Deceptive Paths

When traveling in Ireland I found myself wondering on elderly travel. How accommodations for elderly lacks everywhere. How travel effects the physically challenged.

One example I can express is a famous tree row located in the country. These trees can be seen from the road. They can be seen from the parking lot. It isn’t the iconic photo view everyone desires. So, you follow the directions and walk down the parking lot away from the trees. The same length it would take to walk directly towards them. (Not that you could…they make that impossible with fences, trees, and blockades). You are directed straight to a coffee shop that has a must purchase policy posted everywhere in order to use the bathroom. (I much rather pay the small coinage fee other countries charge). The path goes back towards the tree row through a peaceful, tranquil forest. It meanders back and forth in a serpentine manner similar to a Disney attraction line. A cemented walkway that triples the length previously walked. Unacceptable for the physically challenged. What seems close will be so deceptively far away!

Sometimes an attraction has bus transportation for a small cost. Great!

NOT! The bus stop has no shade or places to sit and wait. And waiting you must. because they are not prepared for the onslaught of people desiring respite due to the attraction itself involving exertion. Waiting and standing in a line three bus loads long in the hot sun. What if it was raining? There was only one bus! One bus that took three trips before there was room for you. Sad!

Further more, sight seeing tours book back to back to maximize profit. That means if you are not in the first boat of the day you must park a mile or more away. Two plus miles of unnecessary walking for Elderly and physically challenged.

When traveling abroad and physically challenged one must consider being prepared for what seems close but deceptively far away.