I’m back, almost!

[FrankEV]

Twenty-four days on a cruise ship traveling across the Atlantic to end in Barcelona, Spain is a lot of Eating, drinking, port of call excursions, sun-bathing, whirlpool dunking, more drinking and of course by the time the cruise is over you have caught an upper respiratory infection and are feeling miserable.  That’s my story. 

Then we spend a Week in Barcelona, Spain doing tours we had preplanned like Montserrat with me hacking and coughing all the way.   All the tours included a lot of walking which my lady, Robin, has difficulty with due to a recent hip injury.  The two of us made a fine pair of typical tourist.  Got a lot of pics that I haven’t had chance to even look at yet.  We did enjoy our Pealla Cooking Class we attended.

Then we took the train from Barcelona to Paris having to handle four large suitcases, two small drag-a-long’s, Robins tote bag, and my camera backpack.  No porter type service, you get the picture. 

Now, I’m starting to feel a wee bit better, but it’s Robins turn to get sick with the upper respiratory infection I gave her. Both of us have ear infections and can’t hear well.  Even with my hearing aids, I was (and still am) totally deaf in my left ear.   Again, our tours in Parris were a LOT of walking and eating.  We did enjoy our Cooking Class and of course our trip to the Eiffel Tower and a Lunch (more like a fine dinner) on the second level of the tower was something not to be missed.

Then the flight home…another test of our endurance.  Robin is now really sick, and my energy level is low.  Finally got our bags checked and had to work our way through security and customs, not a fun ordeal.   The flight to Boston was a long 8 hours.  Now again through US Customs and the need to change terminals…a good half mile apart, for a five-hour layover. Then the three-hour Flight to Orlando, Florida, after which we had a long walk to claim our bags, and get to the car rental for our ride home to our home in Ormond Beach Fl.   Arriving three minutes after midnight.

While in Boston waiting for the connecting flight, Robin called our doctor and made us appointments for yesterday.   We are now on strong antibiotics and cough medicine.  It will be a week, hopefully, before we are back to normal.

Despite being tiring and getting sick, this trip was enjoyable.  And, if nothing else, we can say we were there!

Now it’s soon time to get back in the shop, but first I have to do yard work that was ignored for six weeks.

[Scrappile]

Humm, sounds like a wonderful relaxing vacation....  I would love to see Spain.  But I will look at it on the internet, in a relaxing chair, pretty safe from any infections, very cheap and I can get up and go scroll anytime.

Glad you are back, you have been missed here.

[rjweb]

welcome home Frank, get well first, then saw dust, RJ

[jerry walters]

Great to hear from you Frank.  Anxious to see some of your work after you are fully recovered.

Jerry

[wombatie]

There is nothing worse than getting sick when you are away on holiday.  Glad you managed to enjoy it anyway.  Take time to relax before rushing back into the workshop and breathing in saw dust.  Glad you are back safe and sound.

Marg

[barb.j.enders]

Welcome home Frank.  Glad that you and Robin are on the mend.  Take the time to fully recover.  I am looking forward to seeing your latest works and critiques of mine!

[FrankEV]

Thanks to sll. 

I'm feeling a lot better. On antibiotics.  Lrft ear still plugged up. 

Did get into the shop this morning for a couple hors and got some cutting done on my next project.  Felt good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hawk]

Welcome back! I did way too much traveling while in the Navy. I stay pretty close to home due in large part to the experience you had at the airports. Glad you made it home.

[OCtoolguy]

Welcome back, Frank. My wife is in the process of putting together our second Viking trip. We did one a few years back to Switzerland and up the Rhine River. We experienced almost every misery that you just listed. Our time on the boat was great, but getting there and getting back home has to almost equal being on a cancer chemo course. Miserable is the best word for it. I truly believe there should be "wing seats" for families with small children. 1st class is out of our reach, so being stuffed into tiny miserable seating is in our future. If only time travel was a reality. I'm not looking forward to it one bit. I wish my wife would find a travel partner to take me out of the equation. 
Your post has reminded me of just how miserable my not-so-distant future is going to be. Where is Covid when you need it?
Give me a motorhome and the open road anytime. 

[Peter N White]

Just go and enjoy the trip with your wife when she is not there you will say I wish I could.