Since my last blog about visiting Amsterdam, I've used my QUICKIE Q50 R Carbon in Germany, Florida, Canada, several Caribbean islands, and Brazil. This blog covers highlights from my most recent trip.
St. Pete Workout
The journey began in St. Petersburg, Florida. Linda, my wife, and I had originally planned to be there for Thanksgiving three months earlier, but hurricanes Helene and Milton disrupted our family's plans. We finally made it there, stopping in before boarding our scheduled cruise.
While in Florida, we joined our nephew Bobby and niece Jackie for an early morning workout with The Sunrise Crew. This group meets in a local park before dawn every Monday and Friday. I was glad to see that the park included accessible outdoor weight machines. I could easily transfer from my wheelchair onto the seats, which were attached to the handholds in a way that allowed me to use my own body weight as resistance.
Most of the group used mats on the ground for exercises, but since getting down and back up isn't easy for me, I modified each movement. For pushups, I stood partially upright and pushed against the arms of a machine. When it came to frog jumps, which involve kicking from a squat into a handstand, I definitely did my own thing.
At the end of the session, we all gathered for a photo in front of the rising sun, then warmed up at a coffee shop. The weather was around 20°F cooler than usual (about 52°F), so Linda and I wore everything we packed, plus borrowed sweatshirts and hats.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
From Tampa, we flew to Miami for an overnight stay. Miami International Airport was the most difficult domestic airport I've encountered while using a wheelchair. The signage was poor and the hotel shuttle stop was not accessible.
The next morning, we flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico and spent a few hours exploring the historic Old City. One highlight was El Morro, the fortress that has guarded the harbor since the early 1500s. It was interesting to see that ramps were part of the design, although they were far too steep for today's wheelchairs. Fortunately, there was plenty to enjoy on the main level, from ocean views to plaques and exhibits about the cannons and barracks. It was easy to imagine the thunder and smoke of those early cannon blasts.
Onboard the Viking Sea
We boarded the Viking Sea in San Juan for a 12-day cruise. I was able to access nearly all public areas on the ship. Some doorways, thresholds, and expansion joints were a bit tricky, and the gangway ramps were steep enough that I always asked for a crew member to walk behind me when going up. The crew was always willing to assist, but also respectful when I declined help.
Our accessible stateroom had a wide door, was located close to the elevator, and had plenty of space inside. The bathroom included grab bars, and the balcony had ramps that allowed me to roll outside.
The main drawback was that the ship only had two accessible rooms, both in the same category. This left no option for choosing a room at a different price or comfort level.
The ship's gym had recumbent bikes with low step-overs, which was great. This kind of equipment is perfect for my cardio needs and is easier to get off of when I'm tired after a workout.
Adventures in Manaus, Brazil
After stops at three Caribbean islands, we entered the Amazon River and traveled upstream to Manaus. This city sits at the meeting point of the Amazon and the Rio Negro rivers.
One of our first stops was the 1896 opera house, modeled after the Palais Garnier in Paris. It was a beautiful and surprisingly accessible building, thanks to ramps and lifts.
Finding a hotel with an accessible room had been a challenge, but the one I found worked well. Unfortunately, the entrance and exit were difficult enough that I only went out once per day. This limited our ability to explore the area spontaneously, which is something I usually enjoy.
One of the highlights of our times in Manaus was a boat tour. While not officially accessible, the crew had no problem lifting me and my wheelchair in and out of the boat. They had a much easier time with the wheelchair than with me.
During the tour, we saw pink river dolphins, birds, monkeys, a caiman, and a wide variety of rainforest trees. We also crossed over the "Meeting of the Waters," where the dark Rio Negro and the brown, silty Amazon flow side-by-side for miles before blending. The temperature difference between the two rivers was easy to feel when we dipped out hands into the water. The Rio Negro was about 10°F warmer than the Amazon. Other factors like flow speed, sediment, and density also affect how long the waters stay separated.
Our last adventure in Manaus was a visit to the botanical garden. The packed dirt trails were wide enough for my chair and mostly smooth, with just a few roots to navigate. Eventually, the roots became large enough that I decided to turn back.
Final Thoughts
Florida was mostly easy to navigate in a wheelchair, aside from the unusually cold morning and the experience at the Miami airport. The Viking Sea was a comfortable and mostly accessible way to travel, made even better by helpful and considerate staff. Manaus was fascinating, though its infrastructure and sidewalks were rough in many places. I don't expect to return, but I'm very glad I had the chance to experience it.
About the author
David Buseck has been an avid traveler his whole life, as has his wife, Linda Levine. He was diagnosed in 2019 with a slow-moving form of ALS, but has been committed to continuing his traveling for as long as feasible. He's been using a wheelchair while traveling since May 2022, and with a QUICKIE Q50 R Carbon since September 2024. David retired from a career in technology & education and is now an author and blogger. His book, Paris: City of Cultures, Walk and Roll with Fresh Eyes, was published in 2024. It's a guidebook to Paris, focusing on wheelchair-accessible walking tours through beautiful Parisian neighborhoods while learning about different cultural groups who live(d) or work(ed) there. His blog about travel and living with ALS is LindaDavidTravel.com. David and Linda live in San Jose, California with their two pet tortoises.
David's ride is a QUICKIE Q50 R Carbon.
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