After a few days in London I was all set for three days in Brussels (see X-it Wounds Category). This time I would be traveling alone – my first trip alone, with just my White Cane and the kindness of strangers to assist me.

EuroStar:
I was booked on the 15:04 train out of St Pancras. No problem I thought, I knew the station was just across the road from Kings Cross (where I had seen Susan off, as she was going back up to Edinburgh). As soon as I engaged with the check-in process I was put into some seats set aside for folks requiring assistance. I pleaded my case for independence and was allowed to go through security under my own steam.

People are at their most stressed in these security systems (phones, keys and everything else, including any belts with metal buckles, need to be abandoned) . It’s all very confusing if you are slow and can’t tell where everything is – ‘Over here’, ‘Stand there’ instructions just don’t work if you can’t see where the person is pointing. Eventually, a staff member took my arm, whisked me through passport control and took me to the area in the departure lounge set aside for people that need assistance. Sometimes it’s very difficult to maintain independence, and once you hand over control to someone else you lose any chance of taking things at your own pace. Obviously, this will depend on your degree of difficulty. I imagine many people are very grateful for assistance, and having staff on hand that can help when required is great. But I like to go at my own pace, where I can learn the lay-out of a space and make my own decisions. I’m still learning about this scary new world, where everything is designed for the visually able and disabilities are a problem to be contained and managed.

When my train was called I found the Gate the staff had told me the train would depart from (using my monocular for the first time) and joined the crowd. I was asked to go to the lift for disabled access but stuck it out with the crowds. Getting up to the trains is fairly straightforward – follow the crowd – but once on the platform it gets a bit tricky as it’s every man and woman for themselves. I had set out in the wrong direction but a woman seeing my confusion insisted in guiding me to my carriage. I would have been okay but, in fairness, I probably looked totally helpless. Once in my seat it was lovely and relaxing and a most enjoyable journey.

I have to compliment the St Pancras EuroStar terminal. It is quite well laid out (good lighting, smooth surfaces) and the staff (plenty of them) were all very helpful. I think I might start to award marks out of 10 for each event center – this one gets a 7 from me (I will refine this rating system as I learn).

Brussels:
On arrival in Brussels Midi I felt like everything would be fine. However, I soon realized how challenging this trip was going to be …

I will save that story for the next Post – EuroStar & Brussels part 2.

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