Thank you for your comments and suggestions after the last blog about traveling with PD. Here are some more things to keep in mind as you travel.
Hats and sunscreen
I never leave home without at least one hat. Many of them are packable, so take a couple. You can always look chic wherever you go. Don’t forget that we are more vulnerable to Melanoma and other skin cancers. Take a good sunscreen with you so you don’t have to look for it while you are traveling. My dermatologist recommends Elta MD Broad Spectrum 46 and I have been very happy with it.
From Carol Clupny, author of The Ribbon of Road Ahead, who just returned from a 67 day trip to Europe.
- Oh those cobblestones!
- I have great stories about wheelchair assistance. And because of the wheelchairs, I did not have any trouble carrying my trekking poles on the plane. I found disability assistance to be very good in Europe. There are even programs that an individual could access on trains. I was boosted up to a back door of a plane on a lift in Latvia and had a personal assistant who took us through the entire airport and even showed us how to buy train tickets in Munich,
- A small suction cup shower bar. I used it a lot! (note that many come in pairs. You probably need to take just one with you.)
- Pack light. Plan clothes to layer. We had only carryon-size roller bags and a backpack each
- A drain cover to stop the sink when you are rinsing clothes. (a great idea for those sinks that won’t hold water). Piece of shower line.
- We were able to buy Sinemet in a pharmacy by only showing the bottle. (and it was very inexpensive)
- Be aware of discounts for seniors, disabilities, and care partners in museums and attractions. We usually spent less than 50%
- We happened upon a 9 euro train ticket that allowed us to ride any type of public transportation in Germany (EXCEPT the intercity fast trains) we traveled for two weeks on 9 euros!!!
More travel tips from Parky Boy from his March blog post.
- Choose luggage that you can cope with – this may have changed
- Aim to go at the pace that you need, especially when navigating transport hubs – because only you know
- Control anxiety and stress as much as you can by having everything you need very accessible. This may include Covid pass and locator form, which we’re not used to carrying
- Take a few days more medication with you than you need – just in case
- If you’re flying, take a few days medication in your hand luggage (with, of course, toothbrush and knickers) – just in case
- Carry on enjoying enjoying travelling
Happy Travels!
Sharon
New chat group for Twitchy Women without Partners
Twitchy Woman now has a chat group on Zoom for you. If you are interested in joining, please send me an email. Next meeting is Sunday, July 26 at 11:30 AM ET, 8:30 AM PT, before our scheduled Zoom meeting on Smile Through Art at 1:00 PM ET.
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