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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / February 2007OTP travel to Europe
Hi group- have any of you traveled to Europe sine arthur? I have an opportunity (for 3,600 dollars) to go to Italy and the French Riveria with a small tour group- 20 people. The trip includes all transportation, hotels and 2 meals a day for 10 days. There is a bus taking us from hotel to the "tour" destination for the day...ie the Vatican. We will have our own bus, driver and tour guide. The local liason has been there twice and tells me she can inform me daily how much walking is involved...I'm up to 1 mile on my treadmill. I'm not sure about going for a couple reasons...arthur and they will not be going to paris and I'm disappointed about that. Any input?? Kate (kropos@rap.midco.net) > Hi group- have any of you traveled to Europe sine arthur? I have an > opportunity (for 3,600 dollars) to go to Italy and the French Riveria > Any input?? Kate Talk with your doctor. Talk with U.S. Customs re: drugs. Talk with whoever issues the visa for Italy re: drugs. Talk with whoever issues the visa for France re: drugs. Talk with insurance about replacement drugs in Europe. And enjoy the trip. Is it a flight to Europe or cruise? ... I waited so long for my ship to come in, my pier sank. It is a flight over. Kate On Jan 25, 10:11 pm, "Fire Chief" <CALIFORNIA_CH...@PEOPLEPC.COM> wrote: > > Hi group- have any of you traveled to Europe sine arthur? I have an > > opportunity (for 3,600 dollars) to go to Italy and the French Riveria [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > ... I waited so long for my ship to come in, my pier sank. > Hi group- have any of you traveled to Europe sine arthur? I have an > opportunity (for 3,600 dollars) to go to Italy and the French Riveria [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > going to paris and I'm disappointed about that. Any input?? Kate > (kropos@rap.midco.net) I'm disappointed you're not visiting London Kate!!! As you know, I've got bad OA and have had most of my joints replaced, including both shoulders. It doesn't stop me moving about over the world, and on my own too. Lots of trips to Canada, France etc, and I'm off with a friend this year to Lille, and also the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). You don't have to compete with the other travellers. Just do what you can and enjoy yourself. My walking is limited, but I go everywhere with a pedometer on my waistband. Do go, Kate, as life is too short. Splodge (Jan) We spent two months in Italy back in '97, when my PA was relatively calm (one of the reasons we decided to go ahead and spend the money to do it THEN). One thing I can tell you is that there is a fair amount of walking involved in most everything, however most of the time you have places where sit and rest. The vatican museums/sistene chapel are one long series of interconnected spaces that took us all day (we're art nuts and take our time), but, as I said you can sit at times. Oh, that reminds me - ask how they do admissions into museums and such, if they have it arranged in advance. There can be a long wait on your feet if they don't have something arranged. Know in advance that you are not likely to climb the dome of St Peter's. Not only is it a lot of steps, but it is very tight quarters towards the top. We were behind some "ample" Polish women and really feared one of them would get sstuck! It would be a struggle for me to do it now and I can walk more than you. That said, I'd go again at the drop of a hat. I LOVE Italy. I thought my DH was just being his usual enthusiastic self before we went, but I came home completely in love with the country myself (except for missing American coffee!). I don't know how much leeway you'll have with your one meal/day. We ended up eating a lot from the deli areas of the stores - wonderful marinated veggies with some cured sausage, fresh bread and wine - heaven! At restaurants, do NOT order the "tourist menu" - it's too much food. Just order what you want. The people in Italy really are friendly and warm, that's one stereotype that holds true. Some of our most enjoyable moments were just sitting in a park watching the people around us. Wonderful country, wonderful folks. If you learn much about travelling with all the meds, let me know. We're going to Germany with my mom this summer. Arrangements are through Untours so we'll be staying in apartments and will have kitchens, which will make storing Enbrel easy. But Mother and I are wondering how strict they are about carrying your meds in the original packaging. Both of us are on enough meds that doing so will really complicate packing. And of course the mail order pharms insist on using those large bottles with lots of empty space....  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I agree with Nann. There is a lot of walking. As for the dome of St Peters, just go as far as the elevators take you. I walked up to the top and to be honest, the view wasn't all that different. You get a fantastic view from where the elevators take you. You also might want to find out if they now have scooters that you could rent. I know I couldn't do the Vatican anymore as it's too much walking for me. And check what's available for the other sites you are planning to see. Most tours include your admission to places and they book your arrival in advance so that you don't have to wait on long lines. But do check to make sure as the lines to get into places can be VERY long. If you can do it, go! Italy is lovely :-)) Carole > I agree with Nann. There is a lot of walking. As for the dome of St > Peters, just go as far as the elevators take you. I walked up to the top > and to be honest, the view wasn't all that different. You get a > fantastic view from where the elevators take you. Oh! that's right. I forgot there are elevators partway. We climbed the whole way, being on the budget plan and being in our healthier, major health club days. That was also the beginning of my ongoing love affair with true art mosaics - when we saw the ones in the dome up close. > If you can do it, go! Italy is lovely :-)) Amen! I told Mike what I'd said, and he agreed wholeheartedly. He's been to Italy three times and fully intends to get back there again. It is a wonderful country. What time of year is the trip? Summer can get quite warm there and most places are not air-conditioned as electricity is quite expensive in Italy. And you can see stuff better if you get there before the big tourist seasson. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare The trip is June 10-20. What is meant by talking to the people about medicine visa?? Do I have to get some sort of permission to take my medicines along. I intended to take them in their proper bottles. Kate > > I agree with Nann. There is a lot of walking. As for the dome of St > > Peters, just go as far as the elevators take you. I walked up to the top [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > remove the Gator cheer to email me > Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Have you now decided to go Kate? Splodge (UK) > The trip is June 10-20. What is meant by talking to the people about > medicine visa?? Do I have to get some sort of permission to take my [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> remove the Gator cheer to email me >> Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I would go in a minute Kate. My grandmother went to Europe for the first time in her late 70's. She was on a bus trip - basically a country a day - 2 days in Italy because they had to see the vatican and the pope. She had a ball. If she was tired she sat on a bench and watched people until the group was done. As for meds - just keep them in their original bottles and that should be all that is needed - you can double check that with the airlines though. Do remember to have a script from your doctor with refills to explain if you need to and a prescription for glasses in case yours get broken or lost. My mom always carries a prescription for bladder infection just in case but has only needed it once. As well she carries pepto bismol, gravel and a decongestion. She finds that this means she doesn't need a drug store - only time she didn't have decongestion was when she took my boys to Italy. They had a heck of a time getting one and figured out what the labels said - Marc got a bad cold 2 days before flying home - he was 14. Of course they were in a tiny town at the time. I say go for it!!! I sure would. Remember that meals are cheaper if ordered at the counter and eaten at tables without tablecloths. Read Rick Steves before hand and get all the tips. You will have a great time! If you want to talk to a seasoned Italian traveller I will give you my mom's email address - she has been 6 or 7 times and loves it. Kelly > Have you now decided to go Kate? > Splodge (UK) [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >>> remove the Gator cheer to email me >>> Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I live in Europe (Norway), but have been living in France and have been 20+ times in Italy, so feel free to ask me any questions your might have. I've been all over Italy as far South as Naples, and all over France. I agree that you should use original bottles for you medications and I would suggest that you get your doctor to write out a letter telling what medication you need to be on. Preferably also with the generic name of the drugs, in case something gets lost and you need to get it. I would also bring my prescriptions to show that the medication is intended for me, but would not believe that you always can get them filled in Europe. I just spent two weeks in the USA after forgetting all my medication and important papers at home! I asked if a faxed prescription from Norway would work, but was told that it had to be from a doctor with a license in the USA. So I ended up finding a walk in clinic that understood that no one in their right mind would ask for prednisone, methotrexate and cyclosporine unless they really needed the stuff. I would bring any over the counter medication you use as well, in quantities needed for the trip, since brand name would be different in many cases and you could have a hard time finding things. Also, what is over the counter is different from one country to another. Here in Norway you are allowed to bring 3 months worth of any supplement or medication you might need, and that is equal to how long you get a tourist visa. I would not be surprised if the same thing would be the law in most European countries. If you are on really heavy painkillers, good documentation is important. Here in Europe there is a special note you can get from the pharmacy filling the prescription that tells that you have a valid reason for carrying these drugs. To tell you the truth, after travelling back and forth between the USA and Norway via London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, I never have had anything of my medication questioned. I even "smuggle" my yearly use of grape seed extract every time, since the price here in Norway is 3x the price in the USA. One aid that has helped med travelling is those walking sticks (canes) with a seat. If I have to stay in line too long, or need a break. I can unfold it and sit down for some time. I just use pants for travelling most of the time, since I don't think a skirt might be as comfortable sitting down like that. Welcome to Europe! Aina the lurker in Norway >I would go in a minute Kate. My grandmother went to Europe for the first >time in her late 70's. She was on a bus trip - basically a country a day - [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] >>>> remove the Gator cheer to email me >>>> Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Thank you Aina. I do have a few more questions. I've been told the hotels we will be in are "westernized" not sure what that means. What is the availability of microwaves in hotels? I like a cup of tea or coffee and thought otherwise I could take my little electric pot to heat water. Also how is the water and will bottled water be available as it is here in the USA? Kate > I live in Europe (Norway), but have been living in France and have been 20+ > times in Italy, so feel free to ask me any questions your might have. I've [quoted text clipped - 98 lines] > >>>> remove the Gator cheer to email me > >>>> Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text - > Thank you Aina. I do have a few more questions. I've been told the > hotels we will be in are "westernized" not sure what that means. What > is the availability of microwaves in hotels? I like a cup of tea or > coffee and thought otherwise I could take my little electric pot to > heat water. Also how is the water and will bottled water be available > as it is here in the USA? Kate european electricity is different from ours and you need special adapters to use US appliances in european outlets. (i forget the details, I just went appliance-less) In '97, bottled water was EVERYwhere in Italy and I imagine the same would be true in the French Riveria. We saw much more of it there than we did in the US at the time. Even paid embarassing prices once or twice. I could tell you about the nasty water in Syracuse's drinking fountains, but as you won't be going that far south, I won't gum up your mind with those details! LOL SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare > Thank you Aina. I do have a few more questions. I've been told the > hotels we will be in are "westernized" not sure what that means. What > is the availability of microwaves in hotels? I like a cup of tea or > coffee and thought otherwise I could take my little electric pot to > heat water. Also how is the water and will bottled water be available > as it is here in the USA? Kate You're probably not going to get a microwave in your room, but there is often one in the room where they serve breakfast. Most European hotels serve at least a continental breakfast. Westernized generally means that there will be a shower in the room, not just a bathtub :-) If you are taking anything electric, you will need adapters as Europe runs on 220 Volts, we run on 110. The sockets are also different. Get a set that has a converter and the adapters for the different countries you are going to. Carole Someone was going to loan me an adapter set. Each country needs it's own adapters, oh my. What about cell phone, calling card...how does one call home? Kate > > Thank you Aina. I do have a few more questions. I've been told the > > hotels we will be in are "westernized" not sure what that means. What [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Carole Check with your cell phone company. When I worked at AT&T Wireless, we had a plan where you paid $4.95 and then could call home at a discounted rate. BUT it's not cheap!! So be very careful!! I had a woman customer call who went to Italy and ran up a $2000 bill in less than a month. So make sure you find out how much you will be paying per minute and take a timer with you! Also be careful as you can run up a bill on your cellphone without even making a call. Once you turn it on over there, it will attach itself to the closest tower. That tells the system where you are located. So if someone from home doesn't know you are away and calls your cellphone and leaves a voicemail, even if the phone is not on, that message they leave will be charged at overseas rates. Also do NOT use the phone in your hotel room as the charges are astronomical! I called a friend from my room in London for a half hour once and the call cost me $60! My advice is to leave the cellphone home OR get a local SIM card if you feel you will need to use it for local calls in Italy. Otherwise get calling cards and use public phones or ask what the procedure is at your hotel for using hotel phones with phone cards. Yes, different countries have different adapters as the wall sockets are different. When your friend lends you their set, make sure it has a voltage converter in it, not just adapters. There should also be a manual that comes with the set and it will show you which adapters are for which countries. I went to England so often after my Mom died, that I ended finding it easier to get an English hair dryer. Carole > Someone was going to loan me an adapter set. Each country needs it's > own adapters, oh my. What about cell phone, calling card...how does [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> >>Carole If you're only going to be in one place for a short time, I wouldn't bother with trying to make phone calls. Internet cafes are just about everywhere, and you can email a large group of people for much less than the price of one phone call.:) When I visited the UK, the first thing I did after getting off the plane was buy an international phone card, so I could call my daughter 3 times a week. I emailed hubby and other family members daily, but I had to hear her voice every couple of days, or go mad. And I always used the phone booths, not the phones in the rooms. They didn't work right, anyway. Kelly C. > Someone was going to loan me an adapter set. Each country needs it's > own adapters, oh my. What about cell phone, calling card...how does [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> >> Carole > Someone was going to loan me an adapter set. Each country needs it's > own adapters, oh my. What about cell phone, calling card...how does > one call home? Kate Back in '97. we had an AT&T card. They had a special number you called from overseas that got you to AT&T in the states, then you entered the number you were calling and it was treated as local. (I did this from pay phones, BTW) That way it cost much less than direct dialing my folks from Italy. (my dad was having mysterious symptoms at the time, so I was calling home weekly.) Calls were charged to an AT&T calling card. I don't know how things have changed, but it might be worth investigating online. Cell phones were ubiquitous (sp?) in Italy, even in 97. Even then, they were more common than in the states now! The landline phone service is so bad there, folks went to cells quickly. Be prepared to hear them ringing everywhere you go - though I must say when we made a performance at the Rome Opera (it was *fabulous*!), there was nary a phone ringing in the whole place. There they know when to turn them off! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare > Cell phones were ubiquitous (sp?) in Italy, even in 97. Even then, they were > more common than in the states now! The landline phone service is so bad > there, folks went to cells quickly. Be prepared to hear them ringing > everywhere you go - though I must say when we made a performance at the Rome > Opera (it was *fabulous*!), there was nary a phone ringing in the whole > place. There they know when to turn them off! Keep in mind too that not just any cell phone will work abroad. You need at least a tri-band to use it across the pond (as they say). So make sure you have a phone that will work on the European system. Carole I'm sorry to be late in here, work kept me too busy and whipped out, so I never had the energy to read any news during the week. I think you have gotten some good answers to most of your questions but will add a little: British hotels tend to have a water boiler as well as a cup and tea + instant coffee in the room. This is not at all common in France or Italy as far as I 've seen. As someone mentioned, microwaves can sometimes be found in the breakfast area, but not always. One thing I use is a portable immersible beverage heater. I don't know this store at all, but it shows you what I have: http://store.safetycentral.com/porimheat.html I've bought mine here in Norway and find it easy to pack with some instant coffee for my morning coffee. I also travel with a steel mug, that I use both for coffee and water. But I'm sure that you can borrow a cup anywhere, or maybe buy yourself one in the first city as a souvenir? If you are a coffee drinker, you might want to take some instant with your from the USA, since the coffee here quite different, as I think Nann mentioned earlier. South European coffee is always more roasted than the one we have in the North and we all make it much stronger than the regular coffee served in the USA. If you want to take anything electric with you, the following page is very good at telling you what you might need for adapters etc: http://kropla.com/electric.htm I do drink water from the tap all over Europe, but it doesn't always taste good, so you might want bottles for that reason. Also, I can't remember if it has been mentioned, but be aware that room will generally be smaller than you are use to in the USA. Even a pretty good hotel might have tiny rooms compared to much lower level hotels in the USA. Aina the lurker in Norway > Thank you Aina. I do have a few more questions. I've been told the > hotels we will be in are "westernized" not sure what that means. What > is the availability of microwaves in hotels? I like a cup of tea or > coffee and thought otherwise I could take my little electric pot to > heat water. Also how is the water and will bottled water be available > as it is here in the USA? Kate snip > I'm sorry to be late in here, work kept me too busy and whipped out, so I > never had the energy to read any news during the week. I think you have [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > snip Thank you again Aina I ordered the immersion heater thinking it would be lighter and take up less space! Kate > One aid that has helped med travelling is those walking sticks (canes) with > a seat. If I have to stay in line too long, or need a break. I can unfold it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Aina > the lurker in Norway Aina reminds me that lately I've seen (in catalogues and on the web, and in home health products stores) that there are several versions of portable seats, the first one being the kind of thing Aina described. Some of those cane/seats are available on cane websites (just Google canes, walkers, rollators). And would Golf shops/catalogues have those cane/seat combinations? Just be careful that the bottom end has something to keep it (and you) from sinking into the grass! The Rollators are kind of like a walker on 4 wheels (you'd want a 6" or even an 8" diam. wheel for uneven European pavements and cracks between stones or concrete) and the walker contains a seat, so you can pause and sit in your own chair. Most of them have baskets attached to carry... maybe as big as a magazine on the bottom, and varying inches high. I saw some baskets that were wire, and things could slip out, but some baskets were canvas, and a wire basket could always be lined with fabric and a top before the trip. Shop around, there's a lot available. Baskets are either under the seat, and the seat forms a lid, or the basket may project out from under the seat, like a convenience store shopping basket. Most of the Rollators are collapsible, since they need to usually fit in a car, and some of the fabric baskets could fold flat for storage. Hey, You might even have the advantage over your friends - you'd always have a seat, you won't have to stand in lines, stand to wait, walk too far, and you can have a sizable stash basket for medications, a water bottle, ? think extra purse. Also check out the home health sections on Costco.com and samsclub.com, and walmart.com for travel convenience products of many types. I was pleasantly surprised at the variety ... I'm not going anywhere, I just have a THR, then a bunion resection, then a TKR in my immediate future, so I've been a tad preoccupied with how I'm getting around while all this "bodywork" gets done on my chassis!! Well, now I'm stoked for a trip to Italy. Hope you take the trip and have HUGE fun! Ginnie & >^..^< ______________________________ > > One aid that has helped med travelling is those walking sticks (canes) with > > a seat. If I have to stay in line too long, or need a break. I can unfold it [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > Ginnie & >^..^< > ______________________________ Thanks for the advice. I actually found a 3 legged camp stool with a tripod seat. It breaks down into a smallpackage which I think will easily fit into my bag and weighs 26 ounces. I'm having it shipped so haven't got it yet. Hope I can get up off the thing. My friend has agreed to push a wheelchair if it comes down to it. I just know I HAVE to see the Sistine chapel no matter what else I do or do not see. Kate > Thanks for the advice. I actually found a 3 legged camp stool with a > tripod seat. It breaks down into a smallpackage which I think will > easily fit into my bag and weighs 26 ounces. I'm having it shipped so > haven't got it yet. Hope I can get up off the thing. My friend has > agreed to push a wheelchair if it comes down to it. I just know I HAVE > to see the Sistine chapel no matter what else I do or do not see. Kate You should also see St Paul Outside the Wall which houses Michelangelo's Moses. The Pieta is in the Vatican. To see the David you'll have to go up to Florence, but that in itself is a wonderful day trip. The Sistine Chapel is definitely not to be missed. You should contact the Italian Tourist Board. I'm sure they could tell you if wheelchairs are available or electric carts. A number of years ago when I was still living in NYC, they had an exhibition in the McGraw Hill Building that was a copy of the ceiling. The cool thing about it was that they set up long seats so that you could lay down and look up at the ceiling. It was incredible :) Carole |
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