Natalie’s Travelogues - Destination Scotland
In my travelogue series, today, I write about my experience in Scotland, another delightful destination that speaks so lovingly to the wanderer in me.
The Journey Over
The River Ness
Let me start with the stellar service onboard my KLM flight. KLM, I'm giving you a solid 10 out of 10. As someone who is visually impaired, I'm always quietly bracing for the gaps, the awkward moments where accessibility is an afterthought. Not here. They handed me a braille information sheet before we'd even taken off, and throughout the flight, crew checked in on me and smoothed out every transfer. It set the tone for the whole trip.
Landing and heading straight into the thick of things, I made my way to the Radical Book Festival, very much my kind of literary scene. When I went to pay for an event, the person at the till noticed I was visually impaired and, without any fuss, offered to escort me to a reserved front row seat. Just like that. No performance, no pity: just quiet, practical kindness. I settled in feeling genuinely looked after.
One of my favorite realizations on this trip is how much more comfortable I'm becoming with my adaptive devices the more I travel. Today I had my magnifier out constantly: browsing festival books, squinting at menus, making myself at home in the world in my own way.
The Joy of Solo Travel
Solo travel is essentially a daily dare. I walked to the train station on one day, not because I needed to go anywhere, but just to know where it was. And another day, when I was at the Inverness train station, I worked the ticketing machine entirely by myself. Now, I know how that might sound to someone reading this. Small, maybe? It is not small. It is enormous. It's the kind of win I tuck into my pocket and carry around all day.
I did end up approaching the information booth, a little puzzled about why the machine had spat out four separate tickets. The fellows there were friendly and sorted me out cheerfully. No drama, just good people doing their jobs well.
Navigation-wise, Apple Maps has become my faithful companion as I wander the earth. Between that and my growing confidence asking strangers for directions, I'm managing beautifully. Solo travel has this wonderful way of making bravery non-negotiable. You ask. You figure it out. You are occasionally, gloriously lost. And that's fine too.
My Travel Philosophy
On a train ride to Inverness
Something that's moved me unexpectedly: I keep seeing people with disabilities out and about everywhere here. On the streets, in shops, at events. Far more visibly than I ever noticed in Paris, for instance. It makes the city feel genuinely inclusive rather than just theoretically so. And I feel completely safe, which, as a solo traveler, is everything.
A little philosophy I'm traveling with this year: I will always use as much of my vision as I possibly can. It keeps me independent, keeps me present, keeps me me. But equally important is accepting help graciously when it's offered. It is its own kind of gift. To yourself, and to the person offering it. Especially in airports, where everyone is just trying to get somewhere, and a little kindness goes a long way.
Scotland, so far, gets it. And so, increasingly, do I.
