Solo Misadventures in Brussels: Wheelchairs, Chocolate and Waffles
2 min readTanzila Khan's solo trip to Brussels in a wheelchair became a lesson in perseverance, with moments that tested her wheels and her will.
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Getting to Brussels: Cold realities and no chocolate in sight!
Like all love stories, mine began with a flight, a coat, a cap, and a French playlist I didn’t understand but swayed to anyway.
Belgium is part of the European Union, and with a valid Swedish Residence Permit, I did not worry much about the visa or even the ticket as there are many budget-friendly airlines in Europe that can offer cheaper tickets in off tourist season. I was flying in January and found a round-trip ticket on Ryanair for a four-day trip for USD 72.
The flight to Charleroi Airport was smooth, but as we landed, I waited for a few extra minutes in the aircraft to get my wheelchair to the doorstep as promised by Ryanair. While I waited, I put on my beret cap and a colour-changing lipstick that I picked earlier in Doha, which changed colours and got darker with time. I stayed positive and in the character of a traveller on wheels, but positivity would be out of the window if I had to use the loo.
My wheelchair arrived securely, and I was excited to reach the city to join a 4 pm walking city tour that I had booked early on. But the first challenge occurred as soon as I landed: Flibco, the only bus service from the airport, wasn’t wheelchair accessible. A taxi would break the bank, so I opted for the train, only to get lost looking for the local shuttle bus to Charleroi Station. No signs, limited assistance, and a lot of battery loss in the process. My fingers were frozen, and my patience was melting.
I finally found the bus, which was accessible (a small win) and made it to the train station — only to be told I needed to book wheelchair assistance in advance. While I fought my tears, I wondered, ‘Why must spontaneity come at such a high cost for people with disabilities?’
Two hours later, drained and blinking red (both emotionally and literally — my wheelchair battery). I was finally on the train to Brussels and reached an hour after the walking tour would have ended.
