Re: London, Paris or ?

Here's an update to my question, London, Paris or ? at the end of
January...
While at physio today, I asked my physiotherapist, can I go to Europe on
my own? And, do I have to take my pillow? (It's heavy.)
He said, I can go; I must take my pillow; however, I cannot lift
anything.
Way back when, when I travelled on my own, I handled my own luggage.
Actually, when I went to Europe, I took a backpack (it was a long time
ago). I have trouble imagining what it would be like not to lift my own
bag. I could borrow my sister's rollaboard bag, but my pillow (one of
those memory–foam ones) wouldn't fit into it. Does anybody else travel
this way? It would be a first for me.
I'm thinking, reluctantly, of not going. B–(

"iKitty" <ikitty.nos...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:ikitty.nospam–000692.21140809122...@shawnews...
Take a rolling bag and tie your pillow on top with some sort of strap.
How much walking would you be doing to your bags? I assume it would be
just to the hotel so you wouldn't be carrying the pillow and suitcase
everywhere day and night? Depending on where you stay, perhaps you
could take a taxi or shuttle from your airport to the hotel and you
would not have to carry much at all. Also ask for help, if you need it.
Do not try to take anything without wheels. I now have a backpack on
wheels and it is a great carryon. Also ask for help if you need it.
People can be quite nice.
Audrey

In article <ikitty.nospam–000692.21140809122...@shawnews>,
ikitty.nos...@shaw.ca says...
Don't they squish down small? You'd need something to stuff it into, but
once you had it in the rolling bag, the weight should be less of an issue.
––
Visit my Iron Age Pages for technical and fun stuff (holiday specials,
too)!
http://pages.prodigy.net/feaudrey

Why not call the airlines ahead of time & ask for assistance? They'll
meet your taxi with a golf cart, take care of your luggage, and give you
priority boarding. I fly quite a bit, and often see the airlines helping
people in that way. When you get to your hotel, the doorman should look
after your luggage etc. Alexis

iKitty wrote:
I missed your original post. Do you have back problems? If so, I can
commiserate. I, too, am told not to handle my own luggage. Doesn't keep
me from traveling though! I simply enlist someone on this end to carry
the luggage out and pack it in the car for me, get me to the airport,
and unload it. I have a big suitcase that has wheels and as long as I
don't have to lift it, it's wonderful. I push it in front of me though
– and not behind – because I find this twists my back the wrong way.
Once I get there, I simply check it in before boarding.
I also have a carryon backpack that has wheels. When I get to my seat,
I just smile sweetly at a fellow passenger, and since I'm short, I
always get offers to help stow it above. Or else I put it down by my
feet because my legs are short and it's nice to rest my feet on the
backpack. I do not carry a purse when I travel – if I need extra space,
I have a small messenger–type bag that straps across my back in just
the right place to prevent strain. A fanny pack can also work well (foo
on fashion – this is about practicality and my health!)
Once I get there, I grab one of those rolling carts before I hit the
baggage carousel. Again, I ask for assistance from another passenger to
get the luggage off the carousel and on to the cart. Never heard a no.
Then I hail a cab and the taxi driver takes it from there. It is worth
the extra $ to pay for a taxi versus taking public transpo, if your
health is at stake.
For long plane rides my PT makes me take prophylactic muscle relaxants,
even if I've been feeling fine for months with no episodes. And he
insists I must get up every hour on the hour to walk around and keep
the blood circulating. I am not allowed to fall asleep – that's
supposed to be the worse thing for your back. I am told to constantly
switch positions and seat adjustments throughout the flight. Often I
sit cross–legged to take the pressure off my back. My seatmates
probably get annoyed with my constant movements and getting up and
down, but oh well... it works! Also I have an inflatable lumbar pillow
that folds up small and tucks in my backpack.
Oddly, while I do find myself stiff and achy once I get there, by end
of my trip I usually feel better than when I left, thanks to all the
walking around, relaxing environs with lots of pleasing distractions,
and being out of my usual sit–at–computer routine.
You needn't refrain from travel – that would be a shame! Like you,
when my PT first told me no handling of luggage, I couldn't imagine it.
I didn't want to put anyone out, for one thing. But then on my first
trip I forgot and I reached for my luggage out of the overhead
compartment – and wham – promptly threw my back out. Argh. So, be
careful that you don't accidentally grab for your own bag out of force
of habit, especially after a long, long flight when your muscles are
most likely to be vulnerable to another strain.
jen