⭐Live Allure TA 🚢 March 1, 2020 - Time to rub the lamp 🧞

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Hope your heart issues are okay now. Would miss reading your pleasant thoughts on things!

Thank you so much I appreciate your kind words.

Kindest Regards Graham.

[DaniDanielle]

My husband had a heart transplant 17 years ago so we know all here is to know about the heart so we are here for you!!!!!

[bigeck]

7 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thanks I appreciate your concern.

I was in hospital for 3 days and I had 1 coronary stent put in plus medication to take.

Graham.

I hope it wasn't Sunderland FC stress related. Not sure that will improve. Only good thing about Corona is Celtic cant win the league again.

Hope you are keeping better now. The shops up here are empty

[grapau27]

4 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

My husband had a heart transplant 17 years ago so we know all here is to know about the heart so we are here for you!!!!!

Thank you that's very kind of you.

It was the circumflex artery that was blocked but I had only slight discomfort and ECG,xray and CT scans were fine,it was the blood test that showed protein that confirmed the HA and the angioplasty confirmed the blockage.

That's amazing your husband had a heart transplant I hope he is well.

[DaniDanielle]

 He is doing very well, we were blessed with great doctors, nurses and hospital staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan.  It was a long haul getting to the transplant but hardly any problems afterwards.

 

Marietta

[grapau27]

12 minutes ago, bigeck said:

I hope it wasn't Sunderland FC stress related. Not sure that will improve. Only good thing about Corona is Celtic cant win the league again.

Hope you are keeping better now. The shops up here are empty

Thanks Alec,the football team performances in the last few years haven't helped.

I see the Euro's have been put back till next year so they might finish the football season behind closed doors.

[MainerRN92]

5 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you that's very kind of you.

It was the circumflex artery that was blocked but I had only slight discomfort and ECG,xray and CT scans were fine,it was the blood test that showed protein that confirmed the HA and the angioplasty confirmed the blockage.

That's amazing your husband had a heart transplant I hope he is well.

As a Cath Lab RN here I'm the States, it warms my heart to hear you talk so knowledgeably about your medical care! Most patients in the US have no idea what their medical history is because they don't pay attention/don't care. Glad everything went well for you and that you're on the mend!

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, DaniDanielle said:

 He is doing very well, we were blessed with great doctors, nurses and hospital staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan.  It was a long haul getting to the transplant but hardly any problems afterwards.

 

Marietta

That's fantastic news and delighted for you both that he has had hardly any problems since and is doing well.

Best wishes Graham.

[DaniDanielle]

The very best to you and your family also.

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, MainerRN92 said:

As a Cath Lab RN here I'm the States, it warms my heart to hear you talk so knowledgeably about your medical care! Most patients in the US have no idea what their medical history is because they don't pay attention/don't care. Glad everything went well for you and that you're on the mend!

Thank you so much for caring.

I have totally changed my eating habits and have lost 21lbs in weight since I was discharged from hospital on 12-20-19.

 

 

[Norwich Cruiser]

6 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you so much for caring.

I have totally changed my eating habits and have lost 21lbs in weight since I was discharged from hospital on 12-20-19.

 

 

I wish you well didn’t know you had been ill.

 

Hope you have a fully complete speedy recovery and many more opportunities of a transatlantic.

[grapau27]

Just now, Norwich Cruiser said:

I wish you well didn’t know you had been ill.

 

Hope you have a fully complete speedy recovery and many more opportunities of a transatlantic.

Thank you,i appreciate you posting your best wishes.

I was in the gym every day on our 14 night Hawaiian cruise in November on Grand Princess and the HA happened totally unexpected 2 weeks after our return.

Fingers crossed the stent and medication keep me well.

Graham

[KittyKatKrazy]

On 3/4/2020 at 11:21 AM, Sea Dog said:

How was it? Was it nice and hot? I’m curious if it tastes slightly different after the time it’s been delivered to your suite?

 

On 3/4/2020 at 1:00 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

It was awful. I'll explain in a bit

 

Hey John, I don't think you ever elaborated on your Chops dinner from post #385. Will that be in your STAR review? Not that I'm anxious for an awful story, but I am curious about the same things as Sea Dog. How about more pictures from the birthday party? I've been following since the beginning and I'm really looking forward to the rest.

 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, KittyKatKrazy said:

 

 

Hey John, I don't think you ever elaborated on your Chops dinner from post #385. Will that be in your STAR review? Not that I'm anxious for an awful story, but I am curious about the same things as Sea Dog. How about more pictures from the birthday party? I've been following since the beginning and I'm really looking forward to the rest.

 

 

Let me do Barcelona, then I'll tackle both the dinner and the party separately. They do make up part of the overall experience, however.

 

 

[James4me]

9 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

Best days of boat ownership... the day you buy it and the day you sell it.

That’s why you charter not buy 😏

[John&LaLa]

Barcelona - 20 hours to Kill

Part 1

 

On Thursday afternoon you could tell this trip was going downhill fast. So I contacted the tour provider I used and cancelled our Saturday trip to Girona, the cable car tickets to Montjuic, and realized the Sagrada Familia tix were on non refundable. That's OK, I was still up for that.  I left our hotel reservations alone since I wasn't sure who would remain open and also unsure if we were leaving early.  

 

Let me expand on that. Since Pat was added late, I could not get him a room at the Hotel Continental, but I found a hotel across the Rambla. Our booking was just a reservation, and Pat's was a prepaid through an online travel partner.  We decided to cab over to our hotel since it had an earlier check in than Pat's.  At this point we had finalized our flight home a day early, so I wanted to ask if we could shorten our reservation. We were able to check in right away, they had a room for Pat if we wanted it, and were unsure if they could waive the second night of our reservation. At that point I was just happy to get a room.

 

Went up to our room and tried to figure out what to do about the other hotel. Contacted my always available TA and he suggested I call direct and let them know we were not coming, some properties were waiving the guaranteed payment rules.  Did that, and while looking at the paperwork, realized I had purchased an insurance policy. Score. Now I'm not sure what it covers, I'll deal with that in a few days.  Now we decide to go back to front desk and negotiate getting Pat a room as art of my second day reservation. Gemma at the front desk thinks that will work, but give her 5 minutes. No problem, they have a 24 hour lounge just off the lobby and I could use a beer anyway.🍺

 

 

Just a wee bit to much head

 

It all worked out, but while waiting, ran into a couple from the ship, and they informed us that Sagrada Familia is closed.

So maybe I can get my money back for that now. 👍

 

Next up lunch and party poopers

 

Edited March 18, 2020 by John&LaLa

[James4me]

6 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Things were in flux all weekend. And for the most part, still are.

Honestly doing the best we can. 

No Taco Tuesday 😥

Try a Tuesday Tequila 1942 🥃

[James4me]

7 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

As a member of the media we are not doing anything but reporting the facts we are given. If you don't want to hear the information we are reporting feel free to turn off the tv.

Seems that all media are in line following one leader 🧐.  Say something against what the media wants and requires you to report, your on an extended vacay 💁‍♀️.  Let’s just call it a flock of sheep 🐑, one leading the other. 

[torpeedo]

10 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

Best days of boat ownership... the day you buy it and the day you sell it.

 

Amen X3!!!  Even now, given how old we are which you would laugh if you knew, we still want to buy a pontoon as we're a mile from Lake Murray SC.  If our children would please buy a house on the lake we would dock the boat there in exchange they could use it whenever they wanted as long as they cleaned it!!!!  So far no takers!!  So now we use our RCL yachts instead and they do all the work for a nominal fee.

[John&LaLa]

Barcelona

Part 2

 

Now that we have Pat's lodging secure, time to grab some lunch, I mean it's been almost 4 hours, right. 😇

 

But Laura doesn't want to venture out, so she asks us to grab her a Whopper from across the street. Boring.

 

Took her picture on the balcony once we were on the Rambla

 

 

 

BTW, the two levels above us are two more hotels. Weird

I wish I had pushed Sise', not sure where that went

 

We couldn't figure out how to do 'no ketchup' at the kiosk, so I had to order from a real person. 😱

 

Took the burger back and headed out to get our lunch. All of a sudden Pat decides he doesn't want to wander around and would be happy with the Subway next door. Great. On top of that, he doesn't want to walk to the Sagradia either.  So in order to respect everyone's wishes, I become hotel bound as well. Thinking back, it was probably the best idea. But what a waste.

They did promise to go out at night for dinner and asked me to find someplace.

 

I walked two blocks south east on the Rambla, decided the place across the street was fine, and bought Laura a rose.

 

Dinner was Pizza and a beer

 

 

It was a nice night

 

[John&LaLa]

Las Ramblas stroll

 

Headed back from lunch

 

Pat's original hotel looked nice

 

The Hotel Continental

 

The heart of Barcelona

 

Definitely not going in there. Bummer

 

Headed back after dinner

 

Back in the hotel

 

Not the day we had planned, but it was nice.  I'll be back October 2021

 

 

[John&LaLa]

The Barcelona Hotel Continental. Should have brought Bella

 

Our room. You spin the bottom dial to indicate if you want privacy or cleaning

 

Not quite as big as 8730

 

Balcony doors

 

Great shower

 

Royal could learn a thing about marking the switches

 

Central work station on each floor. Spent some time here doing check in for our flights the next day

 

The Continentals free stuff

Wine dispenser 

 

Royal needs a froyo machine in the DL

 

Soda for the kiddos, beer for daddy

 

Nice coffee machine

 

Snacks are limited hours

 

Inside seating

 

Outside patio

 

Some rooms overlook the patio. I prefer the Ramblas 

 

Overall an excellent value for $158 per night

Not sure it has AC though

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2020 by John&LaLa

[John&LaLa]

A few more pictures from our balcony.  That's it for tonight

 

 

Not quite the Sagrada Familia

 

 

 

Masks

 

 

 

I'll try and do the in suite dinner and the party tomorrow morning after the rocket launch

 

[grapau27]

10 hours ago, MainerRN92 said:

As a Cath Lab RN here I'm the States, it warms my heart to hear you talk so knowledgeably about your medical care! Most patients in the US have no idea what their medical history is because they don't pay attention/don't care. Glad everything went well for you and that you're on the mend!

Thank you so much for caring.

I have totally changed my eating habits and have lost 21lbs in weight since I was discharged from hospital on 12-20-19.

 

 

[grapau27]

Fantastic photos John.

Hotel looked very nice.

You all looked happy.

Thanks for sharing.