September 2011
I had an operation on my foot at the beginning of July, which has prevented us getting too far afield this year. I had the first follow up appointment at the end of August and the surgeon wanted to see me for a second check up at the end of October, so we had 9 weeks. Our intention had been that I would fly back from wherever we had got to. We really wanted to go to Greece, taking an overland route through the eastern side of Europe.
When I saw the surgeon for the interim appointment at the end of August he had said 'essential walking only'. I managed to extend my range by borrowing a wheelchair. Thankfully Mike and others shared the burden of pushing me about and I was able to get around the Dusseldorf Motorhome show at the end of August. It was great to see all the latest innovations and some very impressive looking 'price available on application' type motor homes.
I had an operation on my foot at the beginning of July, which has prevented us getting too far afield this year. I had the first follow up appointment at the end of August and the surgeon wanted to see me for a second check up at the end of October, so we had 9 weeks. Our intention had been that I would fly back from wherever we had got to. We really wanted to go to Greece, taking an overland route through the eastern side of Europe.
When I saw the surgeon for the interim appointment at the end of August he had said 'essential walking only'. I managed to extend my range by borrowing a wheelchair. Thankfully Mike and others shared the burden of pushing me about and I was able to get around the Dusseldorf Motorhome show at the end of August. It was great to see all the latest innovations and some very impressive looking 'price available on application' type motor homes.
Luxury parking for the Porche at the Dusseldorf Show
On our return from the show we left the van parked at Mike's son's house in Monchengladbach. He gave us a lift to the airport in Eindhoven and we flew to Girona to join our American friends. It was Joanne's 40th birthday this year and to celebrate she wanted to see her birthplace near Madrid. Her holiday was taking her and husband Mitch from Barcelona to Madrid with stops at Girona and Zaragoza on the way. They were accompanied by her brother in law, Ivan and his partner, Mark. We joined them in Girona.
When I had seen the surgeon in August I had asked him if city break type walking distances were permissible. This met with rather a huffy response that he didn't think I was taking my recuperation seriously, so when I countered this by asking if a wheelchair would be necessary he kind of smirked at me. To my mind this was the perfect solution. I would get to see our friends for their very special European trip and also see some new places as well.
When I had seen the surgeon in August I had asked him if city break type walking distances were permissible. This met with rather a huffy response that he didn't think I was taking my recuperation seriously, so when I countered this by asking if a wheelchair would be necessary he kind of smirked at me. To my mind this was the perfect solution. I would get to see our friends for their very special European trip and also see some new places as well.
We hired a Citroen Jumper van, that had been christened 'Big Momma' by the boys and Mike acted as chauffeur. We loved Girona with beautiful squares, and an impressive cathedral. It was rather hilly and cobbled which made the going rather tough on my 'pushers'.
View of the river in Girona
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Girona streets, tricky with a wheelchair
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We took two scenic drives from Girona, the first to the picturesque village of
Cadaques on the
coast. The second to our next stopping point in Zaragoza. The drive there was straight forward but the arrival was extremely traumatic. We got there at rush hour and couldn't get to our hotel. Every time we went to turn down to it the
road was closed. It didn't matter from which direction we approached, our access was barred, with absolutely no indication of an alternative route. It was like being involved in some sort of nightmare board game. 'Do Not Pass Go' and 'Miss Two Turns' had been replaced with forced U turns, repeat routes, one way streets and large bendy buses that occupied junctions. To cap it all, the city parking was underground and height restricted. Poor Mike!
After a lifetime we pulled into a garage and the staff called us a taxi. We nominated Mark to travel in the taxi as he speaks Spanish and we then played 'follow that car'. But we couldn't. We lost him at the first lights with the compulsory bendy bus obscuring our view. Cursing the taxi driver's nonchalant attitude to our plight we braved ourselves for the next level of traumas. Suddenly taxi man appeared on foot from behind the bus and started directing the cars around it. As the lights turned green, he was back in the taxi, the bus went in a different direction and all was right with the world again. A few minutes later the taxi pulled into the only parking space in a crowded square. It was a temporary space for a different hotel to ours, which was still a 5 minute walk away. It turned out that the two main roads that bisected the city were closed to traffic and were completely dug up for the ongoing installation of a new tram system. We had not been warned by road signs, or by the hotel at the time of booking. We unloaded the luggage and walked to the hotel while Mike parked the van in the carpark of a sister hotel. He was shown the way by a very attractive member of the hotel staff which cheered him up considerably.
Zaragoza is dominated by a huge cathedral. We knew it was the site of a miracle so to remind me exactly what had happened I typed 'Zaragoza Miracle' into Google It seems that Zaragoza has had more than her fair share. Click here to read more. It would have been nice if my foot had spontaneously repaired in a similar manner to that of the amputee.
You can read more here and learn of his supposed fate. After the cathedral visit we took a walk along the river front. Mike ran across a pedestrian crossing, whilst pushing me in the wheelchair, just as the lights were changing. A bus materialized out of nowhere and the wheelchair hit the crossing exit at an awkward angle. As the chair tipped sideways and my life went into slow motion, Mark was the quickest at the scene. Not to help me you understand but to try and get photographic evidence. Yep, it was that kind of a holiday folks.
road was closed. It didn't matter from which direction we approached, our access was barred, with absolutely no indication of an alternative route. It was like being involved in some sort of nightmare board game. 'Do Not Pass Go' and 'Miss Two Turns' had been replaced with forced U turns, repeat routes, one way streets and large bendy buses that occupied junctions. To cap it all, the city parking was underground and height restricted. Poor Mike!
After a lifetime we pulled into a garage and the staff called us a taxi. We nominated Mark to travel in the taxi as he speaks Spanish and we then played 'follow that car'. But we couldn't. We lost him at the first lights with the compulsory bendy bus obscuring our view. Cursing the taxi driver's nonchalant attitude to our plight we braved ourselves for the next level of traumas. Suddenly taxi man appeared on foot from behind the bus and started directing the cars around it. As the lights turned green, he was back in the taxi, the bus went in a different direction and all was right with the world again. A few minutes later the taxi pulled into the only parking space in a crowded square. It was a temporary space for a different hotel to ours, which was still a 5 minute walk away. It turned out that the two main roads that bisected the city were closed to traffic and were completely dug up for the ongoing installation of a new tram system. We had not been warned by road signs, or by the hotel at the time of booking. We unloaded the luggage and walked to the hotel while Mike parked the van in the carpark of a sister hotel. He was shown the way by a very attractive member of the hotel staff which cheered him up considerably.
Zaragoza is dominated by a huge cathedral. We knew it was the site of a miracle so to remind me exactly what had happened I typed 'Zaragoza Miracle' into Google It seems that Zaragoza has had more than her fair share. Click here to read more. It would have been nice if my foot had spontaneously repaired in a similar manner to that of the amputee.
You can read more here and learn of his supposed fate. After the cathedral visit we took a walk along the river front. Mike ran across a pedestrian crossing, whilst pushing me in the wheelchair, just as the lights were changing. A bus materialized out of nowhere and the wheelchair hit the crossing exit at an awkward angle. As the chair tipped sideways and my life went into slow motion, Mark was the quickest at the scene. Not to help me you understand but to try and get photographic evidence. Yep, it was that kind of a holiday folks.
The message is clear for bikes in Zaragoza, what about a wheelchair?
Our last two nights were spent in Madrid, where we stayed at a Best Western hotel, right in the city centre. Joann had done her homework well for the whole trip.
The usual suspects in Madrid
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Spiderman takes 5
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A very attractive girl with an amazing figure approached Mike as he stood outside the hotel on our last morning. We have to take his word as to the authenticity of this great beauty an the ensuing conversation because he was on his own when it happened. She asked him if he would like her to perform an oral service for him. He declined but we all want to know how much he would have been charged. But as every salesperson knows such a question would have given her a buying signal and he is a good husband.
From Madrid we flew back to Germany, spent one night with Lee and his family, then headed south. We wanted to see some new places on our way to Greece for the winter. We met on and Linda in Bad Durrheim for our first German Spa experience. We spent a full day in the salt water baths which are fed from a
natural spring. There were steam rooms, plunge pools, outdoor and indoor pools. It was very relaxing.
Our next stop was Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer in the South of France. As we drove south we thought the towns and villages were looking more tatty than their more northerly neighbours. There were also lots of gypsy caravan encampments. We had a couple of nights on a very windy campsite with Linda and Jon. While we were
there Mike accidentally slammed the driver's door onto his finger. The French lady opposite had run over with ice before I'd managed to sit him down in a chair. A few minutes later her husband called us over to their Motorhome. He cleaned Mike's finger with sterile saline and proceeded to trim the loose skin back with sharp surgical clippers. He then applied antibiotic powder and dressed it. All very professional. He then told me in French that I should give Mike a very big kiss that night. I think he thought I had shut Mike's finger in the door. Unfortunately my French doesn't extend to 'no, the silly fool shut his own
finger in the door.' After two nights we said our farewells to Jon, Linda and he French first aiders and parked on an Aire just outside the town centre, our intention was to stay the night. At about 6.30pm the police came round and left a notice to say that no overnight parking was allowed. We learnt from a British Motorhomer that there had been three Motorhome break ins that day on the sea front in the town. It seems the police didn't want to deal with any more so moved us on instead.
Having had our fill of exploring new places with a wheelchair we decided we would be better to just stay with places that we knew. I wouldn't feel as though I was missing out if I was resting my foot. With this in mind we decided to shelve Greece for the time being and so drove across the border into Spain.
It was now about 4 days since Mike's finger incident. It was still very sore looked a bit of a strange shape as well. He cycled to the hospital in Palamos where he received excellent care. After he'd had x-rays, the doctor yanked his finger straight, without giving Mike prior warning. The nurse then splinted and bandaged his finger and he was instructed to leave it in place for 10 days. He had a challenging cycle ride back to the van, and managed 6 days in the splint. Fortunately it has all healed well with no complications.
We had an excellent time on the Costa Brava. The weather was superb and we caught up with most of our friends who either live or camp regularly there. We reluctantly left at the beginning of October for the UK. As we were heading out of Spain on the motorway, I noticed an advertisement for a nightclub called
Moonlight. However, when I looked properly a second time I realized it said 'Moolight Club'. Is this where cows go to dance? At last, the heifers have their own club.
From Madrid we flew back to Germany, spent one night with Lee and his family, then headed south. We wanted to see some new places on our way to Greece for the winter. We met on and Linda in Bad Durrheim for our first German Spa experience. We spent a full day in the salt water baths which are fed from a
natural spring. There were steam rooms, plunge pools, outdoor and indoor pools. It was very relaxing.
Our next stop was Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer in the South of France. As we drove south we thought the towns and villages were looking more tatty than their more northerly neighbours. There were also lots of gypsy caravan encampments. We had a couple of nights on a very windy campsite with Linda and Jon. While we were
there Mike accidentally slammed the driver's door onto his finger. The French lady opposite had run over with ice before I'd managed to sit him down in a chair. A few minutes later her husband called us over to their Motorhome. He cleaned Mike's finger with sterile saline and proceeded to trim the loose skin back with sharp surgical clippers. He then applied antibiotic powder and dressed it. All very professional. He then told me in French that I should give Mike a very big kiss that night. I think he thought I had shut Mike's finger in the door. Unfortunately my French doesn't extend to 'no, the silly fool shut his own
finger in the door.' After two nights we said our farewells to Jon, Linda and he French first aiders and parked on an Aire just outside the town centre, our intention was to stay the night. At about 6.30pm the police came round and left a notice to say that no overnight parking was allowed. We learnt from a British Motorhomer that there had been three Motorhome break ins that day on the sea front in the town. It seems the police didn't want to deal with any more so moved us on instead.
Having had our fill of exploring new places with a wheelchair we decided we would be better to just stay with places that we knew. I wouldn't feel as though I was missing out if I was resting my foot. With this in mind we decided to shelve Greece for the time being and so drove across the border into Spain.
It was now about 4 days since Mike's finger incident. It was still very sore looked a bit of a strange shape as well. He cycled to the hospital in Palamos where he received excellent care. After he'd had x-rays, the doctor yanked his finger straight, without giving Mike prior warning. The nurse then splinted and bandaged his finger and he was instructed to leave it in place for 10 days. He had a challenging cycle ride back to the van, and managed 6 days in the splint. Fortunately it has all healed well with no complications.
We had an excellent time on the Costa Brava. The weather was superb and we caught up with most of our friends who either live or camp regularly there. We reluctantly left at the beginning of October for the UK. As we were heading out of Spain on the motorway, I noticed an advertisement for a nightclub called
Moonlight. However, when I looked properly a second time I realized it said 'Moolight Club'. Is this where cows go to dance? At last, the heifers have their own club.
Please dance with me, I love this moosic