Where the good news and only important news is that QB is to be sprung tomorrow (Spain morning time). We will stay in Valencia for a number of days for resting and eventually maybe some touristing and eating good stuff again.
For today’s picture: Mexican coffee of some type. The hotel has a barista for morning breakfast. We got to chatting about different coffees and today he delivered, unbidden, “Mexican coffee”. Beans from Mexico, rum, lime, cinnamon. Yesterday a cafe freddo with too much sugar.
Mexican coffee he said
Dinner. Keep in mind this is bar food. Went back to the hotel and decided to eat again at the bar. A beer and some bar food.
Outstanding- on a base of perfect bravasChips were perfect bravas
Where QB still in hospital; where Apple Maps guidance worked fine; where a simple club sandwich was reimagined.
Stopped in the cafeteria to pickup some edibles (as mentioned hospital is good but food not so much). It was 14:00 or so. Everyone eats at the same time in Spain so, very few could get service. Line out of the cafeteria. No planning for what must happen every day.
Here is a view of the housing near the hospital. Notice all the cranes. This view is similar in many areas.
Notice cranes
QB is improving but very slowly and very painfully, especially today. Lots of rib busting coughing with much shaking. No confidence that items are on the mend – depressing feeling. Breathing might be a bit better. Took her off oxygen and will test blood oxygen level tomorrow; arterial blood test to capture the gas. It will be used to determine, after being off oxygen, if her level is high enough too be able to fly or even be released.
As of this writing QB does not feel even remotely able to fly, no matter what the numbers show.
Walked back from the hospital arriving just before dark. Decided to get a beer and a club sandwich in the hotel lobby. Here is the hotel’s reimagined “club sandwich”. Actually a pleasant surprise.
Quinoa salad, eggs with ham bits, frites Hospital dinner. Vaguely reminiscent of 1957.
Where QB gets some more positive news; where KB goes to the wrong hospital; where KB gets to walk back from the right hospital.
On the walk over to the old hospital
A lovely day for a walk. I put in the name of the hospital into Apple Maps and used the watch to navigate. Fine walk, lots of turns and good neighborhoods. Got there and ….. closed, old hospital, no longer in service, replaced by new hospital with exactly the same name! Google Maps has the correct hospital but it was not to be.
In the taxi to the correct hospital – credit card, radio station, temperature, charge phone
At hospital doctor stopped by to chat. Had seen QB earlier in the day but I let the desk know I wanted to chat. Basically QB is much improved. If breathing was 11 out of 10 on a scale of not breathing today it is 6-7. Lots of drugs, lots of pushing for more drugs, lots of delay (could have started the drugs 20+ hours earlier). The hospital is large, good, well staffed it seems, and very conservative – offering nothing until pushed. No cost as best as we can tell. Never asked for any credit info. Private room. All rooms are private. No hurry to push her out. Clearly not the USA
Large park/botanical garden on walk back
Lovely walk back to the hotel after visit.
Near the hotel
Hospital does not serve wine with their appalling dinners. I bet French hospitals serve wine to patients.
Where yesterday’s post heading is mentioned as wrong – we are in Valencia. QB did not proofread for obvious reasons and I did not have brain engaged on post,
We will remain in Valencia until Nov 22. Not sure where we are going after that but this will give enough time for QB to recover a bit and get some strength back. Spain medical is saying “3 or 5 or 7 more days in the hospital”. Seems a bit conservative; hoping so.
Wandering over the hospital today saw many outdoor markets. Yesterday it was books today clothing.
Clothing today – just needed some color in the post
Walking a good part of the way to the hospital could see how the outer city is structured. Reminds one of Lefrak city – if one were a New Yorker of a certain age. Large soulless buildings, tall, grouped together. Much of China architectured that way as well.
QB’s room changed. She was on the Covid and it turns out Ebola floor. Double doors, negative pressure rooms, adjoining room as (think two hotel rooms with adjoining locked doors) used to gown and ungown from Ebola. Now in a more normal room. Of course, she was moved to the room and upon arrival they removed the old bed, and started cleaning after, yes after, she was wheeled in. I was asked to step out while they did wipe down of probably no value.
Where all is now undecided, QB admitted to hospital for observation – pneumonia found in lungs at emergency room of hospital where we went early am Sunday local time. Now in room being treated.
Where oranges are verified, horchatas and fartons consumed, agua Valencia investigated, qb needed to call our doctor, cathedral visited, choral mass at Iglesia Vergen.
At breakfast I asked if the oranges in the orange juice were from Valencia; yes of course. Small town nearby. Tasted very different here far far less sweet but very good
Cathedral first. Holy chalice relic, allegedly the Holy Grail; thought it looked pretty new.
Where a day of wandering led to the Central Market, the silk exchange, the silk museum, paella at Riua (shout out to Jerome), and some fine wandering leading to music (practice?) at the cathedral and views of other churches, there are many
Where we also learned how to use saffron and how much at a spice vendor at the Market. Different qualities, some just chemicals. Good vendor.
Iconic shot of silk merchant exchangeSimple shot of the Central Market, huge
Wonderful city, easy to see why there is a ex-pat community here.
At the silk museum, some historyLoom at the silk museumSeems to be a bobbin winding machineChufa, used to make (h)orxata
We tried a small orxata. Chufa, sugar (much) water. Sweet, very popular here, lots of shops sell it.
At Ruia restauant The obvious
Discussed with the server why the paella was not crispy (socarrat). “Well you did not ask for it”. Explanation that followed explained that many think it is over cooked if served that way so they don’t unless asked.
Wandering led to area near the cathedral
Church near cathedral Virgen de los desamparados
Two audio files included below. No idea if they will work, just trying. From the Cathedral practice
Where we braved Ryan air; QB got new shoes, rained upon, had dogfish, and got to enjoy a large city.
Dogfish, shark if you look it up, Cazón en adobe.
Train a bit too long and several changes, so flew instead. Could have been worse. Paid for every upgrade, every bill that they put in front of me except a car. No idea what I purchased. I really hate Ryan air. Checkin and flight went smoothly.
Main square with Boog, near hotel
Nice hotel, only open two months, Only YOU hotel, a chain. Central location. We had the front desk mark all the places Jerome recommended and made reservations for the Paella place tomorrow.
Typical Euro City avenue
Unfortunately the air quality is marked unhealthy here. Must be pollution, something we have not encountered in Spain up until here.
Wandered around a bit and across the street from the shoe store was the Mercat de Colon, an eating place. Bye bye Extremedura prices. But great to be out in a city where people are out and about compared to the sad villages of the South.
MercatOther view of Mercat
Started to rain. Three well dressed woman mentioned to the server that it was raining; had them move the table a foot or so away from the dripping – Frank Lloyd Wright redux.
Light dinner
Peppers de Padron, Patatas Bravas, Valencia tomatoes, and dogfish. Basically a fish and chips dinner with some side.
Finished evening off with a good cup of tea. We are carrying teabags and this hotel has a 220V (read fast heating) kettle and some good mugs for the room.
Cool morning and a good time for a walk in the park. Last of the attractions in this town. Santiago is the cathedral and related items, as well as food – percepes – and other stuff more to our liking.
City View from Park
Ritual filming of the shoes in front of the cathedral
Served faithfully and well
Dinner at the Parador restaurant. First some history
Dinner is below the barrel vaulted ceiling
At the University of Santiago. Unfortunately only an exposition of the library but a great cloister. Went to get a cap but all they had was USC and it took a bit before I realized it was not southern Cal.
At noon we went to a Pilgrim mass. Outstanding in many ways. Multiple languages, great pageantry, fabulous singing and music. Very well attended. Pilgrims identifiable by their footgear/injuries.
Baroque insanity Multi Jimmys Another one (Matamoros)
Link following contains two videos of the singing and organ from the Pilgrim service. The voice of the priest singer is a great baritone.
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