Day 22 - PM -- on my own in a wheelchair

The Friday reunion started out as a tailgate party -- not ideal for gliding (kneeling scooter) or balancing (crutches) -- so I asked Bob to drop me off at nearby Santana Row shopping center -- (pretty crafty, huh?)  Of course, I had credit cards and my IPhone -- just in case.  Au revoir, mon amour -- enjoy your reunion and I'll see you in a few hours.

I thought this was a perfect opportunity to see how "wheelchair accessible" this mall really was.   I explored the disabled restroom in the Hotel Valencia (great except the entrance door was heavy to open -- need lots of upper body strength), got a smoothie at Pinkberry (same problem with the entrance door), elevated my foot on the retaining wall for an hour or so (see photo), went to Borders (self-opening door -- thank goodness) and selected a perfectly accessible copy of "The Lost Symbol" (Dan Brown's new book).   The doors of several of the shops were closed, with no automatic opener -- definitely not disabled-friendly.  


This is a beautiful open-air mall (SJ's answer to Rodeo Drive) and they did a good job of eliminating as many curbs as possible.  I can't imagine what it was like before wheelchair-accessible ramps were installed.  I held my breath at the first intersection, but, then, I guess drivers are pretty careful around people with a bright white cast (with blue toenails) wheeling themselves around.  People were friendly -- even stopped the crowds so I could cross the sidewalk.  


I'm going to have Madonna-shoulders before this is done.