Around the Globe in 19 Days

By Nicole Padayachee

From 9 to 27 March 2026, my dad and I embarked on what was meant to be a carefully planned European adventure. Thanks to a scholarship from SMA Europe, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 5th International Scientific Congress on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Budapest. I spent months preparing my application and receiving the acceptance email felt like a dream come true. With part of the trip funded, we set out to make the most of 19 days across Europe.

As it turns out, Europe had other plans.

I had meticulously planned every detail: flights, trains, hotels, accessibility arrangements and itineraries spanning six countries. But between regional conflict causing flight disruptions, delayed departures, missed connections and last-minute route changes, our trip quickly became a lesson in adaptability.

After a stressful few days of uncertainty, we finally left South Africa. Our journey immediately tested us with delays that caused us to miss our connection in Dubai. What initially felt like bad luck became an unexpected blessing. Emirates accommodated us overnight, and I was able to meet my niece for the very first time before continuing our journey to Hungary.

Budapest: The Reason We Came

Budapest was our first major destination and home to the SMA Congress.

Attending the Congress was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Being surrounded by people living with SMA, researchers, doctors, advocates and industry leaders was empowering. I learnt so much, made valuable connections and met some of the people involved in developing the medication that helps keep me alive today.

Outside the Congress, Dad and I explored Budapest's beautiful streets, navigated accessible public transport and wandered through the city without much of a plan, which often led to the best memories.

Trains, Delays and a Birthday in Transit

My birthday marked the start of our railway adventure through Austria and Italy. What began as a scenic train ride complete with birthday treats from the train staff quickly turned into another travel puzzle when delays caused us to miss multiple connections.

Instead of arriving in Rome as planned, we found ourselves rerouting through Austria and northern Italy. We navigated inaccessible train platforms, unexpected rain, language barriers and last-minute accommodation bookings.

At one point, kind strangers helped carry my wheelchair onto a train when official assistance wasn't available.

Traveling with a wheelchair often meant finding creative solutions, and this trip was no exception.

Italy: Cobblestones, Tiramisu and Determination

Italy was beautiful, chaotic and physically demanding.

We visited Pisa and took the obligatory "holding up the Leaning Tower" photos before exploring Florence. Unfortunately, our plans to see Michelangelo's David fell through, but we made up for it by wandering the city and soaking up its charm.

Rome was unforgettable. We explored Vatican City, admired the Sistine Chapel, visited St Peter's Basilica and, thanks to an incredibly kind taxi driver, managed to see both the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in a single afternoon.

Naturally, I couldn't leave Italy without enjoying a proper Italian tiramisu.

Switzerland: Beauty and Unexpected Adventures

If one destination stole my heart, it was Switzerland.

The train journey into Lucerne was breathtaking, with snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes and postcard-perfect scenery stretching in every direction. I also noticed something else immediately: accessibility. For perhaps the first time, I regularly saw other wheelchair users navigating the city independently.

Our biggest Swiss adventure came during a trip to Mount Titlis. Halfway up the mountain, our cable car stopped.

For nearly two hours, Dad and I sat suspended high above the snow while strong winds rocked the cabin. Eventually, we were able to continue, only to be told that weather conditions made it impossible to reach the summit.

We missed trains, rewrote our travel plans yet again and raced through stations collecting luggage and making connections.

At the time, it felt disappointing. Looking back, it perfectly summed up the trip: things went wrong, and somehow, we kept going.

Paris and London

By the time we reached Paris, we had become experts at improvisation.

We spent our days exploring the Louvre, admiring the Mona Lisa, wandering the streets, visiting Notre-Dame and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night. For once, we slowed down and simply enjoyed being there.

In London, we embraced everything from Harry Potter's Platform 9¾ to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the West End production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Every city brought new experiences, new accessibility challenges and new stories.

More Than Just a Holiday

When I look back on those 19 days, I don't think first about the flights, trains or landmarks.

I think about the people.

The airline staff who went out of their way to help. The strangers who offered assistance when we needed it most. The accessibility teams who made travel possible. And my dad, who solved problems, carried luggage, adapted on the fly and somehow kept us moving forward every time a plan fell apart.

Europe wasn't perfectly accessible. There were broken lifts, inaccessible taxis, steep steps, cobblestones and missed assistance bookings. My disability didn't disappear simply because I was travelling.

But neither did my ability to explore.

Over 19 days, Dad and I crossed countries, travelled beneath the sea, climbed mountains as far as the weather would allow, stood before some of the world's greatest works of art and discovered just how far resilience, determination and a little bit of faith can take you.

I never got the photo of myself sitting on top of Mount Titlis that was supposed to symbolize conquering the world.

But by the end of the trip, I realised I didn't need it.

"I didn't conquer the world despite my disability. I explored it with my disability, wheelchair and all."

And the world is still mine to explore.