La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Cabaret was more than just theatre, it was a theatrical experience from the moment we entered the building. I’ll save a better description of the evening for my return to Spain when I’m not typing on my iPad. I’ve hinted though that we’ve had more drama than just what we found at the theatre.
San Geraldo is not the most relaxed traveler to begin with. He worries about how much to pack (too much), about getting to the airport, about his seat on the plane, the hotel, the space in the hotel room, the heat and his control of it. So here’s what we’ve dealt with.
He didn’t find our room warm enough. He stressed. I roasted. The hotel provided a space heater. Problem solved.
SG forgot a prescription medication. He had two sleeves totaling 17 pills when he needed a total of 27. We stressed through the weekend until he found Dajani Pharmacy, several minutes away on Old Brompton Road with their on-call doctor. They were so kind and helpful and made the problem go away mid-day Monday.
A few days before we left home, I mentioned to SG that my right heel was very tender. I thought I had bruised it on my long walk. By the next day, it hurt so much that I realized it was plantar fasciitis (which I had in my left foot more than 12 years ago). I immediately ordered a special sleep boot for overnight delivery. It keeps the ankle at a right angle when you sleep and solved my problem last time. Two hours after guaranteed arrival, I received email saying it would not arrive until the day after we left Spain. I cancelled the order but couldn’t find any local shop that had them in stock. I hobbled painfully through the airport. Not an auspicious start to 9 days of treks all over London. The weekend was torture. I didn’t find a boot here. So I bought a cane at Dajani Pharmacy. I hate using it, but it has made a huge difference. Also, I’ve been offered a sympathy seat on the underground and first dibs at the hotel elevator.
At Westminster Abbey Wednesday I had the audio tour and my camera to manage. The cane became a huge nuisance, so I folded it up. By the end of the day, my foot was screaming. I plan to make an effort to find a sleep boot today.
SG left his upscale and expensive umbrella at the pub where we got together with Steve Monday evening. He walked back Tuesday and they had it behind the bar. Shocking.
I left my shoulder bag in the hotel restaurant Tuesday morning. I realized several hours later and my brain went into overdrive. It held my passport, my wallet, my glasses, among other things. I went down to the lobby and found my bag waiting for me. Honest people in the big city of London!
I missed my chat with The Kid Brother Tuesday night. I was ashamed. He called me from work Wednesday for a WhatsApp video chat!
Today, I’m hoping to haul SG to the Tower of London. Maybe I’ll offer a reprieve and haul him there tomorrow.
Cabaret era más que teatro, fue una experiencia teatral desde el momento en que entramos al edificio. Me guardaré una mejor descripción de la velada para mi regreso a España cuando no esté escribiendo en mi iPad. Sin embargo, he insinuado que hemos tenido más drama que el que encontramos en el teatro.
Para empezar, San Geraldo no es el viajero más relajado. Le preocupa cuánto empacar (demasiado), cómo llegar al aeropuerto, su asiento en el avión, el hotel, el espacio en la habitación del hotel, el calor y su control sobre él. Así que esto es lo que hemos tratado.
No encontró nuestra habitación lo suficientemente cálida. El esta estresado. Me asé. El hotel proporcionó un calentador. Problema resuelto.
SG olvidó un medicamento recetado. Tenía dos fundas con un total de 17 pastillas cuando necesitaba un total de 27. Estuvimos estresados durante el fin de semana hasta kque encontró la farmacia Dajani, a varios minutos de distancia, en Old Brompton Road, con su médico de guardia. Fueron muy amables y serviciales e hicieron que el problema desapareciera el lunes al mediodía.
Unos días antes de salir de casa, le mencioné a SG que mi talón derecho estaba muy sensible. Pensé que me lo había lastimado en mi larga caminata. Al día siguiente me dolía tanto que me di cuenta de que era fascitis plantar (que tenía en el pie izquierdo hace más de 12 años). Inmediatamente pedí una bota para dormir especial para entrega al día siguiente. Mantiene el tobillo en ángulo recto cuando duermes y resolvió mi problema la última vez. Dos horas después de la llegada garantizada, recibí un correo electrónico diciendo que no llegaría hasta el día después de que saliéramos de España. Cancelé el pedido pero no pude encontrar ninguna tienda local que los tuviera en stock. Cojeé dolorosamente por el aeropuerto. No es un comienzo auspicioso para 9 días de caminatas por todo Londres. El fin de semana fue una tortura. No encontré una bota aquí. Entonces compré un bastón en la farmacia Dajani. Odio usarlo, pero ha marcado una gran diferencia. Además, me ofrecieron un asiento de cortesía en el metro y el primer acceso al ascensor del hotel.
El miércoles en la Abadía de Westminster tuve que gestionar el recorrido con audio y mi cámara. El bastón se convirtió en una gran molestia, así que lo doblé. Al final del día, mi pie gritaba. Planeo hacer un esfuerzo para encontrar una bota para dormir hoy.
SG dejó su exclusivo y caro paraguas en el pub donde nos reunimos con Steve el lunes por la noche. Regresó el martes y lo tenían detrás de la barra. Impactante.
Dejé mi bolso en el restaurante del hotel el martes por la mañana. Me di cuenta varias horas después y mi cerebro se aceleró. Dentro guardaba mi pasaporte, mi billetera, mis gafas, entre otras cosas. Bajé al vestíbulo y encontré mi bolso esperándome. ¡Gente honesta en la gran ciudad de Londres!
Me perdí mi charla con El Hermanito el martes por la noche. Yo estaba avergonzado. ¡Me llamó desde el trabajo el miércoles para un video chat de WhatsApp!
Hoy espero llevar a SG a la Torre de Londres. Tal vez le ofrezca un indulto y lo lleve allí mañana.
Izquierda: Cómo viaja San Geraldo ligero. Derecha: Cómo viajo pesado.
Parece que está a punto de hacer una rotación externa tumbado con una mancuerna.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Oh my God, after all those dramas and stresses, I believe I would have looked Jon up and spent the rest of the vacation in a pub drinking…..
I would have been happy to oblige!! Jx
Jon,
I am so sorry! I would have loved that. I somehow got the impression you weren’t up for the blogger socializing. You’re forewarned. I’ll catch you next time.
Mistress Borghese,
I saw Jon’s response to your comment. I would have gotten in touch with him in advance but I didn’t realize he like socializing in person with fellow bloggers. I missed my chance… this time!
Me, being such a shy, blushing wallflower… 🤣🤣🤣!
I’d love to meet up with you and SG one day! Jx
Jon,
We’ll always have Spain!
Jesus, Mitchell! You’re going to need a vacation to recover from your vacation! I’m so sorry!
Jennifer
Jennifer,
It’s still been wonderful. Fortunately every day of our lives is a vacation.
I love that comment, Mitchell! You are exactly right! So anxious to see you! ❤️ Linda
Linda:
Less than a week!!!
Oops! I think I commented in the wrong post, Mitchell!! Hopefully you will see that I loved your comment about every day of your lives is a vacation! So excited to see you both! ❤️ Linda
Linda:
Right place!
It’s a Murphy’s Law Vacation, but still, a good time will be had by all. I just know it!
Bob,
It’s still been fine. Just got back from the Tower. I didn’t leave SG there.
So much stress and drama! And plantar fasciitis is SO painful (I have it too and wear custom orthotics all the time — even in my slippers — to keep it at bay). I’ve never had to wear that device at night though. Westminster Abbey is very interesting, but it’s really just a huge royal graveyard (plus a few other notables), isn’t it.
Debra,
I’ve got the custom orthotics and heel cushion inserts. And I’ve been massaging and doing what I can. I need at least a day of no walking and that’s not going to happen until I’m home. We laughed at your description of Westminster Abbey. SG’s dead relatives are all over the place.
Oh my gosh! You have had a lot of bumps in the road that add up to one big huge bump! I hope the rest of the trip goes much smoother. I have had plantar fasciitis and it hurts like hell.
Mcpersonalspace54,
All has gone smoothly the last few days. The foot sucks!
You guys need to lighten your load! I travel for three weeks around Europe with just a 20” carry-on and a tote bag. My DH on the other hand could use a Sherpa.
Enjoy the rest of your time in London—I consider it my hometown as that is where I spent almost my entire childhood surrounded by most of my maternal relatives. I happily revisit every year.
Mary,
SG could use a sherpa any time of year. But fashion plates that we are, we couldn’t possibly wear the same thing twice (although we do…).
Oh, my goodness! But, listen… you are not alone. We just had visitors (cherished cousins). So many things… She forgot her eyeglasses (needed for distance), so couldn’t do the navigating … but, they didn’t really put that together in their heads, so he was still expecting her to notice the highway exit signs, and tell him when to exit, and she didn’t realize that he wasn’t looking on his own, so… yup… got lost (they don’t use Google maps or GPS). Then, they live in Arkansas, so… didn’t think about it being cold up here, now, so no socks, no jackets…. didn’t correctly respond to my question about if they needed two bedrooms, so, they realized after several days that they couldn’t really both SLEEP if in the same bed, so he didn’t get much sleep for three days… they had to go home early :). They left their phone charger and their electric toothbrush and charger. Ha! But, we enjoyed seeing each other, and it all ended well (charger and toothbrush being mailed today 😉 ).
Judy C
Judy C,
Another thing we’ve learned this trip is it’s too cold here for SG even in November with a low of 45 and a high of 55! SG would have left you early, too.
“Today, I’m hoping to haul SG to the Tower of London.”
Just because he complains all the time? Seems cold, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, I guess.
Erik,
So good to see you here! I did haul him there today but I also decided to haul him back. I’ve let him survive this long, why stop now?
What an adventure this vacation has turned into. Aggravating how those old injuries come back to haunt and slow us down.
Shirley,
This is a new injury that i think was brought on by the bunion on the other foot. Oh yawn!
Good to hear that there are honest folks in London. Takes the bite out of the dramatic leadup.
Hope things have improved for you both.
Jim,
People have been especially pleasant.
I’m glad to hear so much of your drama ended well. I hate that about the plantar fasciitis, though. I had a horrible bout with it earlier in the year, so I can feel your pain. Like Debra, I’ve found wearing the right shoes (or inserts) can make all the difference in the world. I hope you’re able to find a boot soon if that’s what works best for you!
Kelly,
I’ve got the inserts, the shoes, and the exercises. All the walking every day doesn’t help.
How frustrating! It seems to have taken the edge off the full enjoyment of your holiday. Shame. London’s worth exploring, and is also (if you take it slow) a feast for the soul. There are as many relaxing places as there are full-on “tourist magnet” destinations. Jx
PS Handy hint: never pack more clothes than you can carry when you have Primark (discount clothiers of renown) a short hop, skip and a jump away in Oxford Street.
PPS Hoorah for a) the integral honesty of a majority of British people, even in London; and b) that excellent pharmacy you discovered!
Jon,
I would normally be out walking and exploring all day every day. The foot has frustrated me, but we’ve still managed to enjoy some special times. I did bring more clothes than I needed. One small suitcase would have been fine. SG’s size 15 shies need a suitcase of their own. We were talking today about how pleasant people have been,
I got a bit stressed out just reading that! Fortunately, quite a few of those problems were resolved, and hopefully whatever wasn’t soon will be. Put the problems in perspective. The Tower of London. Think how stressful that place was for a few of its inhabitants!
Kirk,
And at least we can wear sneakers!
Oh my. How long are you there for?
The tower of London is a great place to visit, make sure to say hello to a raven! There is a new series on TV started last week all about the tower and the people who work there. If you are going to be in that area, Tower Bridge used to be open for folk to go in and see the workings down below…..amazing! Frances.
Frances,
We said hi to the ravens and watched one fly off with someone’s lunch.
As long as they let him back out of the tower, with his head still attached. That is a lot of luggage for 9 days.
David,
I did let him back out of the tower.
I’m loving the quality of your photos and am envious you met September , who is a delight …..I am going to have a few days in Spain , and hope to feature in one of you lovely restaurant photos , ( complete with the famous Spanish whiskey cake)
Xxxx
finlaygray,
I like your alias for Steve! We should call him September from now on. He’s so easy to like. Wish we had more time together. I don’t know anywhere in Fuengirola that serves Spanish whiskey cake.
OK, I’d heard about some of this, obviously, but not all of it! HOW did we leave SG’s umbrella in the pub?! Did we leave it at the other table? I hope that wasn’t my fault!
In any case, I’m glad he got it back (and you got your bag back). Londoners are very good about returning lost property, in my experience.
I hope you get a sleep boot. Even after you get home you’ll need to watch that foot. Keep us posted!
Steve:
I think he left it on his chair. NOT your fault in any way. His umbrella. His responsibility. The foot is slowly SLOWLY improving. Too late for the sleep boot, I think. The pain isn’t worse when I wake up. Just worse the more I walk.
Tell SG I am not a good traveler either. One reason why I don’t do much
Urspo:
It IS exhausting.
I’ve been really busy so I’m catching up on posts. As I continue to read I hope to learn that you haven’t lost anything and you were able to find a sleep boot so all is well!
Love,
Janie