Living the Could Life

Robert and Theresa
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Life becomes different for those who experience later-in-life challenges. Living The Could LIfe offers tips adjusting your life so that you can still travel and do all the things that you love. No toxic positivity here, just lived experiences from hosts and guests.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Alaska Cruising With The Boat Company

    In this episode we share details about a recent cruise to Alaska. The Boat Company is a non-profit cruise line that has been plying the waters in SE Alaska for decades. Is this cruise line appropriate for those of us with body disruptions? Listen to find out. Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript Theresa: Some places don't need to be sold, they just need to be shown. Southeast Alaska is one of those places. It's a world of mist, mountains, and water that feels untouched, almost ancient. Robert: And tucked inside that world is the Boat Company, a small non-profit that's been quietly, steadily protecting this landscape for more than 40 years. They don't advertise loudly, they don't chase trends, they simply invite people into a place they love and use travel to help save it. Theresa: Today, we're talking about small ship cruising in Alaska with the Boat Company. Unlike other cruise lines you've heard of, they operate two small vessels, the Leesorone and the Mist Cove, each carrying just 20 to 24 guests. We sailed on Mist Cove. It's intimate, personal, and deeply connected to the land and water around it. Robert: And their mission centers on one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth, the Tongass National Forest. Theresa: And because so many travelers don't realize what the Tongass actually is, and some have never really heard about it, we want to pause here and give it the space it deserves. Welcome to Living the Good Life. I'm Theresa. Robert: And I'm your co-host, Robert. So let's get into it. The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States. Nearly 17 million acres of islands, fjords, mountains, glaciers, and old-growth rainforest. It covers almost 80% of southeast Alaska and forms the U.S. portion of the largest temperate rainforest left on Earth. Theresa: Like Alaska, this is a giant forest. Almost everything in Alaska is much bigger than you expect, or at least it was far bigger than I ever expected. This is the forest of giants like the ancient Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, and Cedar. They have stood for hundreds, sometimes more than a thousand years. It's the old-growth forest at its best. These trees rise like pillars in a green cathedral, draped in moss and rooted in tongue. Robert: Beneath those trees runs water. Cold, clear, life-giving water. 19,000 miles of salmon streams braid through the Tongass. All five species of Pacific salmon spawn here, feeding bears, eagles, wolves, communities, and entire regional economies. Theresa: You can't go to Alaska without trying salmon. Wildlife thrives here in ways that feel almost mythical. Brown and black bears, the rare Alexander Archipelago wolf, Sitka black-tailed deer, and more than 350 species of birds. Offshore, humpbacks and orcas move through nutrient-rich waters tied directly to the forest's tail. Robert: The Tongass is also a global climate powerhouse. It stores more carbon per acre than nearly any forest on Earth. About 20% of all carbon in the entire U.S. national forest system. Protecting it is one of the most effective climate actions available. Theresa: And that is one of the missions of the Boat Company to protect the Tongass. It's also the traditional homeland of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples, whose cultures, food systems, and identities are deeply rooted in this land. Robert: But the Tongass is not invulnerable. Its greatest threat has always been industrial logging, especially old-growth logging. These ancient trees take centuries to grow and seconds to fall. Once they're gone, the ecosystem doesn't simply bounce back. Theresa: And this is where the roadless rule becomes critical. The roadless rule protects more than 9 million acres of the Tongass from new road building and large-scale industrial development. When the rule is in place, these areas remain intact, but many hope for it to be lifted. Those areas then become open to old-growth timber harvest, mining exploration and development, road construction that fragments habitat and damages salmon streams. Robert: Roads may sound harmless, but in the Tongass, they are the first cut. They open remote islands to logging. They increase erosion into salmon streams. They fracture wildlife habitat. And they create long-term ecological scars that take generations to heal. Theresa: Climate change adds another layer of pressure to the Tongass. Warming rivers, shifting precipitation patterns, and stressing of salmon populations. The Tongass is resilient. But even a huge rainforest has its limits. Robert: This is why the Boat Company exists. Not just to show people the Tongass, but to help protect it. To fund research, restoration, and long-term stewardship of one of the last intact temperate rainforests on Earth. Theresa: Sailing with the Boat Company did show us what a fragile environment the Tongass is. Even though it's strong, it does have its very gentle side. It's almost sad to hear about some of the projects planned for the area. Definitely see it now before it turns into who knows what. The Lissarone and Miskol, they aren't cruise ships. They're more like floating yachts. They have warm wood, soft light, quiet corners, and an attentive crew that knows your name and preferences by the second day. Robert: With only a couple dozen guests, everything feels personal. You're not a passenger, you're part of a small community moving through this vast wilderness. Theresa: And let's talk about the daily experience on board. The days unfold gently. There are skiff rides into quiet coves, hikes through old-growth forests, kayaking on the glassy water, watching waves surface in the distance, or seeing glacier scathe. Robert: The plan is usually that there's one activity in the morning and another in the afternoon, but that itinerary flexes with wildlife and weather. If whales appear, you stop. If bears are feeding, you linger. If the water is perfect for kayaking, they launch the kayaks. Theresa: The meals on board are thoughtful and unhurried, fresh seafood, local ingredients, and stories shared around the table. At the table, the meals are served family style, which was a different experience for us. I haven't decided if I preferred that type of dining. There's no menu. The meals are written on a whiteboard in the dining area. Everybody sits at one huge table, and it's a time to talk about the day or to recap what's happened during the day. Robert: Now, if you have dietary restrictions or preferences, for instance, if you're a vegan, if you need to avoid seafood, if you have other preferences, they try very hard to accommodate those. Theresa: They were very good at doing that, very willing to make something. If you didn't like one of the side dishes or a certain dessert or the main course, the chef would come up with something just for you. Robert: There's always a moment, usually around day 3, when you realize you've slowed down. You're breathing differently. You're noticing things again. Theresa: Wow, like that fresh, crisp air, the way the clouds curl around a mountain, the way a salmon stream sounds up close, and the way silence can feel full, not empty. Robert: And that's the magic of the boat company. It's not just a trip, it's a recalibration, a reminder of what untouched nature feels like. Theresa: Now let's talk a little about the accessibility for body-diverse travelers. First, this is a small, yacht-like ship. There are thresholds. There are stairs to get into the skiffs and into the kayaks. Always the staff is there to assist, but it can still be a little bit scary, at least for me. It did take extra caution to get into both the skiffs and the kayaks. Actually, the kayaks were far more difficult to get out of than to get into. And it did work for me, and that is also with limitations. There were areas that were extremely difficult to access. Our cabin was on the main deck, and I recommend if you have any mobility issues, that is the best deck, because there are steep stairs to the second and third deck. The main deck is where all of the action is. If you can navigate the threshold out of your stateroom into the lounge and dining room, which also has threshold, you will do fairly well, as long as you are able to lift your legs up and over. I would not recommend this cruise for anybody in a wheelchair. Now, a folding walker might work for you. The showers are walk-in, so if you do that with a walker, that's a possibility. You do not have to go on any of the excursions. Several people spent the day in the lounge or looking at the wilderness, the sea, people fishing, just from the comfort of the boat. Nothing is mandatory. Robert: The crew were very willing to adjust and adapt any activities to make sure that you had a very pleasant experience. Theresa: And in my case, I had several adaptations. One day I wanted to go fishing, but I guess I thought I'd have to stand up in one of the skiffs and didn't think that was for me and wasn't sure that I had the fortitude, I guess, to spend three hours fishing. I'm too much of an instant gratification person. And that is one very interesting thing about the boat company. Fishing is an option, and it was maybe one of the most popular options. Whenever it was available, I think a majority of the passengers signed up to fish. Some even caught fish and shipped it home. Some fish the chef used. And people just loved the fishing. They caught different types of fish. Halibut was the one to catch. Then there was rockfish. Robert: There were opportunities to do both saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing. That you could take a skiff,

    23 min

  2. May 26

    Choosing Accessible Accommodations

    In this episode we share details about choosing accommodations for people with disabilities. You may be surprised to know that ADA only requests that lodging institutions meet minimal standards to comply. Comfort and ADA may be two totally different things. Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript : Theresa: I once checked into an ADA compliant hotel room and it was not what I expected. The shower chair was in the closet, the bed was too high, and the rolling shower had a three inch lip. Robert: And that's when you know this trip just got complicated. Theresa: Today we're talking about accessible lodging, what ADA compliance really means, why it can be misleading, and how to choose a place that actually works for your needs. Robert: And we're also talking about something that gets overlooked way too often, comfort and support for caregivers. Theresa: Welcome back to Living the Could Life. Robert: I'm Theresa Robert: and I'm your co-host Robert. Let's get into it. Robert: We've all seen the blue and green sign from the highway. Holiday Inn Express is the king of the consistent stay. But if you're a traveler with a disability, is consistent always a good thing? Theresa: To some, it's a lifesaver. To others, it's a minefield of almost accessible features. Today we're breaking down what it's really like to navigate mid-scale chain hotels, the psychology of why we pick them, and the red flag phrases that should make you run for the hills. Robert: I used to think these hotels were so bland. It's like they copy-pasted the room across 2,000 locations. Everything is always in the same exact spot. Isn't that boring? Theresa: Well, to you, and formerly to me, it was bland. But then, it's a map I have already memorized. When I roll into a Holiday Inn Express, I don't have to solve the puzzle of the room. I already know the bathroom's here. The bed height's predictable. And I can reach the light switch from the bed. Robert: So the lack of surprise is actually the luxury? Theresa: Exactly. In my world, and for many others with body disruptions, a surprise is usually a barrier. That boring layout reduces my cognitive load. I'll take predictable over pretty every day of the week. Robert: Let's talk about the booking process. I called a hotel last week for a friend and asked about the roll-in shower. And the guy at the desk said, it's pretty accessible. What does pretty accessible even mean? Theresa: In hotel speak, that means the door is wide, but good luck getting to the sink. It's a huge red flag. If they use adjectives like pretty, mostly, should be fine, or I think so, it means they haven't had real accessibility. A real accessibility audit. Robert: So if I hear it should be fine, I should probably keep looking? Theresa: I think I would run or ask them to specifically go look at the room. Sometimes even when we check in, they can't tell you. Or at least get a manager on the phone. You might, you want to hear nouns and numbers. The bed's 22 inches high. The shower has a built-in bench. That's the language of a safe stay. Robert: So I'm at the my luggage. Isn't that just standard business? Theresa: Well, we just ran into this recently. And for me, or for others who have a chair with battery life, you have a waiting limit and you can't always control when your flight arrives. You might need to access medical supplies. You can't just dig through those in a crowded lobby. Or what if you have to change something like a colostomy bag or take medications? When a hotel charges you to access a room that you need for your health, they're not just charging for time, they're charging for your disability. Robert: That feels like a disability surcharge. How do you fight that? Theresa: Well, join the loyalty programs. Often basic status even gets you a guaranteed late checkout or a waived early fee. It also lets you put a permanent note in your profile like requires first floor. So the desk sees it before you even arrive. Robert: You can't talk about Holiday Inn Express without the free breakfast. Theresa: Um, it's usually pretty good, but sometimes it could be a challenge. Some of the pancake machines and cereal dispensers are designed for standing adults. They're way too high for a seated guest. Robert: What's the move there? Just skip the pancakes? Theresa: Ah, never skip the pancakes. There's no problem with asking for help. You could ask for a reasonable modification. A staff member can get your cereal and bring tray to a lower table. A good hotel knows that hospitality does not stop at the bedroom door. Robert: What if they're sold out and the accessible room they gave me is actually a disaster? Theresa: This is where the ADA walk comes in. If a hotel cannot provide the disability specific room you booked, it's their responsibility to find you a room at a nearby hotel that is accessible, pay for the ride there, and cover any price difference. Robert: So, you aren't being a difficult guest by demanding what you booked? Theresa: No, not at all. You're asking for the room you paid for. Accessibility isn't a special feature. It's the foundation of the say. It's the foundation of the stay. And, one tip is to, before you even check in, reconfirm your reservation. Be sure that they do have an accessible room for you. So, now let's talk about a big myth. ADA compliance equals accessibility. Robert: Spoiler, it doesn't. ADA compliance is the minimum a hotel has to do, not the comfort level you actually need. Theresa: Exactly. ADA requires things like wider doorways, grab bars, a rolling shower, or tub with a seat, visual alarms, and lowered peep holes. Robert: But, ADA doesn't guarantee the things that actually matter in real life. Theresa: Like a functioning shower chair. You don't need one that's wobbly. Robert: Or, a bed that isn't 30 inches high. Theresa: Or, a shower without a lip that you have to step over. Robert: Or, enough space to turn a wheelchair. Theresa: Or, a thermostat you can reach. Robert: Or, a room that isn't a mile from the elevator. Theresa: So, when a hotel says ADA compliant, what they really mean is, we checked the boxes. Now, we made this comfortable or functional. Robert: Let's talk about what's actually available. Because, accessibility isn't one size fits all. Theresa: Right. Different disabilities need different things. Let's break it down. For mobility, you want to ask about the actual shower setup. Not just whether it's roll-in. Robert: Because, a roll-in shower with a three-inch lip is not a roll-in. Theresa: And, who would really say it's accessible? Also, be sure that it has bars to hang on to. Maybe a shower mat so you don't slip. You also want to know the bed height, the space around the bed, and whether the shower chair is attached or portable. Robert: For sensory needs, quiet rooms matter. Away from elevators, ice machines, and HVAC. Theresa: And, lighting. Dimmable lights, blackout curtains, and no flickering bulbs. For people with neurodiversity, predictable layouts are huge. Robert: Yes, chains are great for this. We'll talk about that later. For chronic illness, refrigerators for medication, temperature control, and easy access to exits. Theresa: And, seating in the hallways or the lobby. People often forget how important that is. As far as service animals, there should be relief areas, staff training, and no additional pet fees. Robert: And, space for the animal to rest comfortably. Okay, let's talk about the caregivers. Because, they're often invisible in these conversations. Theresa: Caregivers need comfort, too. They need rest, privacy, and a layout that doesn't put them at risk. Robert: A separate sleeping space, even a partial divider, can make a huge difference. Theresa: And, bathrooms matter for caregivers, too. They need space to assist. Robert: Lower beds help caregivers avoid back strain. Theresa: And, rooms close to the elevator help everyone. Especially, caregivers carrying equipment or supplies. Robert: Caregivers deserve dignity and support. Caregivers deserve dignity and comfort. They're part of the accessibility equation. Theresa: So, why are chain hotels like the Holiday Inn Express lifesavers? Here's something people don't expect. Chain hotels can be a fantastic choice. Robert: Predictability is accessibility. Theresa: Chains use standardized designs. Robert: So, once you learn one layout, you can navigate others easily. Theresa: The bed height's consistent. Robert: Bathroom layout is consistent. Theresa: Furniture spacing is consistent. Robert: And, staff training tends to be better. Theresa: Predictability reduces stress for disabled travelers and caregivers. Robert: Let's talk about red flags. Theresa: So, one story we heard is that Ray Charles really enjoyed staying at the Holiday Inn. And, this was a long time ago. I don't think Holiday Inn Express even existed. And, Holiday Inn was one of the first hotel chains that focused on identical layouts and rooms so that people knew exactly what to expect when they booked a room there. For somebody, especially like me, with visual impairment. And, I guess, Ray Charles felt the same, too. Once you're in that room, you know where the bathroom is, where the bed is, where the light switch is, and everything about the room. So, you feel instantly comfortable there. You're not stressing about how to navigate or if you find something or hurt yourself. So, that is a real bonus. Robert: So, let's talk about hidden problems no one warns you about. The red flags. Theresa: Uh, like rolling showers with surprised lips. Robert: Shower ch

    18 min

  3. May 19

    Living the Could Life First Season Recap

    About this Episode: This episode recaps our first season of episodes. We made it! We will continue sharing information on adjusting to later-in-life changes with an emphasis on continuing to travel after such body disruptions. We have several free downloades of helpful information in the previous episodes and have recently published a full workbook to help you change your habits so that you can successfully adapt to the body that you have today. You will find that helpful resourse - LIving the Could Life: A 70-day Workbook for living Well After Body Disruptions Transcript Click Here for Transcript Theresa: Welcome to Living the Good Life. I'm Theresa. Robert: And I'm Robert. We recently broadcast our 10th episode and are celebrating that milestone this week. Theresa: We created Living the Good Life for those who suddenly found that their body's performance doesn't sync with their mental attitude. In fact, you've come to the right place, and if you've been listening to us since the beginning, thank you so much. Navigating disability, chronic illness, aging, or any kind of life change was not in your plans? Please join us. Robert: In our past episodes, we have talked about the two meanings of could, 70 days to change, and also about how to cruise in Alaska and the Great Lakes. Theresa: We've also added several complimentary downloads to help guide you through your personal journey while dealing with later in life body disruptions. Robert: In addition to all this, we have created a full workbook, Living the Good Life, a 70-day workbook for living well after body disruption, which you will find for sale on amazon.com. Theresa: We'll add that link to the show notes. We will be back next week for the start of our second season. Please join us to learn about accommodations, cruising on an expedition cruise in Alaska with the nonprofit cruise operator, The Boat Company. There is a lot more coming in our second season. See you next week. Thanks for listening to Living the Good Life. (Transcribed by TurboScribe. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Show Notes Music Music Credits (click to expand) Carpe Diem — Kevin MacLeod Licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://incompetech.com Ascending the Vale — Kevin MacLeod Licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://incompetech.com Bloom — Pixabay Music Licensed under Pixabay Content License https://pixabay.com/music/

    3 min

  4. May 12

    Cruising the Great Lakes with Victory I

    Part 2 - The Ship In this episode we share details about the ship itself. How does it work for those with disabilities? What is a typical daily schedule? Which features keep guests returning? Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript Robert: Welcome to Living the Could Life. I'm Robert and we recently returned from a Great Lakes cruise leaving out of Toronto and ending up in Chicago. Theresa: And I'm Theresa. We sailed on Victory One. It's the first cruise of the Great Lakes for the season, so that's very exciting and we're happy to be on board. Robert: We're going to talk about the airport, the hotel, the ship, and we've discussed the itinerary already and we're going to concentrate mostly on accessibility and what it was like to move around on the ship and the rooms, the restaurants. Theresa: And that's correct. If you go and look at a previous, actually one we talked about the Great Lakes in general and there is a part one of this podcast where we mostly talked about the ports on the cruise. So we are going to start from the beginning and that includes, We left home for a short drive of about an hour to the Manistee airport and we took a flight. Robert: I believe it was 21 minutes over to Chicago and then in Chicago we picked up a flight going to Toronto. Theresa: And we arrived in Toronto and going through immigration was fairly quick and easy, but getting, well, getting an Uber was also easy. Getting to our hotel, the Westin Harbor Castle in downtown right near the islands right in the center of town, took a bit of time because a lot of the roads had been closed. The main quick arteries. Robert: The Gardner expressway. Theresa: Like the Gardner. So we had to take just, I guess I'll say not such quick streets. So it took us maybe over an hour. Robert: In what should have been probably a 20 minute drive, I think. Theresa: And then our Uber driver was not so sure of where the hotel was and you can't blame him because we got there and the entrance isn't really that easy to see. He stopped down the street, but you actually have to turn down the next block and there's a parking garage which you go through and up two levels to get to the main entrance of the hotel. Robert: So you can drive the winding driveway up to the main entrance or from the street level you can take two flights of stairs up and then there is around the corner, if you're facing the hotel on the right side, there is an accessible entrance. It's usually activated with a key card, but if you're just coming to the hotel for the first time you can hit the intercom and they will open the door for you. And then from there it's just a short walk to the elevator and you can go up two levels to the main lobby. Theresa: However, I think when you have your luggage and it's unfamiliar to you, just get dropped off right at that main entrance because you're very close to the check-in and Victory, I almost said Viking, right? Victory does have like a hospitality desk so you can go and check in there. They will give you instructions as to where to meet the bus the next morning. And what is nice is that Victory is smart. I think they know about all the delays in travel and they maybe don't want to wait for people who have been delayed. So the first day of your cruise, and which is included in the fare, is a hotel stay. So that's really nice. And on that day, well, the next day they have options of a short excursion. So I know a lot of people took one that gave them a tour of Toronto. We've been there many times so we did some things on our own. You can listen and hear all about that in the previous podcast. And they told us what time to check in for boarding because you cannot walk to the port. You need to take a bus. So they had several buses arranged and we all had a scheduled time to meet in the lobby to catch the bus and go to where the Victory One was docked. Robert: And I think there were about 150 passengers this time. The bus held like 40 something. And so they had to make several trips to get everybody from the hotel to the dock. Theresa: And we did leave our luggage out so we weren't encumbered with having to take luggage into the bus unless you were like us. We did keep a few things out because we don't want to pack our computers or meds or anything like that under the bus. But all of the luggage was transported by bus. Robert: And delivered to our room, to our cabin. Theresa: It delivered to our cabin. When we got there I think we were on a 330 bus which in a way was an awkward time. Well we had done things earlier in the day so we didn't really have time for lunch. And when we boarded the ship they did have some light snacks and drinks for us. So let's give you a tour of the ship. And one is always a good place to start. So deck one is where the coastal dining room is. And that's the main dining room. There actually is another area. The kitchen's down there or the galley I should say. The one thing we found interesting is although it's the main dining room there are no public restrooms on that floor. Toward the bow of the ship there are some state rooms and a medical center. Robert: Deck one is also where you may board the ship. The gangway was usually coming out of either deck one or deck two. Theresa: Right. It depended on the height of the lake. And what was really nice about dining on the ship is the they had the always available items like lots of ships do. And you could have dinner from 6 30 to 8. There's no assigned seating. You can just go at your leisure. Most of the tables seat four or more people. There's a couple two toppers. Robert: And there's some eight toppers. Theresa: And there are eight toppers. So it's a good way to meet new people. And we usually sat with different people every night except when we didn't feel like it. You know if we didn't feel up to socializing we could find one of the two toppers. Or if we went later we could do that. Robert: And a full breakfast is served there. Lunch is served there. And dinner is served every day. And for dinner it was very interesting. I've not really experienced this before but as you walk in the entrance is sort of a long hallway. And on the right there's a countertop like a kitchen counter that they display everything that's going to be available on the menu. And it's the real food that has actually been cooked and prepared and presented there. And it was interesting because sometimes it would get a little congested getting into the dining room because people would gather and they'd start looking at the different dishes. And so the seating was maybe a little tight. It was it was different. And you know it is a small ship. There are lots of people. So the chairs are pretty close together. And they're larger upholstered chairs. So they're very comfortable. Theresa: Right. And it's a very elegant dining room with white table cloths and white napkins and set up with two wine glasses and water. It was a very pleasant place. And all surrounded by windows so you could enjoy the scenery while you were eating. And since we are talking about that main dining room we can go into a little bit about the food. Robert: Yeah. We had different meals every day. The they had as Teresa mentioned there were certain options that were available every day. They usually had three of those options. It was like a filet, a salmon, and maybe a chicken dish. And then they usually had I think it was probably four other entrees that were that would change every day. And the sides were also included in the entree. But you could also get additional vegetables or a twice baked potato as your side. Theresa: And it was really a four course meal. You start it with appetizers. Sometimes the chef's out in a mousse bouche. And besides the appetizers the next thing was soups and salads. And Robert really likes a real Caesar salad which they had. I think he should just ask for a bowl full of anchovies. I still let him sit at the same table. Robert: It was a real treat for me. Theresa: It was a real treat for him as was having fish every night because we don't eat that much at home. One thing I really really liked is the food was always hot. So if you got soup it wasn't cool. It wasn't lukewarm. It was hot as it should be. And every meal that I had was hot. It sounds like a little thing but it was very important. Robert: They always had a red wine and a white wine that they offered. They circulated constantly with that. You could also order other drinks. I usually had iced tea with my dinners. Other people ordered different things from the bar. We did not have a bad meal on the ship. Every meal was good and I would have certainly repeated any of them. Theresa: Yes they were very good. Well prepared. And like Robert said we tried to think was there anything we really didn't like and the answer to that was no. So I definitely give their food good reviews. The service was good. I think there were some newer people though but being the first cruise on the Great Lakes, I believe the second they started on the St. Lawrence Seaway, if you go early you got to give people a little grace. But the servers were friendly, engaging, and by the end we had our favorite server. And Robert also likes iced coffee which some people don't understand what that is. It's a glass of ice with coffee poured over it. It's not like the iced coffee you get in New Zealand that's dessert. But once the server, every morning once the server knew him he got his reputation. Every morning his iced coffee was ready. Robert: And it was, sorry, and it was a real treat. Shall we move on to deck two? De

    31 min

  5. May 6

    Review of the Great Lakes Cruise on Victory I

    Part I - The Itinerary In this episode, we share our opinions of Victory I as she plies the Great Lakes. We pay particular attention to accessibility. Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript Hi, welcome to living the good life. I'm Theresa and I'm Robert. We are sadly on the last day of our Victory One cruise along the great lakes. We started in Toronto where Victory includes the first night at a hotel, which makes a lot of sense because many people travel, a lot of our fellow cruisers are from California and areas far away areas that aren't on the great lakes. Robert: Although there are a few of us from the Midwest, we landed in Toronto and we want to focus a little bit on the accessibility needs or if there were any problems along the way. And we found navigating the Toronto airport was fairly easy. A bit of walking to finally get to the Uber pickup. Theresa: There was a lot of construction in Toronto. The Gardiner Highway was close, so it took us a little longer, but we did research the Westin Harbourfront Castle, which is where we stayed. It was a great location. We did find an accessible entrance. It's around if you're facing the front and you are on the street because it's a very strange entrance, like you go into a parking garage and there's an entrance. But if you're on the street facing the parking, you just head to the right. And there is a sign there. But unfortunately, they want you to have a room key. If you don't just hit the intercom button and somebody will let you in. Robert: The main entrance to the hotel was actually two stories up from the street level. So you had to drive up a reasonably steep driveway, I guess, up to the front doors. And that was easy enough to do. And that's where you would also pick up your Ubers or taxis or any other transportation if you needed to get down to the street level on the inside, you could take an elevator down two levels and then come out again, the accessibility door that's on the, as Theresa said, on the right side, and it takes you right out to the street. Theresa: And we had looked for it and had a little problem. It looks like a door for the staff or unaccessible, you know, do not go beyond here. So just look when you get off the elevator. You turn left and then it will be on your right. It's like double doors. It is not Walmart. Nothing says accessible. Robert: Once we got outside and the sidewalks were pretty clear, there were curb cuts at all of the intersections and all the crosswalks. The one thing is you really have to watch out for the bicyclists, because when you're going across a crosswalk, there are bicycle lanes that are also going perpendicular to the crosswalk. So you have to look both ways because the bicyclists come in both directions. And there were enough e-bikes that were moving along at a good clip. Theresa: Right. So that all worked out. There was a registration desk with some people representing Victory who gave us the plan. And there were some changes. One thing about cruising anytime is be aware that flexibility is key. And I will say on this particular sailing, and this is the first one of the year, that's always a good time for better rates. But the weather may not be perfect. I have to say that the staff has been amazing. I would say maybe 25 to 30 percent of our fellow cruisers use some kind of mobility aid and they are well accommodated. Many of them said they are living the good life. They've had hip surgery, knee surgery, health issues, and they've adapted. So that they can continue to travel. Robert: The crews provided umbrellas when we needed them, when the weather was bad. The getting onto the ship and getting off the ship required a gangway. Sometimes it was just a flat ramp. Other times it was a stairway that was adjustable to the level of the ship down to the dock. And so and there were often an additional step or something at the bottom. The crew was extremely alert to anyone who was who had some difficulty getting on and off the ship. And we even saw wheelchairs being carried down the ramp. So it was it was just amazing how helpful they were. Theresa: Yes. And there's even wheelchairs on board the ship for your use. But it is very nice. They have this. But never assume that you will have the same experience as we did. I mean, crews change, fellow passengers change, and fellow passengers were very helpful as well. But always remember, it's up to you to research. Come with the right equipment. One woman we spoke with said she usually travels with a regular rolling wheeler, the rectangular shape for traveling on a ship. She has a foldable triangular that has a little place for her to put her things and she can fold it. So it's very narrow. So it doesn't take up room. I think I wish that all cruise ships would have maybe a mobility aid that way or something, because it's a little scary for someone like me who doesn't see well if people leave their walker or wheelchair right in the main aisle or highway. It's also difficult for servers like in the dining room. Robert: On the excursions, one thing that I noticed was that the buses, we had newer buses that followed the ship along to each port. They followed along the highways as the ship cruised to the next port and met us at each port. But the buses were kneeling buses, so the front could be lowered to adjust to like curb height and all. They often had a stepstool at the bottom of the entry. The steps going up were reasonably steep and you had to be pretty careful going up and down in the bus. And I noticed that some of the passengers would get on the bus and actually did not get off at some of the places you could get off and sightsee and such, and that they just preferred to remain on the bus because it did take quite some effort for them to go up and down those steps. Theresa: And that's a perfect alternative because on the bus, you can still look out the window and see where you are and get an idea. So you never are forced to, you know, get off the bus. The driver always stayed with the bus. And, you know, it's a great place just to look, enjoy the area, you know, and be reasonable and don't think, oh, my gosh, I have to get off the bus, because you don't. Robert: Our first stop after Toronto was Niagara. Theresa: Which actually is from Port Colborne. You don't stop right in Niagara Falls because it's not like you can dock a boat there. So that was really nice. And we've been to Niagara many times and we never took a tour of a power station. So we did a power station tour, which took us down a hundred and eighty five feet. Was it something like that? Robert: It was just under 200 feet, I believe. Theresa: There was a half mile walk each way, but the path was clear. There's an elevator. So if you had a wheelchair or a walker, you could do it. The only problem was the time you had to do it, because I felt we were a little bit rushed doing that, but came out right on the bottom of the falls. And they do provide ponchos and the spray wasn't too bad when we were there, but it was an excellent excursion and has a daily included excursion. And that was one of the included excursions. And it was great. Robert: And the elevator ride was actually quite interesting because they had glass panels on one side and you could see all the inner workings of how they control the water flow through the power plant. Theresa: Right. So I highly recommend that. So after Port Colburn, we left and our next stop was Cleveland. The included excursion there was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a person with low vision, I found it very difficult. It's very dark. If you have any kind of sensory issues, there was, I believe, a QR code on the door, but we really didn't see an information place that told you what exactly you should do because the music goes on and on and on. Some people thought it was too loud. Others thought the music's not interesting, which they're lucky they're still on the ship. But some people did a lot, others did a little. It took us three hours just to do the first floor. And that's because we went to the Soul Train. I grew up in Toledo, Soul Train almost seemed like a local show and we watched it and people got to dance there. And we also went through the 13 Beatles albums, which was very interesting. You know, they talked about every album and that took a long time to get through. Robert: There was a video that accompanied each album and the Beatles were actually talking about what they were doing and their progress from their earliest albums to their latest ones. It was, yeah, we were, we stayed there for quite a while and went through each of the albums. There was the accompanying videos. There are six levels in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And we stayed just on the first level. There are elevators and then each, each floor does change a little bit in elevation. There might be ramps that go up and down in certain areas, but I think it was, you know, it was all clear. There were no real obstacles. Theresa: No, it was good to have the elevator. So that way it was very accessible. But if you have any problems with a lot of noise or getting around when it's dark, it can be a little difficult. They also had an excellent Saturday night live display of all the musicians who performed and that could take an entire day. So if you do this, be sure to sign up for the earliest in the day so you can stay all day. Robert: Our next stop was Detroit. Um, the, we got off the ship, the people mover was not in operation. So we walked a little ways. We got on the queue line and that was very easy. I think,

    31 min

  6. Apr 29

    Toronto to Chicago, Cruising on Victory

    Alternatives to Ocean Cruising. In this episode we focus on a voyage that visits all five Great Lakes. For some the idea is curious and unusual. Others understand the draw of these great lakes. Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript Theresa: We are currently in Toronto and about ready or getting ready to board the Victory One. Robert: We're on Ward's Island on a dock that's actually facing the Victory One, the ship that we're going to be on. It's docked next to the Viking Octantis. Theresa: And I don't know if you can hear in the background, there are a lot of birds. And I don't know if this is on any flyway. I do know that, well, I guess south of here is Rochester, New York, but when you go west in Ontario, there is a flyway that I believe goes across Pelee Island and then to the south shore of Lake Erie, where there is a very large birding and migratory area. They have a big birding event every year near, well, it's not Fort Clinton, but it's very close to one of Ohio's nice state parks with lodges called the Maumee Bay State Park. Robert: I remember coming here during the 1960s when we would come up for the summers to visit relatives in Toronto. And we're standing on the dock that we often visited and we'll be going back, back into the center part of Ward's Island to the cafe, the Island Cafe. Theresa: Which supposedly now sells beer, which wasn't allowed before. There's Ward's Center and those two connect. And Hanlan's Point. And then Hanlan's Point. We took a ferry right from near the Weston Harbourfront Castle, where we stayed last night. And on Victory, your cruise starts the night before. And that makes a lot of sense, especially if you're flying in, because we know how flights work. And we talked to a few fellow guests at registration. It seems some have come from Central California and they're surprised at how cold it is here. I think it's 50 today and we're thinking that is warm. Robert: It's a nice blue sky. Yeah, nice blue sky, 50 degrees, a very light breeze. Theresa: We've seen one of my favorite birds, but didn't hear it. That is the common loon. And maybe mallard duck, but I don't own my birds so well, especially my ducks. Looks to be that this part of the island is a wetland. So I think if you were a birder, this might be, or a ducker, I don't know. But I think this could be good for birding. Are there a lot of cottages here? Robert: And they've been here for a very long time. I remember when I was 8, 9, 10 years old, we'd come here. This was always a high point of our summer vacation when we visited relatives to come to the islands and the cottages were always there. Robert: We're on Ward's Island on a dock that's actually facing the Victory 1, the ship that we're going to be on. It's docked next to the Viking Octantis. Theresa: And I don't know if you can hear in the background, there are a lot of birds. And I don't know if this is on any flyway. I do know that, well, I guess south of here is Rochester, New York, but when you go west in Ontario, there is a flyway that I believe goes across Pelee Island and then to the south shore of Lake Erie, where there is a very large birding and migratory area. They have a big birding event every year near, well, it's not Port Clinton, but it's very close to one of Ohio's nice state parks with lodges called the Maumee Bay State Park. Robert: I remember coming here during the 1960s when we would come up for the summers to visit relatives in Toronto. And we're standing on the dock that we often visited. And we'll be going back, back into the center part of Ward's Island to the cafe, the Island Cafe. Theresa: Which supposedly now sells beer, which wasn't allowed before. There's Ward's Center and those two connect. And Hanlan's Point. And then Hanlan's Point. We took a ferry right from near the Westin Harbourfront Castle, where we stayed last night. And on Victory, your cruise starts the night before. And that makes a lot of sense, especially if you're flying in because we know how flights work. And we talked to a few fellow guests at registration. It seems some have come from Central California, and they're surprised at how cold it is here. I think it's 50 today, and we are thinking that is warm. Robert: It's a nice blue sky. Yeah, nice blue sky, 50 degrees, a very light breeze. Theresa: We've seen one of my favorite birds, but didn't hear it. That is the common loon. And maybe mallard duck, but I don't own my birds so well, especially my ducks. Looks to be that this part of the island is a wetland. So I think if you were a birder, this might be a, or a ducker, I don't know. But I think this could be good for birding. Are there a lot of cottages here? Robert: And they've been here for a very long time. I remember when I was 8, 9, 10 years old, we'd come here. This was always a high point of our summer vacation, when we visited relatives to come to the islands. And the cottages were always there. It's a tight-knit cottage community. Theresa: Victory does offer tours today of different spots in Toronto. So if you haven't been to Toronto, you could do that. We kind of like being outdoors and we have been to Toronto before. Robert: And the birds are flying in and out of this wetland. We're watching them. I wish I knew my birds. Theresa: Oh, there's the app. There's eBird and there's another one that you can listen to their song and identify the bird like that. Merlin, maybe? Something like Merlin. I don't know. So today we're doing this instead of being in the studio, we're out in the world's best studio, the great outdoors. Robert: On the great lakes. Theresa: On the great lakes in the great city of Toronto, which has grown immensely in the past decades. On Ward's Island still looks like it gets the fewest visitors, which is perfect for us because we don't like crowds. But there is a small amusement park on Center Island and an airport on Hanlan's Point. Robert: You can see turboprop planes taking off and landing there. Theresa: So we're at the farthest point we could get to on this pier across from us, like Robert said. We have the Viking Octantis, which I have had the privilege of sailing the Victory One. This will be our first time on this ship. Tomorrow, our port will be Port Colborne. We'll go to the Niagara Falls area and our excursion then will be the power plant, which looks, I mean, you see power plants all over there, all the electrical wires. So that will be really interesting. Robert: We've seen the building on opposite Niagara Falls when we've always visited the falls, but have never actually been inside or really close to it. So that's just going to be exciting to see. Theresa: Right. And I think we'll go through the Welland Canal. I always forget how to pronounce that. And that will be interesting as well. I mean, we have to get to Lake Erie, so we don't have a lot of options. And we will be boarding later and we'll be back then. We're here on our first shore excursion. We are on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. And if you ever visit Niagara Falls, that is the best place to go to. I'm not saying anything bad about the American side, but you get a better view on the Canadian side. And we're at the top we are where the Niagara River drops into the falls. We just came back from a tour of the power tunnel, which I highly recommend. I've been to the falls many times and never realized there is a tour you go from the power station down an elevator and you walk through a tunnel that's about half a mile long and you come out right at the lower level of the river. It was a little hazy today, so we didn't get a lot of good photos, but I hope they turn out. Robert: The walkway to the overlook was very gently inclined and paved. It was smooth. It was very easy to walk. And the view was spectacular once we got outside. Theresa: And if you do have to use a wheelchair or anything else, it was smooth concrete. And like Robert said, there were some small inclines, but they even had the automatic door openers and you take an elevator down. So it's quite the nice place. We highly recommend it. Robert: We're here on a beautiful day. It's a blue sky. The mist is coming up over the falls. We can look back at the river. It's just a magnificent place to be. I remember coming here many, many years ago. We celebrated our 25th anniversary here in the winter, and it was amazing to see the falls, parts of it frozen. I would certainly recommend seeing it any time of year. Theresa: And actually most of the ice just left the river. Lake Erie pretty much entirely froze over. I think they said 95 percent, which lately has been unusual. That used to happen all the time. So there was plenty of ice coming down the river. And they do put up a metal gate so that all of the ice isn't dropping over the falls, but some still gets away. Robert: And it supposedly just cleared of ice just a couple of days ago. And we did see one of the boats that sail underneath the falls, sail into the falls, and all the passengers are wearing ponchos. And I don't know if that was the maid of the mist, or I believe there's another one. Hornblower. Hornblower, right. Theresa: I hope you can hear the river. Okay, so we are not following the usual plan. We are off on the road and out of the studio. So just actually kind of winging it with our dead cats. We will stop here, but we will try to add something in a few days. We just are leaving. We've planned our trip today for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is one of the included, or the only included, shore excursion, which is absolutely fabulous. We're going back to L

    11 min

  7. Apr 21

    Cruising The Great Lakes

    Freshwater Adventures In this episode we focus on cruising the large inland lakes of the US - the Great Lakes. The ports are fascinating and the ships are smaller and ideal for those whose bodies have been disrupted. You may be surprised by what there is to discover while Cruising the Great Lakes! Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript Theresa: Welcome back to Living the Good Life, where we explore real world travel for real bodies. Adventures that are meaningful, doable, and full of wonder. Today, we're heading somewhere unexpected, the Great Lakes. Not the ocean, not the Caribbean, but a freshwater cruising region that's older than the pyramids and bigger than many countries. Robert: And if you're thinking, wait, cruises? On the Great Lakes? Oh yes, not only do they exist, they've been around for over a century and now they're having a major renaissance. Theresa: And I have always lived in a state with the Great Lakes, so we're fairly familiar with them and have visited all five. So today, we're diving into the history, the ships, the cruise lines, the ports, and the surprising magic of these inland seas. Robert: Let's start with the basics. The Great Lakes, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. They hold 20% of the world's fresh surface water. That's wild. Theresa: And when I was in school, to remember the names of them, we remembered the word homes. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. So we could get them all. And some people are really surprised when they see the Great Lakes, but we'll go into that a bit later. And they are enormous. Lake Superior is the size of Austria. Lake Michigan is bigger than Croatia. These are not ponds. You can look at them and think you're on the ocean. The lakes, these are inland seas with their own weather systems. And we can tell you up in our part of Michigan all about lake effect weather. They have their own weather systems, their own tides, even their own maritime culture. Robert: And their own shipwrecks, thousands of them. The lakes have been major shipping routes since the 1800s, and storms here can be brutal. The most famous wreck is the Edmund Fitzgerald, lost in 1975 on Lake Superior. Theresa: Which is why lighthouses in this area are such a big part of the Great Lakes identity. In fact, Michigan, and this may be surprising to some people, it has more lighthouses than any other state. Robert: And that sense of maritime history is part of what makes Great Lakes cruising so different. You're not just island hopping, you're time traveling. Theresa: Right, and there are so many interesting maritime museums along the coast of the lakes. Most of them have a different focus. Some focus on shipwrecks, others focus on trade, some on sports, and some on cargo, ferries, car ferries, moving railroads, etc. Cruising the Great Lakes actually goes back to the late 1800s when steamships carried wealthy travelers between Chicago, Mackinac Island, and Canadian ports. Robert: By the early 1900s, the lakes had full-on floating hotels. Think chandeliers, ballrooms, and multi-day itineraries. Theresa: Then came the decline because highways, air travel, and even railways ended the big steamship era. For decades, Great Lakes cruising was mostly ferries and day boats. Robert: But around 2015, everything changed. Expedition cruise lines realized the lakes were perfect for small ship, high-touch travel, and suddenly the region exploded. Theresa: I will say that it was the Germans, Popeye Bloyd, who have been cruising the Great Lakes for 30 years. The Germans are still intrigued by these lakes. Today, the Great Lakes are one of the fastest-growing cruise regions in North America. Robert: Let's talk cruise lines because this surprises people. Theresa: And right now, there are several players here. Viking has expedition-style ships, the Octantis and the Viking Polaris. Pearl Sea's cruises, they've been coming here a long time. We often see the Pearl Miss dock in Mackinac Island. Victory Cruise Lines, they are a small ship classic cruising company. Of course, Popeye Bloyd, the German cruise ship, still comes, and we have seen that in port several times. Also new to the Great Lakes is American Cruise Line, which we have sailed with them before and totally enjoyed it. We did a Cape Cod cruise and that was fascinating, lots of history, water, sand, so some similarities, really, to the Great Lakes. And we are looking forward to sailing with them in the future, as well as with Victory, so we can do a comparison because each cruise line is different, and the itineraries are also different. And there are some that don't cruise here regularly, but do make appearances. Robert: These are not megaships. We're talking 200 to 400 passengers tops. Some are under 200. Theresa: And that means the experience is intimate, quiet, and deeply destination. You're not going for the watersides. You're not going for the big shoals. You're going for history, culture, and definitely scenery. Robert: And accessibility is often better than people expect. Many of these ships are newer, with modern elevators, wider corridors, and accessible staterooms. Theresa: Plus, the ports are real towns. There aren't any giant cruise ship terminals, and that can make the experience easier for getting around and for travelers who want less chaos and more connection to the area. Let's start with the Crown Jewel, one of our favorite places. We try to go there, I'd say, every year, and that is Mackinac Island. Cars are not allowed. You get around by horse-drawn carriage or bicycles. Robert: Or walking. Theresa: Or walking. And there are Victorian hotels. And one of the most popular things on the island is fudge. There's a fudge shop just about on every single corner of the island. Robert: It's charming, but it's also historically important. The island was a strategic military post in the War of 1812. Theresa: And if you visit the fort, you will learn all about that. The Americans, the British, the French, the indigenous people. It's very interesting. They also claim the first state park in Michigan, although that's debatable. Some say the first state park's in Interlochen. Robert: It also depends on the locals. Talk to the people here around Interlochen, and they're proud of their state park. And talk to people on Mackinac Island, and the same. Theresa: But that first state park was actually, at one point, the second national park in the country after Yellowstone. So, it's all very interesting and worth exploring at the fort. Besides being a strategic military post, it also has a lot of scenery. You can bicycle around the island. You can visit Arch Rock. There are three different cemeteries. There's a lot of different things off of Main Street, which people often miss because they just stick to the one section in town, the commercial section, where you do find all those fudge shops. Robert: If you do bicycle around the island, there's a road that goes right along the lake shore, and it's just a tad over eight miles. Theresa: And you, of course, if you're a fan of the movie Somewhere in Time, you can find different sites where they filmed. And of course, there's things like coffee, tennis, nice hotels. Robert: Especially the Grand Hotel. Theresa: Especially the Grand Hotel, which everyone knows. It has the largest porch. Robert: In the world. Theresa: In the world. So, definitely worth a visit. Robert: Let's go to Sault Ste. Marie, home of the Sulox. One of the engineering wonders of the world. You can watch thousand-foot freighters rise and fall between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Theresa: It's surprisingly mesmerizing. I remember as a child that we would just go there and watch the ships, or they called them boats. We were informed the freighters go through the locks. And you could just watch them rise up, fall down, rise up. Fall down. Robert: And the visitor center is accessible and well-designed. Let's move on to Detroit. Right now, Detroit is having a moment. The Riverwalk, the Motown Museum, the Revitalize Downtown. It's a fantastic cruise stop. Theresa: And the Detroit Institute of Arts is a world-class museum. And surprisingly, if you don't know Detroit, many guests there are shocked by how amazing Detroit is because they think of it from the 1960s. Robert: Cleveland is another sleeper hit. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Westside Market, and a waterfront that's finally getting the love it deserves. Theresa: And a lot of Clevelanders don't really want to advertise how great the area is. But that's right. Unlike Erie, it also has a world-class art museum and a lot of history as well. And it's easy to get around Cleveland. I think it has every type of sports team possible there. And it also has great food. Robert: A major turnaround port and a cosmopolitan powerhouse is Toronto. Museums, neighborhoods, food. It's a perfect start. Museums, neighborhoods, food. It's a perfect start or end point. And the skyline from the water is gorgeous. Theresa: My grandmother came by boat to Toronto from England. And Robert's relatives immigrated to Toronto. Robert: And we visited every summer while I was growing up. We stayed two, three months. And it was always something we looked forward to. And especially visiting the islands. Hanlon's Point, Centre Island, Ward's Point, Ward's Island. You could walk from one island to another. And it was something we always looked forward to doing. We'd usually go there on the weekends. And we really liked going to Ward's Island. It tended to be less crowded. Centre Island was very, very popular. And I lo

    26 min

  8. Apr 14

    Traveling With Your Special Needs Person

    HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR WHENEVER YOU TRAVEL! In this episode, we share our Plan Z strategy for traveling with a person with special needs. Making a few adjustments helps your travel go smoother. Remember that it is the smiles that count. Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript : Robert: Show Notes Music Opening Theme “Carpe Diem” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: incompetech.com Interlude: "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Closing Theme “Bloom” via Pixabay CC0 License (No attribution required) Source: pixabay.com/music  Mentioned in Living the Could Life Cambria Suites

    27 min

  9. Apr 7

    Amsterdam and Muiderslot

    Exploring the Low Country With Ease In this episode, we share tips and tales for exploring Amsterdam and Muiderslot. Amsterdam recently celebrated its 750th anniversary. And that connects nicely with Muiderslot. Do you know the connection? Living The Could Life contains affiliate links. They don’t cost you anything, but we may earn a small commission if you use them. We may have been hosted on a trip, excursion or other travel-related event. We may have received or experienced a product for review. Any opinion is our own. Transcript Click Here for Transcript : Robert: Welcome back to Living the Could Life, the podcast where we explore the world at a pace that honors your body, your energy, and your curiosity. I'm glad you're here. I'm Robert and I'm Theresa. Theresa: Today we are taking you to one of Europe's most enchanting cities, Amsterdam, and then on a slow scenic day trip to one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands, Muiderslot, and I don't speak Dutch, so... Robert: This episode is especially for travelers with disabilities, chronic illness, mobility limitations, or anyone who prefers a gentler, more accessible way to explore. We're talking public transportation, accessibility, highlights of the city, and how to reach Muiderslot by train, bus, or ferry. Theresa: And we'll get into the castle's history as well. It's surprisingly dramatic, plus we'll also talk about what's accessible and what's not at the castle, and where to eat in the charming little town of Muiden. Robert: So, settle in. Let's start in Amsterdam. Theresa: Picture this. You're crossing a 17th century cobblestone bridge while simultaneously eating a cone of hot fries and dodging speeding bicycles. You're not in a museum. You're standing inside an open-air museum. A 750-year-old experiment that's still unfolding. Robert: That's Amsterdam. Living history with momentum. Theresa: You aren't just observing the past. You're actively trying not to get run over by it. Robert: The city is ancient, but wildly forward-thinking. To understand it, you have to start with the ground, or really the water, it's built on. Theresa: Right, and we want to understand how a city built entirely on water mastered its incredibly challenging environment, created world-class art, and and just threw a massive year-long birthday party just to celebrate its own survival. Robert: This isn't just a travel itinerary. It's a look at urban evolution. How does a place go from a muddy swamp to a global powerhouse without losing its soul along the way? Theresa: And it's a fundamental rule of urban design. Geography is destiny, and Amsterdam's geography is its most defining feature. Robert: You get this immediate sensory picture when stepping into the city. It's the narrow cobblestone streets and the trams rumbling by. Theresa: And the bicycles. That's how people get around. Many people do not own cars. There's limited parking, and when there is, it's expensive. So bicycles are everywhere, whether parked in large structures or whizzing past pedestrians. Exercise extreme caution when crossing roads, as most have dedicated bicycle lanes. The locals know the rules, and they know the hazards. We're both experienced cyclists. We would never bike in the central area. If you want to do a bike ride, maybe ride out to Muiderslot or into the suburbs, but the locals will be cussing you out if you're stopping every two seconds to look at a map to see where you're going. And if you step into that bike lane, you'll hear their bells ringing. Listen for the bells. By doing something like stepping in front of a bike, you are disrupting their perfectly calibrated journey and the flow of traffic that has been literally negotiated over the decades. Robert: Let's get back to the water. The canal system is iconic. Theresa: Exactly. From above, it looks like the top half, depending where you are, of a spider's web. Concentric rings radiate outward, and those are the four main waterways in the web. And again, excuse my pronunciation, the Singel, the Herengracht, Kaisersgracht, and Prinzengracht. You're literally reading the city's age and development in its rings. Robert: As the population swelled over the centuries, they essentially just dug new layers outward to accommodate the growth. And within those rings, you have this incredibly complex infrastructure, where canal boats navigate smaller connecting waterways and nearly 3,000 houseboats are docked. Theresa: They even have a dedicated houseboat museum so that you can see what living on the water actually entails. Robert: And the bridges. There are 160 of them crisscrossing the water, including the famous Skinny Bridge, which was originally built so narrow that it barely allowed two pedestrians to squeeze past each other. Theresa: Amsterdam is built on water after all, so let's talk about those famous leaning houses. Robert: Since Amsterdam sits on a swampy peat, the Dutch drove thousands of massive wooden pilings through the peat into the solid sand layer below. The wood lasts for centuries, but only if it stays underwater in an oxygen-free environment. When groundwater drops and oxygen hits the pilings, rot begins and the houses start to sink. Theresa: Oh, and that kind of sounds like what happens to our cars here with oxidation. With all the snow and everything here in Michigan, it's kind of the same as those houses, although we have no leaning cars here. Water management isn't optional. It's survival. Robert: Exactly. If your neighbor mismanages their water levels, your house can sink too. That's why Amsterdam developed a culture of deep, highly organized cooperation and pragmatic problem solving. Theresa: And some of their water management systems are part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The beating heart of Amsterdam is the Dam Square, which sometimes when there are many tourists there, I think some of the locals call it the Dam Square. Dam Square is the heart, and it is full of everything that tourists should see. It's quite impressive. Robert: Exactly. It's where centuries of commerce, culture, and daily life collide. The Royal Palace, the New Church, the National Monument, and the Beurs van Berlage, excuse my pronunciation, a former stock exchange that was turned into a modern concert hall. Theresa: And surrounding all this history is the commercial area anchored by the Centraal Station, which is the main train station in Amsterdam. Beyond the station there are major shopping areas and you're surrounded by the smells of Dutch street food. You can find those fries everywhere. Robert: We're talking about grabbing a hot piece of Dutch apple pie, pancakes, or bitterballen. Theresa: And of course that iconic cone of Dutch fries. Robert: Often smothered in mayo or peanut sauce. Theresa: A little bit different than what we have here. Definitely worth trying. So one other section of the city is Museumplein. It's a nice walkable area, a good place for picnic. We were there in the winter. We saw kids learning to ice skate, which was fun to watch. But you can also travel through history. If you look at the map you will notice, and if you visit the different sections of the city, you'll see that all the sections are different. The pinnacle of cultural preservation is the Museumplein. Not only are there world-class museums, but the anchor museum is the Rijksmuseum, where you'll find Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid, and on the top floor there's even a World War I plane. Just because some of the artwork is famous, that does not mean that there aren't other pieces of work that you may enjoy even more. Robert: Then from the Rijksmuseum you can move on to Van Gogh's Impressionism, and then to the Stedelijk wild Fauvecolors. Theresa: And finally Bansky and Warhol are also found in that section of town. At the Modern Contemporary Museum it's centuries of art all in one very walkable place. Robert: That density reflects Amsterdam's history as a global trading hub and a sanctuary for ideas. Theresa: Let's talk about Amsterdam's 750th birthday. The city just ended the celebration of that birthday after a year-long celebration that ended in October of 2025. They had special things like manhole covers, banners, the light of Amsterdam, which I don't think is working anymore, but we were lucky to see it with its eight vertical blue beams that represented the seven districts in Amsterdam plus Weesp. And they were projected into the night sky throughout that celebration and we were lucky to see them when we took a nighttime canal cruise. Robert: And 10 miles of the ring road A10 highway were closed for art, music, sports, and even 400 weddings. Theresa: Yes, it's modern reclamation. Just like the Dutch once bent water to their will, they're now bending infrastructure to prioritize community and joy. And community was very important. They had mostly for locals tours of the different districts of town. Robert: And it all traces back to one mundane document from 1275, granting toll privileges to the people living near the dam on the river Amstel. Theresa: And that simple piece of bureaucratic paperwork is, and of all in the city hall, it became the spark of a global cultural powerhouse known as Amsterdam. Amsterdam is one of the most disability aware cities in Europe. And that's relative. Part of it's because it's flat, it's compact, and it has a public transportation system that's genuinely designed with accessibility in mind. Robert: But it's also a historic city. Narrow sidewalks, cobblestones, and bikes everywhere mean you'll want to plan ahead. It's a mix of very doable and take your time. Theresa: So taking your time is important. When we were there, we are usually the FOMO kind of people fear missing out, so we do a hundred things in one day. But we've changed that strategy. It's a good place to slow down, take your t

    32 min

  10. Mar 31

    Cruising in Alaska

    Getting Ready to Travel In this episode, we share tips and tales for cruising in Alaska. There are many options for those of us with body changes. This is the foundation of the Living the Could Life approach. Transcript Click Here for Transcript : Theresa: Welcome back to Living the Good Life, where we talk about travel, change, and what it means to build a life that fits the body you have today, not the one you used to have or the one you wish you had. I'm Teresa. Robert: And I'm Robert. Today we're diving into a bucket list giant, Alaska, but we're doing it through a lens that doesn't get talked about often enough. What it's like to cruise the last frontier when you're navigating mobility challenges, low vision, chronic illness, or other challenges. Theresa: We often talk about the two meanings of could. There's the polite permission, could I sit here? And then there's the possibility I still could see the world. Alaska is just the perfect could destination. Robert: Exactly. It's about the science of the could. We've talked about the McGill University studies on neuroplasticity, how our brains can rewire to find new ways to navigate the world. Alaska cruises are built for that. The scenery comes to you. You can sit on a balcony or in a lounge with floor to ceiling windows and have a front view seat to a glacier without taking a single step. Theresa: People often ask, can I really do Alaska with a disability? Robert: And the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, Alaska is arguably the best accessible wild destination on earth because the cruise ships act as mobile base camps. You get the glaciers and the grizzly bears without the vertical hikes. Theresa: Use the 70-day workbook or calendar that is listed in the show notes to practice before your cruise. If you aren't used to a scooter, practice in a local grocery store. If you have low vision, practice using your assistive tech in new environments. Maybe you're on a new med or digestive schedule. See how that works best for you before hopping on a cruise ship. By the time you hit the gangway in Alaska, your brain has already done the could work. Robert: Just a bit of housekeeping before we start. Mainstream cruises in Alaska start at four different ports. Seattle, Vancouver, Seward, and Whittier. The last two are near Anchorage and are usually one way. The others can be either one way or round trip. We will be focusing on round trip Seattle for today. Seattle has many daily flights. It's a great city to visit and the port is convenient to access from downtown. Actually, there are two ports there. Be sure you know which one you're going to. Theresa: What we like to do when in Seattle is grab a city pass and explore Seattle either before or after the cruise. Another thing I really like about the port of Seattle is that when your ship returns to Seattle, you can send your luggage for free from the ship to the airport. All ships do not seem to advertise that, so be sure to ask. That way you are left unencumbered with luggage, so it's perfect for exploring Seattle. Many flights leave late at night on disembarkation day, so there's often plenty of time to discover more of Seattle rather than more of Seattle's airport. Who wants to sit the airport for hours? We use their city pass at the end of cruises. Robert: The city pass is great. It was so easy to go and explore the aquarium after we had checked into the ship. Of course, we always recommend arriving in port at least a day prior to departure. It's more relaxing and if you're coming from the east, it gives some time to adjust to the three hour difference in time. You want to be well rested for your cruise. Theresa: That is so true. You know, just talking about this Alaska cruise and prop brings back so many memories. I'm ready to go right now, but before we get started, let's talk about a few considerations before booking the cruise. Robert: Like which ship to sail? Theresa: Not yet. You're getting ahead of yourself. Even before that, there are a few things to think about, like your ability to do this. Of course, we'll add a reminder about that 70 day change workbook and calendar again. With a few adjustments, the good news is that Alaska has many options to fit your travel needs. Robert: But first, you need to honestly consider a few things before embarking on an Alaska or any other cruise for that matter. And if there are a few things that you think that might provide some challenges, look for alternatives like excluding an activity or excursion and substituting or finding assistance. This will help you determine if Alaska is right for you. Theresa: And I should mention right here, regardless of your body changes, if you don't enjoy nature and are looking for shopping museums and big cities, Alaska may not be for you. If you're a beach bum, you will find a beach in Juneau, but that probably isn't what you are used to. No palm trees, no beach cabins, no warm water. Of course, you will find shopping museums and great food throughout Alaska. The big city vibe is definitely not there and that's what draws so many people, especially in a stressed out world. Robert: So is Alaska right for you? Consider the following. What kind of energy do I realistically have for changing weather, for crowds, and for long days? Do I want a trip that's mostly scenery, mostly active, or a mix? How much walking or moving can I comfortably do in a day? How does my body respond to weather, wind, and uneven terrain? Do I prefer sea days or port days? What are my non-negotiables for comfort and accessibility? Do I need a caregiver? Does the potential caregiver truly know how to assist me? Do I need a regular routine? Do I need a fridge for my meds? Do I need anything charged? Will my condition put others in danger or interfere with their cruise? Theresa: And there are also packing suggestions and physical preparations to consider. Do I have enough layers for cold, wind, and rain? Do I need special shoes or boots? Which comfort items will help me manage fatigue? Do I need a mobility device for long port days? Do I have a day pack that fits meds, snacks, and layers? Again, use that 70 days before your cruise to practice. We've said before, if you're not used to a scooter, practice in a local grocery store. If you want to wander in parks, go to a local park and see how that works out. If you have low vision, practice using your assistive tech in new environments. Figure out a rest schedule or notice your digestive schedule. By timing the gangway in Alaska, you've already done all of the good work. Robert: Here are some health and safety questions. How does my body respond to weather and long days? Do I need to adjust medications for time zones or activities? Do I have a plan for flare-ups or fatigue spikes? Has my health care provider cleared me for taking a cruise? Will I bring my own equipment or rent it? Theresa: What is my big energy activity for the day? What is my recovery window? Do I need a midday break on board? What can I skip without losing the experience? Robert: And don't forget your caregiver. What signs show that I'm hitting my limit? What adjustments can we make to minimize stress? What's our plan if weather or fatigue changes everything? Theresa: These are just a few examples of some of the questions you should ask and you will need to decide which daily needs you should consider. Remember to be honest. After you evaluate your needs, see what needs to change and make adjustments to see what you could do. Eventually you may be able to say, I am going to Alaska. Remember that no Alaska experience is the same for everyone. Robert: Earlier we mentioned that we are focusing on a round-trip Seattle cruise and mentioned a bit about Seattle like arriving a day early, getting to the port. Remember that there are two. Be sure you have the correct port address if you're using public transportation, a taxi, or ride sharing. We also mentioned CityPass if you have time to explore some of the key attractions in Seattle. Of course you may just want to rest and chill before boarding your ship. Remember it's your trip. Theresa: That's so true. You don't have to do what everybody else does. After long and possibly exhausting travel, be sure to do what works best for you. You don't want to wear yourself out before the cruise. Personally, I have found that just looking at things when I don't do it instinctively, that exhausts me. My C&I guy aka Robert probably feels some of that himself, having to watch out for obstructions and dangers and keeping me safe. Robert: We've adjusted our travel style. We need to prioritize. Fatigue, it's top priority. We want to have energy for the next day or the next outing. We think we went through that 70-day change without noticing it and we continue to change our old habits so that we now have a new could available to use. Theresa: I remember thinking that hiking sticks were for the elderly until I tried them and found how great they were for steep descents and rugged terrain. And I had my complete vision then. I now have a very nice photovoltaic cane that I carry. It packs nicely even in a carry-on. I was considering getting one I saw. Somebody in a group trip had. It had a dagger at the end. In the end, I decided that I wouldn't need it, but maybe it would be useful in bear country. Robert: Okay, let's get back to Seattle. If one of your ports is Skagway, and even if it's not, we highly recommend visiting the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Park in Seattle right on Pioneer Square. Seattle was the starting point for many seeking gold. What they did because of a rumor of gold is unbelievable. This museum cleverly describes the experience and puts you right in the era of those gold rushers and the could spirit. Theresa: It is a hidden gem and probably not the first thing that comes up when you think about Seattle

    30 min
  • 10 Episodes

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About

Life becomes different for those who experience later-in-life challenges. Living The Could LIfe offers tips adjusting your life so that you can still travel and do all the things that you love. No toxic positivity here, just lived experiences from hosts and guests.

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  • Creator
    Robert and Theresa
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Living the Could Life
  • Show Website
    Living the Could Life