Posts Tagged ‘holiday’
GLBT (Gay) Travel To Cologne Has Lots To Offer
Cologne is often referred to as the ‘gay Mecca’ in Germany. In fact, gay travel to Cologne is going to be really big this year because from 31 July to 7 August, the Gay Games will be held. The city is gearing up for the event which will not only feature sports, but there will be many other festivities such as parades, fairs and cultural events.
Called the ‘gay Mecca’ in Germany, the city of Cologne is gearing up to host the Gay Games 2010 which take place from July 31 to August 7. Therefore gay travel to Cologne will be at its peak this year. The games obviously focus on sport disciplines; however they also include a number of colorful cultural events, fairs, festivals and parades.
With this ethos in mind, competitors do not have to go through a qualification process. Anyone can participate – sexual orientation is irrelevant. Cologne has no sexual discrimination; therefore the 2010 event will feature competitors from all corners of the world, especially from countries that still frown on homosexuality.
With this philosophy in mind, no competitor has to qualify for entry. The event is open to anyone, regardless of sexual preference. Cologne is known for its open-mindedness therefore it is anticipated that the occasion will draw participants from many countries, especially those where homosexuality is still taboo.
Over the years, the Gay Games has been hosted in Sydney, Amsterdam, San Francisco and New York. The 2010 event will feature 34 disciplines which range from wrestling and weight-lifting, field and track events, to volleyball, bowling and chess. Anyone planning a visit at this time should book accommodation early.
Cologne is the oldest city in Germany. It is situated on the banks of the imposing Rhine River. It is always bustling with visitors who want to experience its vibrant, rich culture. The locals are helpful, friendly and jovial. The city has a large number of gay bars, restaurants, and clubs.
There are some exciting events and tourist attractions that cater for gay visitors. These include a hike to castles, a motorcycle tour just for women, and a tour that covers gay history from the 19th Century to 1969. The Rhenish Extravaganza – a famous carnival features a host of attractions, parties, art displays and lectures.
LGBT visitors to Cologne are welcomed with a special Pink WelcomeCard distributed by the Koln Tourismus Service Center. Through the center, you can get free public transport, discounts on river cruises, theater tickets, museum visits, and opera shows. The center also offers discounts for gay clubs, bars, shops and saunas. Gay travel to Cologne is going to be at an all-time high this year.
Lightweight Travel Wheelchairs Are Widely Available To The Mobility Impaired Traveler
Accessible wheelchair travel is becoming a lot less complicated nowadays as the majority of sectors are now fully geared to disabled or mobile impaired people. The use of travel wheelchairs is much greater as there are fewer obstacles put in the way of the disabled traveler.
Disabled people can have all sorts of problems to which today there seems to be a different wheelchair available for whatever problem arises. Disabled people often want to travel alone, a way in which they can keep their independence, and for this reason lightweight travel wheelchairs are a very much desired piece of equipment. Walking long corridors such as from airport check in desks to airplane departure gates can become a massive problem for those unable to walk huge distances, but with the purchase of a wheelchair this problem is easily overcome, and the wheelchair is easily stored on arrival.
Travel wheelchairs typically weigh no more than about 10kgs and therefore are fantastic for the disabled when traveling and they can also be folded to take up minimal amounts of space, for example, inside the boot of a car. They can also be reassembled very quickly by almost anybody.
Something that is even more amazing is that these lightweight wheelchairs can hold the same weight as a conventional wheelchair. For those that do have partial mobility they will often keep a lightweight wheelchair in the boots of their cars just in case they decide they will be unable to manage a trip that they may have planned.
Most forms of transport are now available to disabled travelers. This is due to two facts. Most forms of public transport have specially adapted seats near entrance and exit doors reserved for the disable and elderly and accessible storage for wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are so light that they may easily be stored. Easy access to public transport means that the chair user is much more able to travel to different places without fear of being stranded.
Ultalightweight chairs have recently seen huge advances in technology, the greatest advance being a reduction in weight. One wheelchair on the market today weighs only 6kgs as a result of the framework being made from an aluminium alloy. The wheelchair is still strong enough to take the weight of a 90kgs person. It still has all the standards such as breaks and foot rests that come with more standard models.
All over the world cities, towns, hotels and tourist attractions are assisting wheelchair bound or mobility impaired people. Disabled people are no longer locked into their own homes because they do not have the equipment to travel freely. Lightweight travel wheelchairs have changed so much in recent years that they are now cheaper and much more affordable. Ten years ago no one would ever have dreamed that a wheelchair would weigh only 10kgs.
