Our Week Away

We have just returned from our week in our timeshare in Fuengirola.
We bought a timeshare back in 1996, for 2 reasons. First we had had a disastrous honeymoon in Luxor in 1994. We had spent half a day in travel agents booking the trip as it was going to be a once in a life time thing. I was in my wheelchair as we were booking, so they were fully aware of our issues. We even got to speak with someone on phone who had been to same hotel and said we would have no problems. So we booked. We arrive in Luxor, get bus to hotel. Only to find we have half a mile walk down a sandy track, quite deep in places 😠😠. Then we get to hotel and find that there are 5 crazy paving steps up to reception. So send hubby to book in. On way round to room we are shown dining room, up 5 crazy paving steps, so I’m thinking I’m losing weight on honeymoon. Then you will never guess where our ground floor room was…………. up 5 crazy paving steps. They were high and very narrow steps, so no chance of getting chair up them with me on board. Was so pleased I could do a few steps.
We got moved, eventually to the Hilton hotel. Obviously at an extra cost, but not so much had we known we would have gone there in first place.
Unfortunately though the damage was done. I was relapsing remitting MS then and Dr knew nothing about MS. So I was sent home, having spent most of week in bed.
Hubby was reluctant, for some reason, to think about another holiday abroad.

Second reason for buying timeshare was advice from member of hubby’s family, who’s wife had died from MS. Do what you can whilst Jan still can, you have rest of your life to pay for things. So we bought into the system as if nothing else we knew what standard of accommodation we would get. We have had some great holidays over the years with it and in 7 years time will be out of system with some money back, because of the system we are now in.

The timeshare is near Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol, which has a lovely long and flat walkway, with many shops and restaurants. It’s very popular with many nationalities so has a great choice in cuisine.
There are shared areas on beach fully wheelchair accessible. Also there are floatation wheelchairs with helpers, so we wheelchair users can go in the sea. I did it yesterday, so much easier than trying to walk in and out of the sea. Most popular beaches in Spain have this facility, unfortunately not the naturist beach we frequent 😏.

It has been a very hoy week and because of being by sea very humid. I normally only wear a sun visor, I have thick hair to protect my head, but bought large brim hat to protect my neck and shoulders.
Still I was bathed in sweat so much of the time and also beginning to feel a little unwell due to overheating. Then I had a brainwave, at home I use pool to help control my heat imbalance and my pain so find water. I went under beach showers, fully clothed!!, as in wearing a sundress with nothing underneath. The relief was incredible and I immediately felt much better. Ok so back of dress took a bit of drying, but it was warm enough not to care.
Another way of keeping cool that I really enjoy is having ice cream 🐽🐷🐽🐷. There is no shortage of ice cream places to choose from, so even though I’ve sweated a lot, I don’t think I will have lost weight.

We decided this time to visit Gibraltar. We have never been before and a friend normally smokes Dunhill International, only EU regulations means the packets have changed. He says the taste has changed as well, so we thought being under British rule we would be able to get some there.
No such luck, loads of places selling tobacco, but no Dunhill International. We didn’t go very far as streets were cobbles and it was steep onto pavement. I discovered that my new wheelchair tips onto cissy wheels with even a small rise. It’s most disconcerting when your front wheels leave the ground, you expect to be landing on back. Not nice at all. Mind you I got used to doing wheelies and managed a very spectacular one in Benalmadina marina. I got speed just right and must have looked like a wheelchair hooligan 😂😂😂😂.
Those of you who know me will agree that I am.

We were very unimpressed with Gibraltar, but neither of us like shopping or being ripped off for guided tours.

Another thing that had been getting to me big time before we went away was the inconsideration of most humans. We seem to live in a very selfish and unhappy world. So many seem to only be interested in getting what they can from others.
No one can walk anywhere, they park their car where they want to go or stop, like on a crossing as happened twice this past week. They block dropped kerbs, park on pavements, then get annoyed at a wheelchair on the road.
Those who do walk, feel it’s their right to walk 5 abreast down pavement and very reluctantly move out of the way. Or they are so busy looking at their phone they walk into you, then act like it’s your fault their ankle/leg hurts.
Consideration of others seems to have gone in same dustbin as, respect and manners. As for thinking, well don’t let me start on that 🤬🤬🤬🤬.
So I decided to make an effort not to let others get to me so much. It sure helped, I had a much better week health-wise. I’m sure I’m not the only 1 who has health issues when upset/angry and such.

I also learned another lesson this week. Our apartment was at bottom of complex, so fairly steep slope and steps, then up 2 flights of stairs. At first I was doing my usual, 1 foot on step then next. This was really hard work, so I tried being like hubby and going up and down steps 1 foot on each step. I will admit I used wall to steady myself, it was a curved staircase, but it took much less effort. The outside steps I tried this way, when not hanging onto hubby I was doing airplane impersonations 😂😂😂, like I do walking on soft sand.

We all have 2 priceless gifts, love and time. It would be nice to see these being given freely more often.