The “world’s tallest woman” has revealed that she is “forced” to pay for six plane seats as she has to be carried on via a stretcher.
Rumeysa Gelgi is well-known for holding the Guinness World Record title, standing at 7ft 0.7in.
Earlier this year, she revealed her plans to visit each country after turning 28.
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Though, getting on a plane, in a car, or any other form of transport is quite costly; and not all that easy.
And neither is getting inside most historic or notable buildings and sites.
“At times, it’s upsetting to hold myself back from visiting remarkable places and experiencing the richness of history,” the content creator told What’s The Jam.
“It can be frustrating knowing that the only thing standing in the way is the lack of accessibility.
“My top priority is always safety; not just to protect my wheelchair, but also to prevent any harm to myself.
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“With spinal implants, even a minor fall could be extremely dangerous.
“Unless proper access is available, I choose not to take any unnecessary risks.”
In order to fly, since she can’t sit down, Rumeysa has to be stretchered onto the plane and spend the entire flight lying down.
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The freelance web developer, who goes away at least once per year, only flies with Turkish Airlines since they’re one of the few airlines to offer the stretcher service.
She must arrive four hours before her flight to meet with medical staff and pay for the space the stretcher takes up, which is typically six seats.
She’s yet to travel by bus or train; though hopes to tick this off her bucket list in the coming months.
The demanding process hasn’t stopped her, though.
So far, she’s travelled to the UK, US, Spain and Italy, all from her home country of Turkey.
Now, she hopes to go to East Asia next, more specifically, Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai and Seoul, to tick off her bucket list.
But Rumeysa’s biggest wish is to visit the ancient monuments in her hometown, Safranbolu.
She added: “One of its most famous areas is the Old Town, where visitors can see well-preserved Ottoman-era houses, mansions and bathhouses.
“Sadly, even though I live very close, I haven’t been able to visit there.
“It’s not very accessible.
“When I’ve visited churches [in other locations] in the past for example, it’s too physically challenging for me.
“Historic sites are often left in their original condition, which I completely understand and respect.
“In most cases, people and staff are kind and willing to help.
“While I truly appreciate their intentions, the solutions aren’t always the safest or most practical.
“I wish there were more innovative ways to make these sites accessible to people with limitations.
“Everyone deserves the chance to connect with the past, regardless of mobility.”
