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Denmark

Monday the 28^th of June. Denmark welcomed us with fantastic summer weather. We had our first overnight stay in Maribo at the camping site, where Lars was using their new bathroom designed for people using wheelchairs. Bodil, the camping director, promised to make a few ramps as well.

Tuesday the 29^th of June. Still fantastic summer weather. We were interview by John Karlsen a journalist from Folketidende.

To be continued …….

Germany

Wednesday the 23^rd of June. Summer time and living is easy ……… Fantastic weather when we were crossing the Dutch – German border. After 104 km, according to Mats meter, we ended up in Friesoythe. There we watched Germanys 1-0 victory over Ghana.

Thursday the 24^th of June. We have still summer weather here in northeastern Germany. After 100 km we are now in Bremerhaven.

Friday the 25^th of June. Midsommarafton in Sweden today (midsummer night’s dream, you know?) We have done 91 km and crossed the river Elbe. Swimming? No! On a ferry? Yes! Now we are staying in Glückstadt.

Saturday the 26^th of June. Today we passed the 5.000 km line and celebrated as usual with Swedish Kex chocolate. After 84 km on the road we enjoyed Ghanas World Cup victory over USA sitting in our hotel room in Bornhöved.

Sunday the 27^th of June. Fantastic summer weather! After 64 km in a beautiful landscape with small hills, we ended up in Oldenburg in Holstein.

Monday the 28^th of June. The last 40 km in Germany and then we took the ferry from Puttgarden to Rödby in Denmark.

Also Germany became a kind of transfer country. The northwestern part of Germany is accessible with a lot of bicycle and wheelchair paths. They are even better than the Dutch ones. We cannot say anything about inclusion as we did not meet any persons that gave us an insight in the subject.

Netherlands

Saturday the 19^th of June. We got our first flat tyre after 4300 km. Today we fought against the cold wind from north and the rain as well. However we made 85 km and reached Breda in Netherlands. Almost everywhere we could see people celebrating Netherlands 1-0 victory over Japan in the World Cup (in football).

Sunday the 20^th of June. Almost the same weather today, but we got only a few raindrops. We have travelled through a wheelchair and bicycle friendly landscape. Sometimes we were as low as 19 m under the sea level. After 84 km we reached Utrecht.

Monday the 21^st of June. No rain today! Is summer on its way? We did 102 km according to Mats meter today and reached Zwolle late in the evening.

Tuesday the 22^nd of June. Less wind, more sun and no rain, Netherlands is shaping up. It is a bicycle country with a lot of bicycle paths, however some are with bumpy stones. We did 80 km and ended up in Emmen.

As you might be able to read out of the text above, Netherlands became a kind of transfer country. It is an accessible country with a lot of bicycle and wheelchair paths. However a number of them have uneven stones. We cannot say anything about inclusion as we did not meet any persons that gave us an insight in the subject.

Luxembourg

Written by Gaston Back, Bastendorf Luxembourg:

What kind of visit was that? Who came and why? Right, I knew Mats well from our time as international election observers, but Lars Löfström? Yes, I knew he would appear in his wheelchair and yes, I knew he’s Mats’ friend since 33 years, but what weighs more? What triggered my curiosity? Well, it was the simple question: “why traveling with a wheelchair from Casablanca back home to Stockholm, when you could fly?”

To write it in advance: Yes I found an answer to all my questions, even though they were surprisingly straightforward.

I found Mats unchanged, the same guy I’ve met six years ago in Indonesia and with whom I did spent several month in Papua. During that time we un-puzzled each other and I believe there are no secrets to reveal. He told me about his friend Lars, who sits in a wheelchair but has a very active life as sportsman and individual. Right, I thought many have and good for him and that was all I thought. Not my problem anyway! Now six years after that average reflection, there they were, at our meeting in Luxembourg. I saw Mats first, with his funny light blue women’s’ bike, the color matching his favorite football team, Malmö FF! I gave him a hug and wished him welcome and then there was him, Lars! Simply Lars! That wheelchair became invisible at the first sight, a fact that I was told from many people he has met on our tour in Luxembourg. Lars is, and please allow me that sentimental not at all rational reflection, he is just a regular man whit the most positive attitude and an incredible open, friendly face.

We stored away the luggage, a word that includes the wheelchair, and read my words carefully: the wheelchair was the lightest object we’ve had to store. Luckily I have a pickup truck! We drove to our house and had a chat, looked at the landscape and the villages passing by, and it felt like having a drive with longtime friends, who happens to live just around the block.

My family welcomed both and I could see that the same happened to them, it was just about Lars. We’ve had dinner together and stories got told, memories refreshed, batteries reloaded (including ours) and it was an evening dearly remembered. Luxembourg became not only a stop-over and a possibility to explain the inclusion tour and to talk and sensitize, no Anita became the purser and logistic support for the team.

But let me skip the private and well remembered healthy memories and boosts of our all karmas, and report about the inclusion tour in Luxembourg.

We’ve had a first meeting with “Info Handicap”, and association linked to the ministry of family and working since 1993. Their representatives showed a lot of interest, but could not hide their disappointment about the little they were able to achieve. As I am not an expert in the material, I refrain of any judgment, but visits like that and actions like the inclusion tour might relight the fire in their hearts. Fire in the heart of Luciano Fratini, has not to be fanned, one has the impression it needs a fire extinguisher! This man sits in a wheelchair ever since he had a motorbike accident and believe me:  his wheelchair is not becoming invisible – No far from that, he puts it on the table and fires up sirens, and he is right! We need a man like that and I respect him a lot, although my ears are still ringing! Apart of being an activist, he is the chairperson of Lux Rollers, a wheelchair basketball team, a fact that made the day of many of us. But later more about that.

It was an important meeting with Luciano, he not only explained the facts and problems in Luxembourg, made us aware of weak points, Lars could later inspect during his visit in the company of a TV crew, no, more over he had invited to the lunch table a French researcher, who writes on her dissertation about the trauma and its psychological impact on each individual after an accident that results in a life in a wheelchair. Sylvie stayed with Lars and observed his undertakings with the TV crew and often had tears in her eyes. At one point, she turned to Sven, our Sven who studies in the field of medical health care and assisted us during that day , and to me and she said: “ I am so moved when I see that man and his positive aura, may God put a light into everyone’s heart who talks to him!”. Well, Lars cannot walk over the sea, nor can he roll on it, but we understood the impact of the inclusion tour to the people involved.

The TV crew of RTL consisted of Conny Waldbillig and her cameraman. From our point of view, they made a very good job, where active, patient, involved and positive and good fun too. We tested a lot of facilities and barriers in a daily life for wheelchairs, elderly people and parents with baby carriages or simply travelers with luggage. Lars explained that inclusion is about all these groups and that inclusion is rather a philosophical and mental accomplishment and we involved as many citizens as we could. There is still a lot to do in Luxembourg, and there is no way to prettify the facts, little has been done in the last decade to improve the situation. Although Lars is a former world record holder and five times Paralympic gold medal winner among 9 other Paralympic medals, he never has put himself in front of the inclusion tour, but always highlighted the noble cause. However, neither the written press, nor the TV crew could ignore his record and were impressed by his humble and friendly appearance. And it showed as the TV journalist at the end of the long day together with Luciano and all of us joined into a basketball match in the wheelchair. And there it was again, the wheelchair! After all that time and talks, the wheelchair reappeared in our minds. Well, we were sitting in it and played basketball. What can I say, it was just a basketball match, it was good fun and we all enjoyed it. Hey Lars, I said at one point, life is not over when you sit in it! He just grinned, because he knows!

The Inclusion Tour 2010 has had its impact to Luxembourg and its population. There was interest, there was a presence and, God knows, maybe Sylvie has a point?

Mats asked me to write an essay about their visit, I accepted, not at least to reconsider my thoughts and to reflect on their visit.

What kind of visit was that? Who came and why? Well Mats and Lars came, they stayed with us and we’ve had a good time! It is as simple as that!

Paris

Monday the 31^st of May. Paris here we are! Both of us are happy to be here, however a bit marked by the effect from that we have been on the road for 16 days with only 1 day of rest. It was much easier to bike into the centre of Paris than into the centre of Madrid. We went directly to the Swedish Embassy that has helped us with preparations for an inclusion seminar, as well as our first night of stay. The Swedish Embassy in Paris is by far the most accessible we have been to. We did our laundry and bought some food that we ate in our room.

Tuesday the 1^st of June. Today we have been interviewed and filmed by a TV crew for both France2 and TV5. Lars wheelchair has got a “4 year” service. We have moved from the south side to the north side of river Seine. Now we are staying at the Swedish Church and in their congregation hall.

Wednesday the 2^nd of June. We strolled around in Paris. Among other places, we visited Napoleon and Hotel des Invalides. Lovely evening in Paris and we enjoyed a nice barbecue at the Swedish Church. Summer is here.

Thursday the 3^rd of June. We participated in an interesting inclusion seminar at the Swedish Embassy. The seminar was opened by the Ambassador Gunnar Lund. Among the participants were staffs from the Swedish Embassy and “Association des Paralysés de France (APF). TV, radio, blog and print media were present as well. In the evening we were invited to a nice dinner in our friend Magnus home.

Accessibility and inclusion: According to APF accessibility list (Le barométre APF de l´accessibilité), Paris is on 39^th place. The top three French cities are Nantes, Evry and Lyon.

Auxerre-Joigny-Sens

Thursday the 27^th of May. Just by chance, in Auxerre, Lars met Marc an old friend and competitor. They played wheel chair basket in their respective national teams. It was really great to see their faces when they recognized each other. Lovely smiles! Marc invited us to his home and we stayed overnight. He told us that sport gave him both the physical and mental strength to start something new. Now he is a bee keeper and has more than 300 bee hives. He contributes to the society and the local environment. Marc made some phone calls and arranged that we became the “picture of the day” in the local newspaper. He also prepared meetings for us in both Joigny and Sens. 

Friday the 28^th of May. In Joigny a journalists from “Yonne Republicaine” interviewed us. We had a good meeting in Joigny with the Mayor and staff. Two year ago, after 35 years in opposition, they gained the political power in Joigny Municipality. They formed an accessibility plan with the cooperation by persons with various disabilities. Now they and are on the right way in implementation of that plan (that is called PAVE). Overnight we stayed with Miren and Francois. They are both engaged in society working for accessibility and inclusion. 

Saturday the 29^th of May. We had a good Inclusion meeting with three women with power in the Municipality of Sens. Two of them are Deputy Mayors. We have a feeling that these 3 Municipalities will enhance their cooperation for a more accessible and inclusive society.

France-Suisse-France

Sunday the 16^th of May. We just thought we were going approximately 30 km, but we could not find any hotels that were open. Off season Sundays are not any good days for hotel searching. After 67 km we finally found one that was open. The highlight of the day happened in a small village named Saint Victor de Cessieu, where we were invited for coffee and 3 different cakes. When leaving the garden fair, we were given both a local cheese and a local jam. These goodies, we have enjoyed on our pick-nicks.

Monday the 17^th of May. Today Peter Reinebo joined us on our tour. We met him at the railway station in Sessey, a nice town along the river Rhône. At the hotel, Lars stayed in a newly renovated room for wheelchair users. He got a huge bed and a big accessible bathroom, but it was impossible to turn around the wheelchair in the room. Well, they succeeded to get 2 things out of 3 spot on. For dinner we ate cuscus in a Moroccan Pizzeria.

Tuesday the 18^th of May. Lars 55^th birthday was celebrated in various ways. We finished our first 3000 km in France close to the Suisse border. There we shared a bottle of sparkling wine. In Geneva there were no hotel rooms available, due to a big WHO conference. While we were celebrating Lars birthday with cheese fondue and wine, people at the restaurant were kindly calling hotels. They found a room for us in France. We reached our hotel just after midnight.

Wednesday the 19^th of May. Back to Geneva, where Ingrid who is working for UNOCHA briefed and guided us around in the main UN building. Thank you very much and it was very nice to meet you again! After the UN visit we went back to France, where we stayed in an old hotel with an atmosphere in Gex. We had hoped that the UN buildings were more accessible for wheelchair users. Better information on where the elevators are situated is needed. Many curbs had no ramps.

Thursday the 20^th of May. Today we climbed the Jura Mountains. In total, we made 21 km and passed through a passage at 1323 metres altitude. It was a wonderful view to see Mont Blanc, the valley and the Geneva Lake. Tonight we are staying in Mijoux at 1000 metres altitude.

Friday the 21^st of May. Swedish Television, TV1, made an interview with Lars for an update of “The Inclusion Tour 2010”. Today only plus 4 degrees in the morning, but no rain at all and nice sunshine instead.

Saturday the 22^nd of May. Beautiful scenery in the mountains, where we are back to early spring with several nuances of light green. Pick-nick, just before Lons le Saunier. No hotel rooms available in Lons le Saunier, as everybody that not got married on Peace Day, got married this weekend. We were saved by Madam Jardin, who let us sleep in her living room. Thank you very much for your hospitality!

Sunday the 23^rd of May. Farewell breakfast with Peter, who went back to Sweden today. Thank you Peter, it was great having you with us for a week. After 84 km we ended up in Beaune in Bourgogne. Fantastic weather today, we had pick-nick lunch and outdoor dinner.

Monday the 24^th of May. Our laundry day and a day of rest in Beaune. Unfortunately, this tourist town has many shops with one or more steps that exclude people with wheelchairs.

3000 km

Still in France, but close to the Suisse border, we reached 3000 km and that means we are half way to Stockholm.

Here you can find a brief summary of our findings so far:

The most accessible cities we have visited are Sevilla and Barcelona. In these two cities you can find public transportations, sidewalks and zebra crossings, municipality buildings, shops, restaurants and cafés that are accessible.

Among others with Inclusion thinking, we have met Antonio Centeno working for Independent Living in Barcelona and Elisabeth Heilmeyer who is the first person with a physical disability who has a flight certificate for gliding planes in Spain. She also achieved an amendment in the law so other persons with a physical disability can take a flight certificate for gliding planes.

The best quote so far comes from Francisco Vaño Ferre who is the first person in a wheelchair in the Spanish Parliament. He said “Get the wheelchair out of your head and put it under your lower back.”

Culin, Pérouges, Lyon and Vienne

• Thursday the 13^th of May. Now we will stay in Rudi´s house in Culin until Sunday the 16^th, if he does not throw us out before that. Rudi and Lars have been competing in wheelchair sports for years. And we believe that many stories will be told. Rudi and Marie took us to Lyon airport where we picked up Lars wife Susanne. We were all taken to the medieval town Pérouges. It´s a beautiful town, but not accessible due to cobble stones and that it´s situated on a hill top. In the evening we admired the view of Lyon and had a walk in the old town. Lyon is a fairly accessible city, but the old town is tricky for wheelchairs. We were also invited to a delightful meal in a medieval restaurant. Many good stories were told, mainly by Rudi.

Friday the 14^th of May. Had a walk in Culin and did some planning. Nice atmosphere and food served by Rudi and Marie.

Saturday the 15^th of May. Still raining, but we visited the ancient town Vienne from Roman time. We saw the Roman Theatre built for 11.000 spectators, the Forum and the pyramid. Vienna is not so accessible, but you can always find some restaurants that have their entrance in level with the pavement.

Sunday the 16^th of May. Now we are aiming for Genéve.