Month: October 2019

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October 7 Villafranca del Bierzo – A Visit to Spanish Doctor’s Office

image.pngOn the advice of the good medical professionals in Villafranca del Bierzo, Spain, Mary has been taking it easy, and or sleeping while her newly acquired drugs take effect.

It may be interesting to note how much this visit to the doctor costs. Mary did make preparations before leaving home for medical contingencies. And she had with her medically related forms and papers necessary, just in case. So, how much did this cost?

Zero. $0.00 or 0€, if you prefer. So, what kind of forms or papers did she need to produce to get this cost down to zero? None. The kind people said they’ll charge it to Medicare, whatever that means. They didn’t ask her for anything. They didn’t charge anything. Maybe they just looked at her and thought this poor lady needs help; she’s clearly approaching 65 years of age… Ha!

The doctor did admonish her for not drinking enough water. Some things are the same the world over…

Doesn’t wine have water in it?

More information on the medical system of Spain is available here.

Mary took a 2€ bus ride to her next destination, Casa rural Mesón Las Rocas, Carr. Nacional VI, Vega de Valcarce, Spain. We can hope she resting peacefully and will be back on the trail before long. She plans two days of rest.

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October 6 Villafranca del Bierzo: Sick Day

No walking today. Taxi to Villafranca Del Bierzo to see the doctor. My daughter, Camille Court, is also afflicted with the occasional respiratory infection that moves in like a freight train. Some antibiotics and rest will keep it from turning into a much bigger deal. I already had rest days booked for tomorrow and the next day, so with three days recuperating, I’ll be ready to tackle that mountain!

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October 5 Camponaraya Potatoes Anyone?

Just a side note: When I retired a year and a half ago, I couldn’t walk 1.5 miles without a break or two if any incline was involved. So I started walking. And walking. I have no idea what kind of weight loss this trek will do, but with the walking and very little attention to caloric intake, I was down about 40 pounds before I left. Persistence and consistency. In very small increments. And I can do this. I don’t go as far or as fast as I would have at 62, but 72 is doing it.
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October 5 Ponferrada – Always Somethin’

As Rosanne Roseanna Danna used to say, It’s always somethin’ but I now have a Spanish SIM card. Went to the Orange store-can’t look up my account because I have French SIM. Want to buy a Spanish SIM. Out of stock until Monday -but! A store in the mall has them. Walk to the mall. Wait one hour while a new phone customer is served. Got my card. Done. Took some photos in Ponferrada as I got lost a few times.

Posted by phone
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October 5 Ponferrada & Camponaraya – Today’s Adventure

Editor in chief here back in Kansas City. Mary has had quite the day. Suffice it to say she has finally arrived at her lodging for the night.
 
There may well be further tales to illuminate her readers after she takes a nap and perhaps finds some nourishment.
 
She also has a new SIM card – one that speaks Spanish – so to speak… She had stopped into the Orange store (the outfit that supports her SIM card), and the vendor couldn’t help her because it was a French SIM card. The advice was to replace the card with a Spanish SIM card.
 
She went to the mall in Ponferrada but had to wait a considerable length of time to get it hooked up and running.
 
The photos at the bottom were used to help me understand where she was so I could advise which way to go… not a very fluid process… 


 
Ceiling in my room

Tomorrow’s another day. More later.