Stuff happens when you aren't at work!

I was just saying to Greg yesterday, ‘I can’t believe all of these mad things that keep happening; is it just a matter of coincidence that we happen to be here?’ …..and then on further reflection I realised that I have spent 41 years of my life at work, mainly indoors, mainly in the same buildings with the same people for years at a time and when unusual ‘events’ tended to happen they have been mainly on the way to work and back on places like the M25 or sometimes at weekends.  In other words more things definitely happen when you are out and about…… and we are permanently ‘out and about’ at the moment.

So there have been a few more moments of drama since our last blog.

In the end after falling down the stairs again I had to go to the hospital.  I had three massive bruises on the bottom three ribs on my back and the muscles were in spasm.  I couldn’t laugh, breathe in, sigh (an essential function when sharing a small space 24/7!), sit or stand up without aid or turn over in bed.  It was agony and I thought they were probably cracked.  The problem with being on a boat with just two of us means you still have to function and it’s very physical, so I was really struggling. 

The hospital experience was interesting.  I left Greg on the boat and got a taxi to the Santa Lucia Hospital in Cartagena.  No-one spoke English on reception but they found someone who took my E111 card and passport and after filling in a short form I got given a ticket with a number on it and told to watch for it on the screen in the waiting area.  I wasn’t holding out much hope because there were crowds of people in there, so I got out my book and prepared for a long wait.  

I had only read one page when my number came up! Off to triage.  No one spoke English but luckily I had got out the Spanish-English dictionary before I went and had written down a list of words in Spanish…fall, ribs, cracked? muscle spasms, pain, bruising etc… and I took a picture on my phone of the steps and the wooden frame that I had hit. In retrospect this really helped to ensure they were clear about what had happened.

I was moved into the next waiting area to see the doctor. Even more people in here so I got my book out again.  Observing the screen I realised that there were 21 consulting rooms!  The numbers came up thick and fast and within a few minutes I was in with the doctor.  Back into the waiting area and within minutes I was called to Xray and then back to the doctor for the good news - no fractures, just massive bruising and torn muscles.  Prescription for 2 types of pain killers, muscle relaxant tablets and cream dispensed for less than 7 Euros. 

The whole experience was well staffed, smooth, fast, high-tech and very different to anything I have previously experienced at Wexham Park A&E in Slough!  Presumably all of this will be very different after Brexit.....

We loved Cartagena.  We went for the cheaper marina which didn’t have any security but did mean that we were moored alongside the promenade right in the centre of the town.  We only had one incident, when some clubbers on their way home at 7am decided it would be nice to have a photo on our boat! You can probably understand why they screamed and ran when Greg suddenly shot his head out of our bedroom hatch shouting ‘Get off my boat!’ 

We made a tour of the Underwater Archeology Museum and discovered that the history of Cartagena was fascinating, dating back to pre-Roman times.

A historical anchor seen in the Underwater Archaeology Museum in Cartagena....good muscles required then!

Some of the recovered treasures display in the museum

Whilst we were visiting the Roman remains in Cartagena we spotted the massive racing yacht Rambler 88 arriving into port.  It turned out it was on its way from the Fastnet to its next race in Malta.  It is a beast of a boat and Greg hotfooted it down to see it moor alongside the promenade near to us. It drew quite a crowd for the rest of the evening.

Rambler 88 arriving in Cartagena

The Roman coliseum and bull-ring

Our next stop was Alicante.  We had hoped to anchor because the marina charges in August are eye-watering and seem to be increasing.  In the end it was not really possible so we asked for a berth in the sailing club which was a mere €60 per night compared to the €86 in the commercial marina.  This turned out to be a good decision because we got to use all of the club's very posh facilities.

A glass of wine in Alicante Yacht Club

Alicante night-life,....it's 2.00 in the morning!

Great tiles, but a bit disconcerting after a few drinks!

Moving further north the marina charges have become ridiculous…over €90 in Marina Greenwich, so out search for safe anchorage intensified.  

We passed Benidorm which interestingly seems to be reinventing itself as a place not only with massive overdevelopment of apartment blocks but by adding really interesting shaped skyscrapers giving it the look of a futuristic city as we approached from the sea.

21st Century cityscape in Benidorm

A scene from Bladerunner!

After rejecting a few rocky and jellyfish riddled anchorages, luckily we have found a brilliant spot in Calpe just outside the marina, but protected by the mole and surrounding rocks and buildings. 

Not a good spot for swimming, this one looks painful!

We have been here for three days and can recommend this as a good spot. We would return to here. The town is pleasant, there are plenty of shops and restaurants and we managed the challenging climb up and down the rock!

The view from the top!

The climb wasn't easy.....

In spite of the bad back!

Returning to my original theme of events happening when you are out and about….as we came down the rock we could see a boat being dashed on the rocks below with people on it. It was very distressing.  We watched the rescue and saw the badly shaken crew as they sadly made their way off the rocks into the town whilst their boat was towed away behind the lifeboat. A reminder that things can go wrong very quickly at sea even on a sunny and apparently benign day! 

How did they get there?

The lifeboat finally towed them free.....

We are now looking forward to meeting up with our son Ed and his friend in Ibiza.  Greg rang ahead to check the marina charges €350 per night!!!!!!!!!  We will be seeking anchorages there for sure.