#4 ELAINE’S WHEELCHAIR SWITZERLAND JOURNAL
SPIEZ TO MONTREUX BY TRAIN
MONTREUX TO LAUSANNE BY CAR
We boarded the GoldenPass train in Spiez for our scenic journey to Montreux. The ride was peaceful and relaxing, with breathtaking views of the Swiss countryside. Along the way, we stopped occasionally in small, picturesque villages. As the train climbed higher into the mountains, lush green meadows stretched across the hillsides, offering one beautiful vista after another.
My only disappointment was the wheelchair accessibility on the GoldenPass train. My wheelchair had to be lifted onto the train, and once I had folded it, it was taken from me and stowed behind a seat. Fortunately, I am agile enough to manage the folding wheelchair myself, and I am not entirely dependent on it for mobility.
However, I couldn’t help wondering how someone who was completely wheelchair-dependent would have managed. What was a minor inconvenience for me could have been a serious obstacle for another traveler. Accessibility should mean that everyone can enjoy the journey, not just those fortunate enough to manage the obstacles.
It poured in Lausanne! Although we were staying at the lovely Château d’Ouchy, right on the lakeside promenade, the rain and poor visibility prevented us from fully appreciating magnificent Lake Geneva. The lake is so vast that it looks more like a sea!
Despite the weather, we decided to spend the afternoon aboard one of the lake’s traditional paddle steamers. After all, a little rain wasn’t going to spoil our adventure!
We became fascinated by a low bank of clouds hovering over the opposite shoreline. It looked almost like a cloud resting on the ground. We wondered what it would be like to stand inside that cloud. Foggy, I suppose!
Our three-hour round-trip cruise included stops at traditional Swiss lakeside villages. To our delight, the steamboat had an elegant restaurant aboard. Imagine fine dining while cruising across Lake Geneva! Mary ordered a beautifully presented meal, followed by a dessert of double cream and hot fudge that was absolutely to die for!
The following day, despite the cold and rain, we decided to venture into Lausanne—Mary, me, and my brave little chariot. Up, up, up we climbed, tackling a very steep hill for nearly half a mile!
Unfortunately, we never found Photo Elysée, the photography museum we had hoped to visit. Rather than risk getting lost in the rain, we turned around. Down, down, down the steep hill we went, arriving back at our château dripping wet despite our rain gear!
Several cups of hot tea in the hotel lobby soon revived us. And, believe it or not, we thoroughly enjoyed our adventure anyway! Later , we enjoyed a lovely dinner.
I must give credit to my little Kerdom DX07 power wheelchair. It performed beautifully in the rain! All I had to do upon returning to the hotel was dry it off. Best of all, it handled that long, very steep hill with ease.
My brave little chariot had certainly earned its rest—and so had we!