My first trip as physically disabled

StarryEyed

Hi! I'm scared and excited that in two weeks from today I'll be going on my first trip since becoming physically disabled 2-1/2 years ago.

I've booked the hotel and train as well as a scooter. The hotel says I can take my scooter into my room. I'll take my own walker on the train, and they said to arrive half an hour early so they can help me on the train. I've bought a subscription to Strava, which shows street elevation, so that I can map out routes ahead of time that aren't too steep. I'll be going solo so that I can learn how to be self-sufficient when travelling alone or with others. I am hoping this trip will boost my self-esteem and self-confidence as a disabled person. Life has been so dreadfully serious and hard the last couple of years, so I'm hoping this trip will also bring some joy. I'd also like to share some joy on the forum as I've been so very grumpy so far.

Mary_Scope

This sounds really exciting @StarryEyed! It sounds like you have got everything in place and have thought of everything so I really hope it goes well! Where are you going on your trip?

StarryEyed

@Bluebell21 okay I'll post pics. I'd really like that because it'll feel like you guys are with me.

@Mary_Scope yes I think I've got the booking all done. I'm going to Granada.

Mary_Scope

Very nice @StarryEyed!! I hope you have the best time! I look forward to seeing the photos like Bluebell said too fi you're happy and comfortable sharing them!😄

StarryEyed

Yes, @Mary_Scope I'm very comfortable sharing photos. I won't post any of me, though. Travelling has always been difficult for me because being in new places causes anxiety, even panic attacks, which cause me to get disoriented. I get so unravelled with this headset, as you can imagine. Now added to that is my physical disability. So it's a huge challenge. Oh, plus I've only ever travelled alone once in my life, about six years ago for a few days, about 2 hours from here. So it's going to be extremely stressful and for that reason I'm setting up frequent check-ins with friends and family. Having you guys on board too will be awesome. Just awesome. Yay! Triple yay! 😊 🙏🏼❤️

Rachel_Scope

I'm so excited for you @StarryEyed! I wish I was as brave as you. You'll have an amazing time and I can't wait to hear all about it 😁

StarryEyed

Thank you @Rachel_Scope . My world just keeps getting smaller and smaller over the years with my mental and physical illnesses. I want to break the downhill trend. We show courage when we face our fears, right? ☺️

Holly_Scope

Aww this is great news @StarryEyed. 😀 The hotel sound really nice and helpful and with everything in place ahead, I'm sure you'll have a lovely time exploring. I've been thinking of going away by myself later this year on a little solo trip so will be great to hear how you found it. I hope you have a great time!

StarryEyed

@Thanks for your encouragement @Holly_Scope I'm actually surprised at how little the difference has been in booking with my disability. The extra steps were:

1. Hotel: Call ahead to see if there are accessible rooms. There weren't any but I'm mobile within my apartment so that's fine. But they had to confirm a scooter was allowed in the room and the elevator fits the scooter.

2. Scooter: I have never booked one. There was only one business option in town, so that's who I booked with. Fingers crossed!

3. Train: I had to go in person because I couldn't figure out how to book for disabled online. They were super awesome to sort it all out.

So far so good. 👍🏼

StarryEyed

I'm all packed and ready for the train tomorrow morning at 8:35 AM, UK time. It feels right, like this trip is right on time.

https://youtu.be/wcWP91VUbWo?si=6aAMXCOpGMhzfvm0

durhamjaide2001

ooh how exiting safe travels and I can't wait to hear all about your journey when you land

StarryEyed

Thank you @durhamjaide2001

So far it's gone without a hitch. Yay! I'm on the train now ....

Mary_Scope

Some beautiful scenery @StarryEyed. Safe travels!!

StarryEyed

@Mary_Scope thank you!

Beautiful scenery, yes, with the exception of those people who don't like olive trees 😊

Rachel_Scope

I'm so excited for you @StarryEyed! Love the pics so far, keep them coming 😊

StarryEyed

Thank you for your shared enthusiasm, @Rachel_Scope

Yesterday morning I was so overwhelmed when I rolled into Granada that I took a cab straight to the hotel room and didn't surface until this morning when they dropped off my scooter. It was so awesome to just cocoon. Today I stepped out twice, both times about 1-1/2 hours. The first time was to get groceries at the supermarket nearby and the second time was to explore a bit on my scooter. I had a lot of fun exploring. Here are pics from that outing...

Mary_Scope

Glad you got to Granada safely @StarryEyed!! Haha yes there's something so so nice about being alone in the hotel room, just the pure peace and quiet😄

Those are some lovely photos, it looks nice and peaceful there! Did you get any goodies in the supermarket??? Going to a supermarket and seeing all the new and different foods is always a highlight!!

What have you got planned today?😊

StarryEyed

Hi @Mary_Scope

Yes, it's very peaceful here as it's low season in Granada, so there are barely any tourists. It's too cold now for most people, but it's gorgeous for me. I love the cool weather. There are lots of clouds too, which I like. The blazing, glaring sun exhausts me and annoys me :-)

I've never spent so much time in a hotel room, but that's my new life and so I booked a nice hotel, which is making all the difference because my room is really nice and there is a team of people on staff 24/7. I'm so grateful for them. One of my Swedish cousins is paying for this trip, so I'm so grateful for her too. She wants me to go visit our family in Sweden, so this trip is like a trial run.

Of my pictures yesterday, I love the ones with my shadow amplified, for the symbolism. It represents all the massive fears and doubts that have been lurking in the shadows, which I have now put into the sunlight so that I can address those fears and doubts, and come up with solutions.

I can't believe how well this trip is turning out. At every turn I am grateful for people before me who have put things in place to make this trip possible and enjoyable - the train, the hotel, the city itself, the scooter, the mini fridge, the food... There are so many people whom I've never even met to be grateful for.

For my groceries, I actually went to my favourite Spanish grocery store chain and bought the food that I normally buy. I adore that store - Mercadona. Do you know of it?

Today I went into the centre twice. The second time I went by video call with a friend from Canada who actually came with me here several years ago. We revisited parts of the centre where we had gone together, which was really awesome for both of us.

Here are some pics from today....

durhamjaide2001

looks like you are having a really good time

Mary_Scope

Nice to see some lovely bright blue sky @StarryEyed, so grey over here!! It looks like you're have a brilliant time😄

That's very kind of your cousin, i've always wanted to go to Sweden, I bet that'll be an amazing holiday!! How do you feel about that trip since doing this trip?

StarryEyed

@durhamjaide2001 yes, there are definitely great moments. Thanks for checking in. 😊

@Chris75_ what a great story! Your descriptions are so vivid. I googled Buffalo Bar in Torremolinos and don't see it there anymore. I lived in Torremolinos for a summer a few years ago. I've lived in the Costa del Sol area for the 11 years I've been in Spain, mostly in Málaga. You probably landed in Málaga with your parents back in the day.

@Mary_Scope I was only in Sweden twice - the first six weeks of my life (I was born there) and for two weeks in 1992 to visit family. All my Mom's family is there. There's a ton of them! I've been invited to the 90th birthday party of one of my uncles. It's in August 2026, so I have time to prepare. I've always had difficulties travelling so this disability is like the nail in the coffin, in that I simply can't travel like I used to. I would just push myself through so very hard, just white-knuckling it. So that way of traveling is finished. I rarely travelled before because it was so difficult. So I'm ready to turn over a new leaf. I surrender my old ways and hope to find a gentle way to travel. It's not going to happen with one trip. But this trip is promising.