“Stuck” in London

January 13, 2023

You probably think I’m a little strange. What do I mean by “stuck?”

Shouldn’t I have been happy to spend time in England’s greatest city?

I’ll back up a little to explain.

My last journey to Europe started on August 29th, and my first stop was England. I spent most of my time in Northeastern England and the Lakes District, which were fantastic. Then, I enjoyed a couple of days in London before heading to my next destination.

At the end of my trip, in mid-December, I had plans to visit York, England, for some Christmas shopping before heading back to the States.

Due to downed powerlines, my train, and many others, were canceled. It would only be a short trip (two nights), so staying in London was my only viable option. Therefore, I felt stuck.

I wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea for a couple of reasons: I’m generally not a big-city person, and London is expensive.

After the initial disappointment of the canceled train, I weighed my options. I remembered that I had a free night with Hilton. One phone call later, I was booked at the Waldorf for the night. Pretty cool!

I also got lucky and was able to cancel the hotel in York without penalty.

Things got better from there.

That evening, I was chatting with a couple at the hotel, and they gave me some ideas for my unexpected stay in London. They helped me locate a reasonably priced hotel for the next two nights and helped me organize an itinerary.

The next day had some magical moments.

I revisited the British Museum and enjoyed the luxury of seeing just the Greek and Roman rooms. It was also much less crowded than it had been in September.

I moved to my new hotel and had the good luck to catch a classic double-decker. There was even an older English gentleman on board who said, “These are the buses of my youth!”

He and I enjoyed delightful conversation until his stop.

I checked in with the concierge at the new hotel and shared my two-day plan with him. He gave his full approval and helped me book a ticket for a show on my final night.

The other highlight of the day was visiting Borough Market. It is one of the most incredible markets I’ve ever visited. I found out later that it is usually closed on Mondays, so I had the pleasure of visiting when it wasn’t crowded. I also picked up some great Christmas gifts and gluten-free goodies!

Lunch at the market was Chaat. Lots of interesting ingredients and gluten-free.

I found dinner on the cheap at a pub round the corner. Yes, it is possible to be on a budget in London. The two meals were around ten pounds each.

On my last day, I toured The Globe Theater and revisited Borough Market and the surrounding shops.

Once again, I found a good, inexpensive lunch by spotting a place called Farmer J. Lots of healthy and gluten-free options!

I then visited Leadenhall Market since it was on my way back to the hotel.

I decided to take an afternoon rest since I had a big night ahead. A little afternoon prosecco (compliments of the hotel) and a nap!

My final night splurge included dinner at Indigo, an all-gluten-free restaurant, and Tina! The dinner and the show were spectacular; I felt good about my bargain-priced last-minute seat, too.

So, in reality, I wasn’t stuck at all. It ended up being a better-than-expected end to my trip. And it wasn’t a big hit on my budget.

One month later, I truly am stuck. The weather has been so cold that one can’t stay outside for long, and I am dog-sitting. There’s nothing like playing chase around the kitchen island!

Just keeping it all in perspective.

There Are No Busses on Sundays

September 24, 2023
Sometimes, the best days happen when things don’t go according to plan.
I have been traveling in Croatia with old friends, a married couple, for the past nine days. We are a compatible trio, all three active, outdoorsy types. In fact, it was during a cross-country ski and snowshoe trip last winter that we decided to plan an adventure together.
I was ecstatic when Nancy offered to help with the planning because, in my nomad life, I am constantly working on my itinerary.
We met up at the Dubrovnik airport just over a week ago, and the trip has gone exceptionally well until…

Yesterday afternoon, before we left Mljet Island, the rain came in with a vengeance. We had been enduring some feisty winds, but rain can really put a damper on the fun.
After trying to remain dry, we boarded the ferry for a 30-minute ride to Korcula. Our host generously offered to pick us up, and the rain had momentarily stopped when we arrived.
Then the thunder and lightning returned yesterday evening. So much for our plans to paddle board tomorrow.
Our power went out around 3:00 AM and didn’t come on until about 10:00 AM.
Our host felt terrible about the weather and the power outage. This morning, he brought us some candy and a bottle of wine as a consolation. (As if he could control the weather.) He also realized that a close lightning strike had blown out our modem and had a new one ready for us when we returned this evening. Such a nice man!

After a brief break early this morning, the thunder, lightning, and rain continued until about 11:00 AM.

Then the skies started to look hopeful.

We did have a couple of other issues, though.
Last night, we discovered that no public buses were running on Sundays.
Today, no Uber drivers responded to our request.
No problem. We are walkers. We could easily cover the three miles into town.

The weather was much more promising by noon, and we walked out the door.
Along the way, we stopped to inspect local plant life, saw a monument to World War I soldiers from the island, and visited a Marian shrine.

We ended up having a fabulous time exploring the old city of Korcula. It is a picture-perfect medieval town located on the beautiful Adriatic waters. The rain had cleared the air, making for an exceptional day.
After searching for the right restaurant to cater to my gluten-free diet, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch by the old city gate. I had eggs benedict for the first time in many years, and we all enjoyed chocolate mousse cake with pistachios for dessert.

After lunch, we wandered through town and climbed the church tower for the best views of the day.

Then we walked along the waterfront, checking out the different buildings, sections of the old city walls, and the luxurious modern yachts in the harbor.

After stopping for groceries, we took the backroads home and saw things most tourists miss.

The 101 stone steps up to the Votive Chapel of Saint Anthony.

The cypress trees were planted in 1708 after the chapel was renovated (originally built in the 15th century).
The last leg of the journey back to our apartment took us through rural areas bound by stone walls with abundant olive trees.

What looked like a potential disaster of a day ended up being one of my best travel days yet!

The Day of Closed Doors

April 28, 2023

We all have those days when things don’t go to plan. Unfortunately, I am a planner. I like to think I can go with the flow, and sometimes I do. But I like having my travels at least sketched out in advance.

Today, in fact, I altered my original plan. A friend had told me about Canyon De Chelly National Monument. Visiting it would take me on a northward excursion out of the way. Still, I figured I had the time and love seeing those “less popular” National Monuments.

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Landmark

I left Holbrook, Arizona, this morning and headed northeast. The first stop was the Hubbell Trading Post, a National Historic Landmark. There’s a visitor center, and parts of the old trading post are open for visitors and shopping.

The inside of the trading post preserves its original charm with modern goods.

I love the baskets on the ceiling of the trading post!

Since I’m a nomad, shopping is not really my thing. But I bought a few gifts, so I have to admit the trading post was pretty cool.

I then continued north to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. When I arrived, it was CLOSED because of flooding. The police officer who was blocking the road said I could go up and around to the other entrance adding 90 minutes to my drive. It would be even further in the wrong direction, so I decided against the idea.

I backtracked south (one of the least scenic stretches of this trip) and stopped to top off the tank. When I went inside, the bathrooms were CLOSED, out of order. What was going on?

I eventually made my way to Red Rock State Park near Gallup, New Mexico. It was 2:45 when I reached the park office, but it was—you guessed it—CLOSED. The posted hours were 8:00-4:00, but a little sign said, “Will return at 8:00.” It was also the strangest state park I’ve ever visited. It looked more like a state fairground with rodeo facilities.
Besides Hubbell Trading Post, it had been a day of disappointment. But, as a friend once said, “You can turn a bad day around at any time.”

There were two hiking trails, so I could make something good of the afternoon. I decided to hike Pyramid Rock. A young man came off the trail when I arrived, so I asked him for the report. He assured me it was beautiful and not very far to the top.

It was a short (3.4-mile roundtrip) but highly scenic hike.

Signs along the Pyramid Rock Trail encourage hikers at every quarter mile.

When I arrived at the top of Pyramid Rock, I had the space to myself, every hiker’s delight! The day of closed doors ended with a massive open space and marvelous views, just for me.

One of the views form the top of Pyramid Rock

I’ll see Canyon de Chelly another day.

Skiing the Melt in Park City

April 13, 2023

I arrived in Park City last Friday, April 7th.
When I made the reservation, I was really, really hoping that there would still be snow. My two previous visits to the area were in the summer, another great time to be here. It’s a hiking and biking haven.

But Park City is also the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In the summer, I have watched the skiers jump into the pool at Utah Olympic Park. I’ve imagined skiers on the snowless summer slopes. And I could see myself gliding on my cross-country skis across the fields and along the trails.

I had to return to see that beautiful white blanket covering the mountains and valleys.

Last summer, I added “Park City in the Snow” to my bucket list.
With this season’s record snowfall, I got lucky. Sometime in March, I read that the ski resorts would stay open through April 23rd.
Since I was coming solo, I decided to leave my alpine ski gear in the storage unit. You might think that’s crazy. Why would I come to a World-class ski resort and not hit the slopes?

I’m a much better cross-country skier. Honestly, it’s dangerous to downhill ski solo, especially on an unfamiliar mountain. (Maybe I have become slightly more cautious after falling off a horse last summer.)

I skied four out of six days during my visit. Temperatures have been reaching the 50s and 60s, so skiing has been best in the mornings. It gets too slushy in the afternoon.

Yesterday was my best day of skiing. I drove out to Round Valley, which has an extensive network of trails. It’s also an off-leash dog area. What could be better than skiing with happy canines romping through the snow? Sure, they mess up the tracks a bit, but I got out early in the morning, and the conditions were good.

Round Valley: Mountains in every direction!

Today was another story. Temperatures dropped overnight. It was hovering around freezing this morning with light snowfall. Good ski conditions, right? It would have been great except for the 10-20 mph winds. And then there were gusts up to 30.
As the eternal optimist, I bundled up and returned to Round Valley.

It was a different world a day later. I felt like I was on an expedition to the North Pole, fighting the wind and sliding backward in the icy tracks.
Then I would get a reprieve from the wind, enough to keep me going.
When I decided to turn around, I experienced the bliss of the wind pushing me in the tracks. What fun! Suddenly, the initial effort was paying off.
Then, I reached the open field near the parking lot. The track had a barely noticeable downhill slope. It would be the perfect ride back to my car.
Clearly, one of those 30 mph gusts hit my back at just the right time. I was speeding around a curve, initially gleeful but quickly becoming fearful. The wind pushed me out of the tracks and onto the open field. There was no choice but to intentionally crash because it was going to happen anyway.
Luckily the snow was relatively soft, and I landed safely. I chose to take off my skis and walk the rest of the way to the car. Why push my luck?
It was a memorable way to end this year’s ski season.

Travel Days and Me Time

April 7, 2023

Yesterday was a travel day with some fun mixed in.
I left my cousin’s place in the morning. Well, we actually went together, each taking our own car. The first stop was a bakery in Hamilton, Montana, that offered several gluten-free items. (River Rising—I highly recommend it if you are in the Bitterroot Valley!)
We then traveled south to Lost Trail Pass and the Chief Joseph Nordic Ski area. The trail grooming ended last weekend, and about two feet of snow fell after. So, there was plenty of snow, but those sweet smooth tracks were lacking. It was a bit of work, but the glorious sunny day made it worth the effort.

We got four challenging miles in, and both felt satisfied with the workout.
Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to my cousin, but we had new memories to share from our visit.
I then took off on my own, heading south as she headed north to go home.
My favorite part of traveling is hitting a new road for the first time. The drive south along Highway 93 was snowy and scenic. Then I took a left turn at the town of Salmon to head southeast to Idaho Falls.
Chunks of snow lay along the sides of the Salmon River as the spring thaw was in full force. Looking back this morning, I wish I had stopped for more pictures. It was a long day of travel, and I had one more pass to conquer.

The road was mostly clear and dry until I reached a section where the wind picked up, and the snow was blowing across the highway. In the distance, the soft snow-covered peaks continued as I drove.
I finally arrived in Idaho Falls around 5:00 PM. I was starving and more than ready for a shower.
I splurged and ordered an Uber Eats delivery which ended in disaster. My enchiladas arrived wrapped in flour tortillas, and the rice and beans were lacking. The kind young man at the front desk had received the order for me, so I was not able to check the order myself.
This starving gluten-free girl had to find somewhere else to eat.
I got online and found another Mexican place about a mile away. Don Alberto served up massive quantities at reasonable prices. I had enough left over for lunch today.

Don Alberto in Idaho Falls. The two carnitas tacos were enough for dinner!

All’s well that ends well. I caught up with a good friend and enjoyed a little reading and TV time. (Silly as it may seem, I am a nomad who loves HGTV.)
Last night was my first alone in a hotel since leaving “home” almost two weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong—I love visiting friends and family—but it is nice to have my own space.
Now I will be on my own for about three weeks, and I will be trying out some more extended stays. Travel is my life, so I plan to slow down a bit.
I will arrive in Park City, Utah, for a week-long stay tonight. I hope to catch the last of the spring snow and get out for more cross-country skiing. I’m also due for some pampering time—a pedicure and a haircut are in order. Maybe a massage.
Here’s to some Me Time!

True Confession

November 23, 2022

I don’t love Italy. I know, people rave about Italy. Okay, there are some beautiful places to see, but I have to believe those fans of Italy have never been to Spain or Portugal. I know I’m biased, but who isn’t? And this is about my experiences, so here goes…

I passed through Italy in the 1980s while doing the college kid-backpack-Eurail Pass thing. My friend and I were traveling from December through early February, so we were looking for warm weather after spending some time in France. (Christmas in Paris was amazing!)

We first passed through Italy on our way to Greece, taking a ferry from southern Italy. Didn’t really see much of Italy except what had passed by the train windows.

Then we made a point of stopping in Rome on the way back from Greece. The great snowstorm of the century hit Rome the day we arrived; On top of that, my friend had acquired a cold through our travels. She was absolutely miserable! I remember leaving our crappy little hotel room to find her some soup. Sadly, we didn’t get to see any of the sights. The city had shut down.

About 14 years ago, I traveled to Italy with my then-husband and two kids. We had a fabulous trip! We spent four days covering as much of Rome as possible by foot. We splurged on a private tour of the Vatican. We stayed at an Airbnb that had a view of the Pantheon. Then we drove along the Amalfi Coast and spent a day in Pompeii. It was a short but sweet sampling of Italy.

Eating was problematic with my celiac disease, but everything else made up for that.

The Tuscan countryside is gorgeous, no doubt about that.

On my current journey, I had the opportunity to rent a one-bedroom condo in Tuscany for a great price. Everyone raves about Tuscany. How could I pass up the opportunity to finally see it? A friend who had been to Tuscany before offered to drive. Great! I absolutely, positively will not drive in Italy.

We made the most of our six days in Tuscany. The scenery was picture-perfect. The hilltop towns are enchanting despite the sometimes-treacherous narrow roads one must drive to get to and from them. I completely understand why people love it.
What I didn’t like was that I felt everyone was after my pocketbook. Prices were high compared to Spain and Portugal. Gluten-free restaurant food was challenging to find. And I swear we sometimes paid the “tourist price.”
Most Italian restaurants add a service charge of anywhere from one Euro to 3.50 per person. You’re basically paying for your utensils and bread, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t eat the bread.

Then it got worse: Venice. Okay, Venice is unique and full of beautiful buildings. It’s delightful to watch the gondolas making their way through the canals. But do you know how much a gondola ride costs? Eighty Euros for thirty minutes! Yes, that is for up to five people in a boat, but thirty minutes? That’s it? No thanks. I can live without ever riding in a gondola.

Seeing the gondolas was good enough for me.

Restaurants are expensive, and some pull some ridiculous moves. We encountered heavy rain and 50-mile-per-hour winds on the second day in Venice. It wasn’t the best day for sightseeing. We first went to the Doge’s Palace. Then we saw a café advertising hot chocolate (I’m a huge fan of Spanish and Italian stuff—dark, rich, and not too sweet.) We walked up and asked for one. The nicely dressed waiter told us to come in and sit down. It was a swanky café with red velvet cushions on the seats. My friend figured she would order a cup of tea. Then we saw the menu. Hot chocolate with a cookie: ten euros. What??? I asked the waiter. He said without the cookie, it was only eight euros. I asked about the 3.50 price posted by the door. He said that was takeaway only. We got up, and I took that hot chocolate away in the pouring rain.

That same day, we decided we needed to continue to brave the cold and sideways rain to get a hot lunch. We tried our luck at the nearest restaurant. They had some gluten-free items. Okay. We noticed that a man was eating some soup and asked about it. No gluten. Great! It was a traditional Italian broth-based soup with beef, cabbage, onion, cauliflower, and kale. I would call it peasant soup. It was simple and delicious. We each had a bowl and shared an entrée of chicken and vegetables in a white wine sauce. Also, very good!

Then we got the bill. He charged us 16 euros each for the soup! What? I can’t think of a gourmet restaurant in the US that would demand that much for soup. And the chicken entrée was 17 euros. It didn’t make sense. I asked the waiter if it was correct. He gave me that look, like, of course it is, you stupid tourist. I wonder if that other guy paid 16 Euros for his soup.

And the final “I can’t believe you are charging that much” price was the cost of climbing the San Marco Tower. Ten Euros! Nope. I can get my exercise in other ways.

I understand that costs may be higher in Venice because of its location, but groceries were inexpensive. Just saying…
I’ll stick with Spain and Portugal, or at least I won’t return to Venice anytime soon.

A beautiful day in Murano! Okay, Italy wasn’t so bad after all.

Here are some more photos of Italy. My friend and I had a fantastic time despite the few instances of price gouging.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Bucket List checked. Climbed it. Very cool experience!

Vicari, a cute Tuscan town with a castle in the middle

The best and reasonably priced food we ate in Italy, at a French restaurant! Bacciomeo in Palaiia

The World’s tiniest toilet and bidet in our Venice hotel room!

Sometimes It’s Just Shabby

November 12, 2022

I’ve been traveling for about four and a half months. Yesterday, I thought I was feeling travel weary. I arrived in a new town, and I wasn’t that excited. I walked into the building where I was renting an apartment, and it just didn’t feel right. I got up to my apartment and got a little excited that it had a partial view of the Mediterranean. And it was relatively spacious for a short-term rental. It may be alright after all.

Don’t let this post throw you off; Blanes is a lovely seaside town!

Then I started to notice little things, not-so-good things. The towel bar in the bathroom was broken and hanging rustily from its one screw. The white-painted kitchen chairs were grubby and in need of a good cleaning. The sofa had uneven back cushions and was ripped in one corner. There was a flat white sheet lying on it. I initially thought it might be a set of sheets for a fold-out mattress. No, it was one flat sheet, presumably to cover the crappy sofa.

Then there were other little things. The batteries were dead in the television remote. I couldn’t release the stopper when I stopped up the bathroom sink to wash some underwear. But it got worse; there was no hair dryer! No hair dryer? Every single place I have been since June has provided a hair dryer.

Then there was one bizarre thing. Once I manually turned on the TV (dead batteries in the remote), I noticed all the stations were in French! Blanes is on the Costa Brava of Spain—at least 100 kilometers from France. Usually, I wouldn’t fuss about the TV, but it was Friday night, and I wanted to watch La Voz (Spain’s version of The Voice).

This morning, I was dreading the trip to the front desk. I actually had a list so I would remember everything. I’m not fond of confrontation, and complaining is not my style. But I’m here for two more nights, and it would be nice to stop washing my hands and brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. And my hair looks like crap. I’d rather not go with the ponytail and hat look for the next three days.

Most of the issues were quickly remedied. The front desk clerk handed me two batteries and called housekeeping to bring up a hairdryer and check on the sink drain. It was one of those press-down and pop-up deals. She had to press a few times, and it finally popped up. She assured me she would send maintenance a note about the towel bar. I breathed a sigh of relief and got out for a day of exploring.

Still, I wouldn’t say I like this place—not the town—this apartment. I tried to talk myself into liking it. The bed is comfortable, and the sheets are clean. There is even a rain head in the shower. But it lacks coziness and comfort. The walls have a rough texture. The décor is lacking, except for the cute basket-style lampshade over the kitchen table. It feels like it was done in the most minimally acceptable way, as no one cares. It lacks warmth. No one should have to pay to sit on a worn and tattered sofa! Shabby is the best word to describe it.

The cute basket-style lampshade was about all the kitchen had going for it.

Cab Drivers in the Know

October 31, 2022

Cab drivers in Spain are an interesting group of people. Occasionally you will get the silent one, but most of the time, they like to chat. Some love to tell you about their city and the places you should visit, and some will suggest other towns you must see. They are usually a thoughtful and kind-hearted group of people.

A couple of weeks ago, I met a driver who was an artist and author. We talked about writing, and I told him I dabbled a bit. He gave me his business card and encouraged me to go on a writing retreat in the future. (Add that to the to-do list.)

Last week, I brought my friend to Madrid for a couple of days before she headed back to the US. I got up early with her and called a cab at 2:45 in the morning. Then I went back to sleep for a few hours and called my own taxi to the train station. Usually, I would save money and take the bus or Metro, but rest felt like a better option! It took about ten minutes for the driver to arrive. He explained that the traffic was terrible, and he had done his best. I thought I had given myself enough of a traffic buffer when I summoned him with the app, but I was beginning to panic a little as we drove. He asked me what time my train was, and I said, “10:15.” He assured me that he would get me there in time to have a cup of coffee before getting on the train. He skillfully dashed in and out of traffic without making me feel unsafe.

He was right. We arrived at 9:57. I had plenty of time to get through security and board my train.

When I arrived in Sitges today, I decided to get groceries first since it looked like the apartment I’d be staying in was a way out of town. (Funny. I was sure I had carefully chosen a place within close walking distance, but that’s another story.) I was rather loaded down with my backpack, suitcase, and two bags of groceries. My Cabify App would not work in Sitges, so I went to the taxi stand.

The driver who picked me up seemed happy to see me, almost as if we were old friends. We chatted a bit as we drove, and then I heard him sigh. I asked if he was tired. He then unloaded on me a bit about how hard it is to drive a cab and work with the public. I told him that I could relate. I had just retired from teaching. He then became enthusiastic and told me he has three children, 17, 19, and 24. He has insisted that they all receive some higher education to have a better life than he has. He commended me for teaching and congratulated me on my retirement. We found out that we are the same age, too. I felt like I had made a new friend.

The office where I checked in for the rental apartment was at least a mile from the apartment. It was a long walk!

The Time When Everything Went Wrong

September 21, 2022

Sometimes you check into a hotel, or in my case, a tiny studio apartment, and everything seems to go wrong.
I finally reached my apartment building in Lisbon and pushed the buzzer for reception. No answer. I tried again. No answer.

Then I remembered that there was a phone number with the confirmation. They had a short check-in window from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, and it was just after 2:00, so maybe they were late getting to work.

I called, and a man answered. Almost immediately, he appeared at my side to let me in. My, he was a handsome one, about my height and 40ish. He took my suitcase to help me up the first flight of stairs explaining that the elevator started on the first floor. (In Spain and Portugal, the ground floor is floor zero. What we Americans would consider the second floor; they would call the first.)

He checked me in but explained that the room wasn’t quite ready. Housekeeping was just finishing the cleaning, and it would take ten minutes or so. No problem. I didn’t mind waiting.

He brought me up and showed me how to use the code to get into the room. I then tried to set up the Wi-Fi on my phone. It didn’t work. He said he would reboot it and that I could use the same password to log into one of the other routers in the building.

I did my thing and got minimally settled. This was indeed a tiny apartment! It didn’t even have a closet, just a rack about a foot long with six hangers. It did have an iron and ironing board, though, something I had not yet seen on this trip. Oh, and a safe! I could lock up my computer when I was out and about.

Okay, a couple of things: Notice that there is about a foot of space to get in and out of the double, not queen, bed. Then, what if a couple rented this for their honeymoon?

I took a little rest before heading out to explore. The trip from Nazaré had been exhausting. Well, it was mostly the trip from the bus station to the apartment that did me in. Two subway rides with one escalator and one elevator out of service. Lugging that 40-pound suitcase up stairs is no easy feat!

I went to try my code on the safe, and it wouldn’t lock. I tried a different code and got an error message and a loud beeping noise. To my relief, the noise stopped after about 30 seconds.

I stopped at the office on the way out to let Mr. Handsome know about the safe. He insisted on coming back up with me to see if he could reset it. Not what I wanted to do, but better to get it over with. He had the same thing happen; beep, beep, beep…I told him not to worry about it, and he said he would fix it tomorrow.

I wouldn’t let a problematic apartment keep me from enjoying Lisbon!

It was a hot but fantastic afternoon of sightseeing. I followed the Rick Steves Baixa Stroll and was delighted that the apartment was within the map’s boundaries. In fact, it was just a few blocks from the beginning of the walk. After some gelato at the Plaza of Commerce, I made my way up to the Rossio train station, had dinner, bought some groceries, and returned to the apartment, ready to relax for the evening.

The day had been hot and humid, so I turned on the air conditioner and got ready for a shower. I noticed a steady drip of water coming down and got the big soup pot under it.

After the shower, I noticed the hair dryer didn’t work. Earlier that day, I had thought that I could have left my little travel hairdryer at home because every place seems to have one. That had to be the last malfunctioning/broken thing in this tiny apartment.

Nope. I couldn’t get the computer connected to the internet. When I finally got on one of the other routers, the signal was so weak that I couldn’t even surf the net or check Facebook.

At least there was a TV. I turned it on, and all the stations were that telltale blizzard. I guessed the cable wasn’t working either. I checked the back of the TV and saw that the cable was just disconnected. I plugged it back in, and all was well. At least I could veg out and watch some HGTV shows.

The next day…

Today after my morning outing, I stopped at the office to tell them about the dripping air conditioner. Again, Mr. Handsome insisted that he send the maintenance guy up right away to try and fix it, and he would get the safe working for me. I wanted to rest for a bit but getting it out of the way was good. Some new batteries took care of the safe, and I can now lock up the computer. The maintenance guy switched out the filters but was sure there was more to fix.

Mr. Handsome was still there after the maintenance guy left. I mentioned that I had heard him speaking perfect Spanish on the phone earlier and asked why he spoke it so well. He seemed pleased to know that I spoke Spanish. He explained that he had worked as a flight attendant based out of Madrid and had traveled the world for five years. Then he assured me that I would continue to pick up Portuguese and that there were a lot of similarities to Spanish. He also showed me the other hairdryer that was hiding in the cupboard. (The one attached to the wall was old and no longer worked.)
The air conditioner began dripping almost as soon as they left. But no one was in the office when I went to leave for my afternoon outing.

When I returned, I broke the bad news to Mr. Handsome. He said they were fully booked but would see if he could get me into a different apartment tomorrow since the technician couldn’t get here right away. I assured him that I would be fine either way.

I won’t mind another conversation with Mr. Handsome, though. He looks deeply into my eyes when he talks to me as if he can dive into my soul.

Ultimately, I stayed in the tiny apartment with the dripping air conditioner. My days in Lisbon were packed with so many beautiful sights to see.

Now I Have Arrived!

September 6, 2022

This trip did not get off to a good start for me. First, my flight was delayed by an entire day. The flight from Seattle to Dallas was an hour late, which meant I would not make my connection. Luckily, I learned this before arriving at SeaTac. (Always check your email before a flight!) It didn’t end up being too bad, though. I went back to sleep and got some much-needed rest. I then took a walk and relaxed, knowing that I would need to get up at 3:30 the following day for my 7:00 AM flight.

Today I feel relieved. The flights to Madrid went as smoothly as possible; I’m just not a good plane sleeper. Maybe someday I will be wealthy enough to fly first class. I arrived at my hotel on Sunday morning hungry and exhausted. Fortunately, I could check in at 8:00 AM because I had already paid for the room the night before. It wasn’t much of a room, but I can’t complain. I got a bargain rate for being close to the city center. My room had one window that faced one of those nondescript courtyards, you know, with a view of the apartments across. In other words, no view, just daylight.

I allowed myself some time to rest and got up around 11:30 to walk over to Retiro Park, about 7 blocks away. At that time, I realized I was dehydrated and constipated, a combination that often comes with long flights.

In my zombie-like state, I walked through the park and over to the Plaza Mayor and some other sights. It was warm but not oppressively hot, somewhere in the 80s. To ease my digestive distress, I stopped at a health-oriented restaurant. I had fresh-squeezed juice (carrot, pineapple, and orange) along with a custom-made salad. I walked as much as possible and returned to my non-descript hotel room.

I then realized that I was facing a severe digestive challenge. I drank lots of hot water through the afternoon; I was genuinely becoming uncomfortable. I should have made a trip to the farmacia right then, but I was exhausted. Big mistake!

By 2:00 AM, I was miserable. I got online and found a 24-hour pharmacy just a few blocks away. Given the hour, I asked the gentleman at the front desk to call a taxi. The driver showed me where to walk up the 24-hour window, and the pharmacist gave me the only remedy available without a prescription, laxatives.

It was a long night and a long day following that. I finally got relief at 4:00 PM the next day. Then I promptly got in the shower, walked through the neighborhood, and over to Eva Perone Park. Things were looking up! I would make my flight to Porto.

What a difference a day makes!

It was another early wake-up, at 5:15 this time. I still wasn’t feeling 100%, but I was well enough to get myself checked in at Ryan Air. Thankfully the flight to Porto was only 55 minutes.

Then, thanks to a free airport pick-up from Booking.com (Why I got this perk, I do not know.) I was greeted by my private driver, who took me directly to my apartment for the next week. He was familiar with Spain and was excited for me to become acquainted with his hometown. I should have taken notes as he went on and on about all the things I must do during my week here.

I received an early check-in, and the kind young woman carried my 18.5-kilo bag (almost 41 pounds) up two long flights of stairs.

The apartment is about as charming as it possibly could be. It is a studio in an older building with an updated kitchen and bathroom. It is small but perfect! I even have a Juliet balcony and two large windows—the complete opposite of my Madrid hotel room. The ceilings are at least ten feet high, and the street view is ideal. Not to mention, there is a sizeable grocery store two doors away. That was excellent news for this starving, exhausted woman!

View to the left from my Porto apartment

View to the right from my Porto apartment

I walked over and bought a bunch of groceries, including a grinder with salt and herbs. Such a great idea! I made a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup, perfect for my imbalanced digestive tract.

The salt grinder and herb grinder travelled with me for the next three months!

After lunch and a nap, I took off to explore the area. At first, I got a little confused with my directions, and, surprise, I ended up back at the apartment. Along the way, I booked a massage for tomorrow afternoon at 4:00. Yes, I will be able to find the place!

For my second outing, I headed down by the Douro River. Talk about picturesque; It is stunning! I had a feeling I would like Porto. I was having so much fun that I didn’t notice my phone was low on battery, and it quit on me. Initially, I panicked and thought something was wrong with it. I missed a few photos, but I am here for an entire week. I will get back over the bridge more than once, probably tomorrow.

The first of many amazing Portuguese sidewalk shots!

I might have taken yet another nap before facing the challenge of the microwave-convection oven with Portuguese wording. Thank you, Google Translator. The soup was good the second time, accompanied by some potato chips and flan for dessert.

I have some gluten-free places scoped out for the coming days, but it is nice to have my own kitchen, too! Fruit, bacon, eggs, and ginger tea for breakfast tomorrow.

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