2025, Week 6 journal.

Week 6 of 2025 started with a quiet day at home in Los Alcazares before my adventure in India started with my journey to Madrid, then Heathrow in England and a flight to India. I started my tour in India by visiting places such as New Delhi and Jaipur. 

Monday 3rd February.

I woke up this morning after 8 am. I had slept very well last night, and the pain in my leg was receding. My knee ached a little but felt much better. I checked my email, took my tablets and had a coffee before my friend Lawrence picked me up to go to Cafe Prensa for another coffee.

When we got to Cafe Prensa, we sat with Steve, Martin and Christine and chatted over coffee for an hour. After we had finished, Lawrence dropped me off at home. Once in my apartment, I got my suitcase out of my wardrobe and prepared to pack my clothes later. I got myself a bacon sandwich to use up the last bit of bacon in my fridge and sat at my computer again. I deleted a couple of hundred dead links in the Google index of my website and registered a few on the Index page. Afterwards, I continued to finish changing some images on pages from my journal for 2023 from the old ´jpg´ format to the new ´webp´ format.

I took a break from my computer to water all the plants on my balcony and in my apartment. They should all have enough water to see them through till I get back from my holiday. I then printed copies of all the documents I might need for my holiday in case my phone dies, or I can't access the documents on it. I printed train tickets, flight tickets, hotel bookings and my holiday itinerary to take with me in my carry-on bag. I got my passport out and checked that my travel insurance documents, visas and vaccination papers were in order and put them all in the bag.

While doing all this, the sun went in behind the clouds, and I got cold, so I switched on the heating in my apartment. It will get colder in Madrid and much colder in the UK, but I hoped it would be warmer in India.

This afternoon, my friend Kate came round to trim my hair for me. She checked my new skull shaver, and as I expected, I had broken them trying to clean them out. It serves me right for buying a cheap model. Kate shaved my head with my old beard shaver, and after she left, I looked on Amazon and found another head shaver that had an excellent set of reviews, was better built and had more attachments. It could also be delivered before I leave for my holiday tomorrow. I ordered it so that I can take it with me when I go on holiday.

After Kate left, I took a shower and went back to work on my website while listening to the Transfer program on Sky Sports. Disappointingly, Arsenal didn't sign anyone, and I went to bed at midnight when the show finished.

Tuesday 4th February.

I woke around 7:15 am this morning. I got myself a coffee and sat at my computer to check for any messages and do the Wordle puzzle. I had a message from Amazon telling me the shaver I ordered yesterday was on its way and would arrive this morning before I left to catch my train later. I also had a message confirming that a coach had replaced my train from Torre Pacheco to Albacete and that I would transfer to a train at Albacete. This is what happened on my previous trip and is because of unfinished rail works on the tracks around Murcia. I believe it is because they are upgrading the line for the high-speed trains.

After I had woken up properly and drunk my first coffee, I took the last bag of rubbish to the bin. I forgot to do this once before, and it stank when I got home from my holiday. I then got myself some porridge with blueberries and honey and a second coffee while I waited for the Amazon delivery. The delivery arrived just before 12, and I unpacked and charged the skull shaver so I could take it with me on holiday.

Once the shaver was being charged, I went around to the pharmacy to get a pack of omeprazole and some paracetamol to take on my holiday in case I needed any extra. When I got back, I finished packing my case, put my travel clothes on, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and set it running, then sat at my computer, surfing the Internet to kill time before my friend June picked me up.

At 2 pm June arrived to pick me up and we were soon on our way to the train station in Torre Pacheco. I think June forgot I had put a bag with a bottle of milk and a carton of eggs on the back seat of her car, judging by the speed she took the speed bumps. Oh well, it maybe omelette when she got home. June dropped me at the station and I sat inside for a while. While at the station I was talking to an air force pilot from San Javier. He looked a bit overdressed to be waiting for the train.

When my coach arrived the driver walked across to me and took my case and put it in the hold while I boarded the coach. We were soon on our wat to Belsicas and then Murcia. Unfortunately there had been an accident on the motorway as we left Murcia and we were already running late. On the way to Albacete we stopped at 5 more stations to pick people up and I was worried I would miss my train.

As we were stopped in traffic I could hear the driver talking to dispatch and I was convinced they were talking about me and my connecting flight. Dispatch rang him several times during the journey to check his progress and when we pulled up at Albacete train station there were two people waiting for me. One helped me into a wheelchair and took me through the station, through security and onto the train, while the second followed with my case. They put me on the train, showed me to my seat and stowed my luggage. I wouldn't have made it without all there help. Renfe are a great example of how to run a train service.

We left Albacete and the train flew through the countryside and got me to Madrid at 8 pm, spot on time. Once I had left the station I called a cab using the Cabify app. After a bit of a mix up because I had left at the wrong exit, I was picked up and was soon on the way to my hotel for the night. I was dropped right at the door and was soon checked in.

I went to charge my phone in my room and quickly realised I couldn't find my phone. I returned to the check in desk to see if I left it there and quickly realised I had dropped it in the taxi. The helpful man at the desk found a phone number for Cabify and called them explaining what had happened. They contacted the driver and he said he could return with it but I would be charged another fare to return it. I agreed and after an hour, that seemed like forever, he arrived with my phone. I'm glad I was using Cabify and not a regular cab or I would never have got it back. I paid the extra fare and got my phone back and learnt a lesson. Never let the cab leave without checking you have everything.

By the time I had calmed myself and got comfortable I was to tired to walk anywhere to look for a restaurant and I went straight to bed. As I lay in bed in my room it suddenly dawned on me that I had stayed at Hotel Cruceros before. I flew to my home in Orlando with my my from Madrid once and this is where we had stayed. All round the seating/dining area by the hotel lobby, there were stuffed animal heads and this is what brought the memory back to me.

Wednesday, 5th February.

I slept quite well but was woken several times by a baby either crying, screaming or being sung back to sleep. Also every time anyone moved furniture, spoke, ran a tap or flushed a toilet I was woken up. The walls of the hostel were paper thin and had no sound insulation.

I got up around 7 am, showered, packed my case and went for breakfast. There wasn't a large choice but the Tostada and coffee was lovely and just what I needed. After breakfast I waited in the lounge area for another guest and we were taken to the airport together. The free shuttle was run by the hostal and got us there safely and quickly.

At the airport I found the check in desk quickly and was checked in for my flight quickly. The man at the desk told me that assistance had been arranged and pointed me in the direction of the assistance desk. I walked to the desk and sat and waited for assistance.

It wasn't long before a wheelchair arrived and I was taken to the security gates and taken through. It wasn't long before I was then taken through to a minibus to travel across the airport, through underground tunnels and around different terminals and gates to a waiting area. Here I was transferred to a chair to wait my turn to be taken to the gate. When my turn came I was collected and taken to the gate my flight would leave from. I was again transferred to another chair. It didn't seem long before another chair arrived to transfer me to the plane for my flight to London. As I was taken through to the plane and alarm went off as my boarding pass was passed over the computer panel and I was stopped.

For a brief minute I panicked that there was something wrong with my flight. The security lady stopped me and asked me if I was blind. I told her I was blind in my right eye and she returned my boarding pass and I was then shown to the plane and my seat.

The Iberia flight had been taken by British Airways which meant more room. As I sat waiting for other passengers to finish boarding a couple with two very young babies stood next to me. The lady and one baby sat next to me while the man and the second baby sat a few seats further back. I generally hate sitting next to babies and children because of the noise. I didn't have to worry this time, the baby was quiet the entire trip and because it was so small it had to sit on its mother's lap, which meant I had extra arm room because of the empty seat between us.

The flight passed quickly while I read my Kindle and we touched down at Heathrow. We remained on the plane for a while why we waited for the gate to clear. It didn't take long and I was soon walking through immigration. It seems I am still allowed in the UK and I then went to collect my luggage. Unfortunately the luggage was held up somewhere and everyone had to wait for their bags. I was able to get one of the only seats and sat to wait for the baggage to start arriving.

My bright orange case was the first case out and I spotted it from my seat. I got up, collected my case and walked out through the airport. I asked at the information desk where to get the hotel hopper bus and was given directions. When I arrived the sign said there was no bus for 3 hours but the people at the stop told me there was one coming in 10 minutes.

The bus did turn up and I got on. I used my UK debit card to pay the fare but the bus payment machine wouldn't accept it. I tried my Spanish debit card and it worked straight away, it didn't make sense to me. Another passenger put my case on the bus for me and I was soon seated and on my way to the hotel. I was glad I hadn't attempted to walk. The half mile walk was actually 4 miles and I wouldn't have made it.

When I arrived at the hotel, the same passenger who had previously helped with my case, helped me off with it as well. I walked into the hotel, checked in easily and was soon in my room. It was now about 4 pm UK time and I was thirsty and hungry so I went to the hotel bar and restaurant. On the way I stopped and got some cash at an ATM so I could pay for food and a drink.

When I went into the restaurant I ordered a pizza and pint special at £17. A lot more than I'm used to in Spain. I sat at a table with my drink in front of a big screen TV so I could watch the Arsenal game later. When the girl brought my pizza I asked about the football and was told the huge TV only had Freeview and couldn't show the football. I asked if there were any USB charging points and was shown the only point in the hotel, which was being used.

I finished my pizza and my beer and went back to my room at about 6 pm. I went to bed and slept almost immediately. I woke around 2:30 am, used the bathroom and went straight back to bed.

Thursday, 6th February.

I woke up around 7 am and went down to the restaurant for breakfast. The buffet was excellent and the best I had seen for a long time.

I had muesli with banana and raisins, some fruit, strawberry yoghurt and fresh orange and cranberry juice. Then I had a croissant with cheese and ham with a Cappuccino. After this, I had bacon, sausage, mushrooms, beans, and scrambled eggs. When I finished, I got another cappuccino and checked at the front desk to see what time checkout was. It wasn't until noon, and I took my coffee back to my room.

I went online to my website, typed up my notes for the last couple of days, and rested for a while. I took my tablets, took a shower, and then went down to the reception to check out at 10:30 am.

Because I didn't have to check out until midday, I found the only USB charging point in the hotel, in the lobby, and plugged my phone and my watch in to charge. As there seemed to be no one at the restaurant, I quickly poured myself a cappuccino and returned to the lobby to sit while I charged my phone.

Around 12:30 pm, I went outside the hotel to catch the hopper bus to go to terminal 3 at Heathrow. I stood outside for around 20 minutes, and the bus never arrived. I went back inside to stay out of the cold and went back outside at 1:30 pm. A bus arrived but didn't stop at my terminal. The driver told me the next one did and to wait because it was on its way. It arrived a short time later, and I climbed aboard. I tried to use my English debit card to pay, and this time it worked. It wasn't long before I was dropped at the airport. I was there 7 hours before my flight left, but they checked me in straight away and took me to the assistance desk. Within minutes, I was taken to a waiting room. Unfortunately, I couldn't access the executive lounge for 4 hours. After sitting and reading my Kindle, I asked where I could get a drink and was told I had to walk to a nearby cafe a short distance away. I walked to Cafe Nero, got a coffee and a bottle of water for £7.95 and then went back to the waiting area.

At 4 pm, after checking I would be collected for the flight from the lounge, I went into the lounge. I wasn't that impressed. I had two Fanta orange drinks and some pasta. It certainly wasn't worth paying extra, and I won't pay the money to use a lounge. With 40 minutes to go, I hadn't been collected but could see my flight had already started boarding. I asked when I would be collected, and the girl in reception phoned assistance, telling them I was still waiting. I was picked up a short time later and quickly pushed through the airport to the plane. I was one of the last to board but had a good seat.

Once again, I had a baby sitting on a parent's lap next to me, but the baby behaved well throughout the overnight flight. The people who kept kicking my legs in an effort to stand where my feet were stretched out in front of me were not as well-behaved, but an icey stare or kick in their shins soon moved them along.

I watched a film called Thelma on board. It was both funny and sad in places, but it was easy to watch. I thoroughly recommend it. Dinner was all Indian and for aeroplane food, delicious. I spent the remainder of the flight reading my Kindle.

Friday, 7th February.

Today, I landed in New Delhi, India, to start my escorted tour.

Saturday 8th February.

Today, I took a tour of Delhi before I travelled to Jaipur. 

Sunday 9th February.

Today, I was supposed to take a tour around Jaipur and visit the Amber Fort, but I was sick and had diarrhoea and spent the day in bed suffering from food poisoning.