Hello from across the pond! Many people have different ideas of how they like to travel. Most of the time when Sandy and I take a trip we like to cram a lot of different places into our allotted time. While I recognize the pleasure of unpacking and settling into one place, that isn't generally our way of doing things. A wise guide on a previous trip said some people go on vacations and some go on an adventure. We tend to veer towards the latter. We can rest when we get home. Somehow, wherever we are, photos from parents of their kids poop or questions about head bumps still manage to find Nurse Judy. We are currently at the halfway mark of our month of traveling. Two weeks in Croatia, Slovenia and then 2 weeks in Spain. Since we left home we have stayed in 8 different hotels. We will be in 5 new places in the coming 2 weeks. That means 13 different rooms to figure out. Just turning on and off lights can be tricky. The other night, I turned every light in our room on and off 2-3 times before getting them all off for bedtime. Sandy just laid there laughing. Bathrooms all have their own special characteristics. Flushing is not the same as it is in the US and depending where you travel it can be a bit of a puzzle. However, we have found it to be fairly standard in Europe these days.
Showers are a different story. Some of them have been a multistep process where an instruction manual would have been useful. Sandy got used to hearing me squeal as I got pelted by cold water from an unexpected hand-held shower head that I didn't mean to turn on. In one hotel, he had to come in to help me figure out how to turn the shower off. But there is no question that the biggest hurdle of being in an unfamiliar room is the nighttime navigation. If you are like me, more often than not there is the need to pee at least once before morning. I try to follow the mantra that Sandy and Lauren picked up during their trek to the top of Kilimanjaro. They were given firm instructions. The moment you think you need to go, rather than wasting precious sleep laying there thinking about how much you don't want to get up out of the warmth, just get up and get it over with. This is not necessarily easy in a strange dark surroundings. The first challenge is actually finding the bathroom without injuring yourself. Some have had a small step up, just asking for a stumble or stubbed toe. Upon successfully reaching the bathroom, it is then the matter of remembering where the toilet actually is. This is further complicated inside rooms that had the addition of a bidet. Next comes the patting along the walls in search of the toilet paper. It is not always easy to find. One of our hotels early on during this trip was extremely modern. There wasn't even an actual key. Instead you got access to the room from a QR code on the phone! The entire bathroom was completely clear glass. Fortunately lack of privacy was not a concern after being with your partner for 47 years. I was more worried that I would smack right into the glass wall like a confused bird. Fortunately that didn't happen, but we both have had our bumps and stubs as we stumbled around at night. The biggest thud belonged to Sandy as he smashed into a bench that was at the foot of the bed. Another bathroom in a 15th century heritage hotel felt pretty strongly like it was haunted. There were all sorts of noises and movements emanating from there in the wee hours. The trip has been spectacular so far. I am taking moments and trying to seal them into my brain in order to be able to keep the memories vivid. The sound of the waves and colors of the Adriatic Sea, the historic vibes of the narrow, cobblestone alleys, the smell of truffles, the taste of local carob brandy…. I know that in a blink all of this will be over and added to the charm bracelet of travel experiences. Luckily home is a good place. I will squish my kids and grandkids and not take the perfectly familiar trek to the bathroom for granted. I am extremely lucky.
This photo was taken in Dubrovnik. Game of throne fans might recognize the walk of shame. In May my intent is to get back into my Friday morning rhythm for the posts. Dr Ted and I are working on some useful ones. |
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