The security men were very sexy but all “Machos”... Nobody said: “Bella Signora” and nobody helped me with my handbag, jacket and scarf...

But thank God “I” am not reliant on their help and so “I” readied myself again and pushed myself to the ship using muscle power.

I was slowed down by a photographer and his assistant... they took photos of all the passengers on the world cruise.

They placed me in front of a picture of the sea and a ship’s wheel and a pointer to the ship and took photos.

Then I started off again...A French woman asked me if she could help me... “Oui Merci Madame!”...

At the gangway stood some ships personnel, who asked for the embarkation card and a smile for a photo for the boarding pass...

A young Filipino man from the staff took me to the lobby where I learned that my cabin was not ready. Therefore he took me to the self-service restaurant for the lunch offering.

I was exhausted and not able to eat but I drank a large glass of mineral water. The young man disappeared but came back after a few minutes to take me to my cabin now it was cleaned and ready.

To my amazement, my travel companion “H” was in the cabin discussing something with “Gil” our cabinstewardess.

He interrupted his torrent of words briefly to greet me and said to “Gil” yet again, that he had been on board the ship since 10am and his luggage was still not in the cabin.

Oh dear... I thought to myself... this sounds like fun if he starts off with impatience and arrogance!

I looked around the cabin and saw... a big twin bed... No... No... No... That was not our arrangement!

“H.” said... it is like it is... don´t worry I´m well behaved!

Who does he really think he is?

I certainly want nothing from him!

I explained the situation to Gil and she immediately said...

>No problem Madame...

I will separate the beds and change the blankets.<

Said it and done! Each bed was shuffled to one side and both bedside tables with their permanently installed lights were placed in between the beds under the window.

I like it... and I can look at the view through the window when I´m sitting in my wheelchair.

Now my baggage arrived in stages- and “H´s”???

The first shall be last?!?!

I started unpacking and I was aware that the number of cupboards was not sufficient for two people´s clothes.

Oh well... I commandeered all the drawers in the writing desk and put my trousers in two packs, each with a jacket, in the lower part of the cabinet.

As a matter of urgency I had to empty my big bag because that contained my folding shower chair and I needed it to help me stand up from the toilet.

The toilets on board are too low for disabled people who have no power in their muscles.

However, it was taking too much time to get the chair out and so I took my wheelchair into the really spacious bathroom. I hoped with the correct placement of the wheelchair I would have enough power to stand up again.

After using the toilet I flushed it before starting several attempts to stand up. But I did not succeed and gradually got into a panic... I did not want to have to ask “H.” to help me.

Luckily, Gil came back into the cabin and I called to her.

She helped me immediately, held me under my arms and picked me up, even pulled my pants up and wanted to put me in the wheelchair...

I explained to her that I can stand and walk slowly (but not along way) and so could do that by myself now.

I explained that I needed a higher toilet seat and... >No problem Madame...< ... hey presto! Gil brought me a booster seat and put it on top of the toilet.

In Gil’s 5 years on board the cruise ship this was only the second time that someone needed such a seat.

Now I could relax and continue to unpack my bags without any pressure.

It was very exhausting and I was glad when I got to my shower chair and could reassemble it.

From now on it will be easier for me in the bathroom... slow going... but on my own!

“H.” put the empty bag under the now separated bed. From my handbag, I moved my netbook to the writing desk and took out the batteries for my wheelchair. “H.” is not technically skilled but with my instruction he managed to install the batteries in my “Wheely”. He stowed the boxes and the bag in one of the sofa drawers.

The two suitcases from “H” arrived and so he also started unpacking.

It was interesting for me... unwashed pants and shirts with rolled up sleeves... everything, five or more on one coat hanger... including 10 ties and belts.

What he wanted to tell me all about was a shirt from his Russian father-in-law, who is younger than he is... which is not difficult! “H.” is 81 years old... his wife... they do not live together... is supposedly in her early fifties.

Before “H.” had finished unpacking, the emergency drill began and we had to go to Deck3 Muster Point A.

It was freezing cold outside and I was glad to come back after half an hour to the hitherto not very pleasant air-conditioned cabin.

The air-conditioning is set very cold over the whole of the ship but luckily in the cabin you can adjust it yourself.

Now it was time to go for dinner... our eating time for the whole cruise...18.00 at Restaurant Taurus on Deck2. The restaurant also extends to Deck3.

A very pleasant time... good location... and as it turned out very nice table companions.

This evening we sat only with a couple from Austria at the table... the other 4 places are not yet occupied.

The menu was excellent and I ate all the food I ordered.

For starters I order vegetables au gratin, then cream of asparagus soup and as a main course rolls of roast beef with mozzarella and grilled potatoes and for dessert fresh pineapple.

To drink I ordered a glass of red wine and mineral water.

At 8pm we left the restaurant and I got ready for bed in the cabin. I only took my medicine and what I needed for the bathroom out of my suitcase... everything else stays in the suitcase, which lies on the sofa.

I said “Good Night” to “H.”... put my MP3 earplugs in my ears and listened to the music which my grandson Leon loaded onto it... luckily Leon and I have the same taste in music!!! I soon fell asleep… it was 11pm and I had been up for almost 24 hours…

Saturday 7th January Marseilles (France)

Marseilles is the main town of Provence with 850.000 inhabitants and has the biggest harbour of the Mediterranean.

Worth seeing is the impressive cathedral Saint-Marie.

After a quiet night “H.” woke me up with his chatter at 7am. As I didn´t reply he went to the bathroom.

He wanted to go to the restaurant for breakfast...

I ordered my breakfast in the cabin!

Everything came as ordered at 9.30am...

Coffee, natural yoghurt, muesli and orange juice and although not ordered, a glass of milk.

After this leisurely breakfast on the edge of the bed, I took my time getting ready in the bathroom. When I was finished, “H.” returned to the cabin and waited for me to go to lunch. I accompanied him but I only ate a small rice pudding with fruit and a drink of mineral water.

We sat with a couple from Baden-Württemberg /Germany at our table. The man was very talkative and consumed in a short time, several glasses of wine, which are served for free with lunch.

His wife was a little uncomfortable about this and so I excused myself... I had to use my credit card to register for the internet and to book the tour to visit Casablanca.

In the library where I have to register for the internet, I noticed that my netbook display is damaged. Fortunately it´s only one part of the display on the left hand side and so I will still be able to write my story on the netbook.

Of course, I reported the damage immediately and hope I will get some compensation for the damage from the shipping company????

To book the excursion to Casablanca was not so easy but at the Tour Office and also at the Hospitality Service there is an extra counter for disabled people and I found a fellow passenger (Beatrice from France who speaks 8 languages) who helped me to translate.

Interestingly: the majority of the passengers are German or German-speaking but the staffs speak Italian, French, Spanish or English.

Dinner:

Swordfish Carpaccio on Couscous Broccoli Soup Rabbit in White-Wine-Raisins-Sauce on mashed Potatoes Yoghurt-Terrine

After dinner I rolled with my wheelchair to the “Grand Bar Electra”... there is a Live band playing here every evening and it is interesting to watch the people dancing...

My feet tingle and I want to join in.

When I was a young woman I danced passionately. Now with my “Wheely” it is also possible!

But by 10pm I was very tired and rolled to the cabin and went to bed.

Sunday 8th January Barcelona (Spain)

Barcelona has 1,6 million inhabitants and is the main town of Catalonia.

The town is well-known of the buildings and architecture of “Gaudi” (Sagrada Familia, Park Gaudi) and also of the market streets called “Ramblas” with their market halls and shops.

“H.” already left the cabin for breakfast at 8am and then immediately went for a walk through Barcelona.

Today I ordered my breakfast for 8.30am and everything is great again and more than I ordered.

After breakfast I took a shower in peace and then got dressed.

Now I start to explore the ship and go to upper/outer Deck11.

I know Barcelona very well from earlier motorcycle and mobile home trips with my ex-husband.

The weather was very sunny... no wind.

After a good hour in the sun I went to the self-service restaurant to drink a glass of mineral water.

Here I met “H.” sitting with a couple from Germany. I sat down briefly and chatted but then excused myself and rolled to the pool deck to continue writing my book.

An Asian came to my table and talked to me. She is one of the hairdressers on board. She gave me her business card where she sketched a portrait of my skin. She invited me to have my hair cut while on board.

I don´t need it at the moment but maybe in some weeks or for the great “Gala Dinner” and when I will know the price!

Before dinner I fell over in the cabin and “H.” pulled the emergency alarm. Immediately the phone rang and I called someone to the cabin to pick me up from the floor.

I didn´t want “H.” to pick me up... he came on board with a cold and a cough and I want as little close contact with him as possible.

Also he hasn’t washed himself for several days... (He doesn´t need it... he doesn´t sweat) he says... Oh yuck!

His scruffy long hair and finger nails repel me!

Dinner:

Poached Egg at Almond Sauce Chestnuts Potage Steak in fine slices at Grilled Vegetables 3 half disks of Pineapple

When we arrive at our table (N°8) there are already four other people sitting there. The couple from the previous evening did not appear.

One of our table companions is a retired biochemist and has travelled far and wide. Some weeks before he was in Peru.

Most of the time he travels alone... his wife doesn´t like to fly and so both only travel together with their mobile home and now on this cruise.

They have been vaccinated against all diseases even against rabies. He doesn’t fear the side effects.

It was very important to him to know what temperature water is used for the laundry on board but nobody could answer this question before they departed. So he has brought 5kgof washing powder on board and he washes their clothes himself in their shower every day.

We all laughed about this story!

“H.” says, now I know what I must do!!

I stated... I will never wash the underwear or other clothes for a man and most certainly not the clothes of “H.”!

We only share the cabin and nothing else!

Otherwise we do our own thing!

Piqued “H.” said... it’s only a joke... ha-ha...

After dinner on the way to the “Flamenco Show” in the Theatro Phoenix, there was still “super” mood music in the Lobby Bar.

I moved with my wheelchair to the rhythm.

My companion stood there like a stick figure.

Shortly before the start of the flamenco show we found a seat in the theatre and I parked my Wheely in the gangway with a very good view of the stage.

At the beginning, a compare presented the most important members of the crew... only the captain wasn’t there.

When the crew left the stage they came around me and they all saluted me and wished me a nice evening.

Now the Flamenco Show began with a guitar solo and then the voices of a women and a man joined in.