Back Home Again

I did it! - and almost all by myself. I am home again after a spectacular twenty-two day vacation in Spain. I now feel confident that I am still able to travel. 

In the past I often travelled alone. But since missing an Air Canada check-in by five minutes in San Francisco a while back and stumbling through some of the Arrive Canada restrictions during Covid, I had lost my confidence, particularly with air travel. 

This time, with the help of my daughter on the flight out and by finding a reliable travel agent, my confidence is back. I was able to manage getting home from Madrid successfully on my own this time.

Ambleside lost at least two travel agencies over the past couple of years and any that may have still been in operation were missing in action while I was trying to book a tour for this vacation a few months ago. 

I was lucky to find John Cave in Dunderave, a semi-retired travel advisor, who was able to book a Trafalgar tour and my flight home quickly and efficiently. He not only responded to my many emails; but he also provided a door to door free-of-charge airport drive both coming and going. He even offered to stop at a grocery store on the way home if I needed to pick up a few things. 

John can be reached at: 

                 

takeoffnow.com cruise and travel

John Cave, President

 a member agency of TL NETWORK 

WORLD WIDE RIVER & OCEAN CRUISE SPECIALISTS

A division of Take Off Eh! Cruise and Travel Corp.  

5530 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC Canada V7W 2R5

TEL: (604) 922-8760 (604)  CELL: (604) 715-4359

The SIM Card Learning Curve

Of things to know before you go:

When you travel, if you buy a SIM card for your current phone...

• You can no longer verify who you are by getting a code sent to your phone.
• Your phone may no longer sync with your computer, watch or ipad.
• You have a new number and your friends may not answer a strange number. 
• Your phone only works in specific countries. 
• You cannot use roaming feature as there is no method to pay for this service. 
• The only time you can use your phone in a different country is to connect with a wifi service which will only give you internet service. 

If you do not buy a SIM Card, you may be paying exorbitant cell phone fees when you return home. 

Solution: Next time bring two phones. Use your current phone only when you absolutely must. 

Moral of the Story: Don't become dependent on your phone.

BTW:  SIM means 'subscriber identity module. It is a smart card that stores information that can pinpoint a smartphone to a specific network. 

 

Into Africa

Marrakesh City Hall

My introduction to Africa started with fleas from the carpet on the ferry biting my ankles. It did get better; Morocco is a lovely place. However, it is a third world country and you must be on your guard most of the time.  From a couple of days in Fez we are moving on to Marrakesh for a few days before making our way back to Spain along the coast. I am thankful for being on a controlled Trafalgar tour as I know I could not do this on my own.

My Indispensable Phone

 At one time, before setting out on a holiday, BCAA would provide you with maps and books on the places you planned to go. They would even draw out a route for you to follow. The books contained information on hotels and restaurants and described tourist attractions. You always needed a phrase book in foreign language countries. Later there was Lonely Planet and other guide books to carry with you. 

Today, you only need a smart phone to travel and I wonder if anyone could travel well without one. In some restaurants the only menu available is by way of a scan with your phone. Since the possibility of spreading Covid germs became an issue, full size menus are rare. One-use paper copies of menus are available but are not good for the environment. 

In foreign countries, Google Translate and the Google Lens apps are indispensable. Google Maps, another vital app, will even guide you on walking to destinations with narrow crowded streets and lanes where street names are hard to find or understand. If I hold my phone in my hand, and have mapped my route, it lets me know when I have made a wrong turn.

Note to self: Next trip bring at least three power cord adaptors.

With phones, laptops, ipads, noise cancelling earphones, watches, sleeping devices, electric tooth brushes, there is always something that needs charging.

On The Road Again

 

 In Spain.

This is my first major trip in several years. Last Friday, I flew to Montreal and on to Lisbon, Portugal. We, my daughter and I, have been on a road trip through Porto, Portugal and San Sebastian, Spain. Today, we are driving to Lourdes in France. Then back to Spain with a couple of days in Barcelona. Then I will take a train to Madrid on my own where I will pick up a Trafalgar tour the next day. The tour  includes a few days in Morocco as well as more places in Spain and Portugal. By the end of my holiday I will have almost circumvented Spain.   

This is a test for me - to see if I can still travel. The last time I was in Europe was 2016 and a lot has changed, both in Europe and with me. 

It Takes a Village to Age Optimally

Ontario, once again, seems to be miles ahead of BC with helpful programs for older adults. McMaster University has produced an Optimal Aging Portal with a motto of "Healthy Aging Information That You Can Trust". Check this site out:

https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/

If you subscribe this this site, you will receive emails occasionally which will contain reliable information on living successfully. 

A recent topic, 'Intergenerational Programs: It takes a village to age optimally', discusses the importance of interacting with young people. Often, particularly for people without grandchildren, we associate only with adults.  

If you are a senior living alone, there are not many opportunities to interact with young people in Ambleside. However, our Senior Activity Centre has a free program called, Intergenerational Screen Time for Seniors, that can help solve this problem.  Not only do you get to interact with local students, you can also eliminate many irritating  issues you may have with your cell phone or tablet. 

On Thursday May 18th and June 8th from 4:30 to 5:30, there is a free drop-in for seniors to ask questions about their electronic devices from the expert young people who volunteer their time. 

He Was a Good Man

Harry Belafonte in 1983

News of Harry Belefonte's death today at the age of ninety-six brought me back. I have admired him for well over fifty years. He had an amazing well-lived life!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/25/harry-belafonte-singer-dies-actor-singer-activist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhTxdElJ4SE