Packing

Rick and I are going to Europe to eat and drink our way through France and Italy and see the sights.  In preparation, we purchased European sized carry on suitcases.  They are super tiny compared to US luggage. 

From Bonaire it is easiest to fly direct to Amsterdam as there are several daily flights. Schiphol, the main airport in the Netherlands, is one of the busiest airports in Europe and has had the most problems this summer with over crowding. 

We have been reading about he issues at Schiphol in Amsterdam.  Issues include lost luggage, waiting for luggage for 3-4 hours, long lines for check in and security.  They have even cancelled flights and are not booking full flights.  All this has earned them the name "Shithole" which is a play on the pronunciation of Schipol.

We have done several practice packs to assure that we can fit everything into our tiny carry-ons.  I am using the role method and it seems to be a space saver.  We will have laundry service everywhere so we only have to make it a week at a time before we can wash clothes. Mix and match is the key and less shoes.

I think our back packs will be our best friends on this trip.  Its like a second tiny suitcase.  I feel like I am back in college carrying a backpack but it is the most efficient and effective carrier.

This packing method will assure that we can carry on luggage, easily transfer it to trains and cars and make it easier for us to move around.

 

"Stitches"

Stitches is a sewing and coffee shop owned by a Venezuelan woman.  She was  a media/communications person in Venezuela until her and her lawyer husband migrated to Bonaire.  His law degree is not recognized in Bonaire so he works construction.

Rick needed the elastic in some of his swim suits replaced.  

Her English is poor and our Spanish is even worse.  Somehow we explained what we needed.  She measured Rick's waist, all the time apologizing for touching him. She sent us off to purchase the elastic for the waist bands. 

Her shop is packed with sewing machines, thread, and material plus pastries, coffee machines, arepas and cakes.

Off we went to Tong Fong, the Chinese market that is like Kmart, Ace Hardware, a sewing store, 7-11  all wrapped up into one floor-to-ceiling packed store. We found the elastic. 

A nice local girl measured it in the store and packaged it for us. Her English was good and she was very helpful. We went back to the Stiches to drop off the supplies. Nothing we do is one-stop.  It always takes us several stops and many visits to get things done.  

Rick lives in his swim suits so it was a good time to get them repaired while we went on vacation. She explained that it may take her several weeks to complete the work.  We assured her that she has two months and we will pick them up when we return from Europe.

Doctor Visits

I have entered the world of socialized medicine.  In some ways it's really good once you know how the system works. 

It is a slow process to see specialists.  You visit your general practitioner doctor (whom you have to declare to the government for their records) and ask for referrals to specialists.  The specialists visit from the Netherlands every couple of months.  This means that you have to get into the cycle to see them which often takes months.

My first visit was to the internist to get my colonoscopy scheduled.  He wanted my records from the US to assure him that I was instructed to get the procedure every 3-5 years. Then the anesthesiologist calls to schedule the procedure and discuss the drugs they use (which are the same as in the US). The gastroenterologist, who is on the island from the Netherlands, only every couple of months and we are gone for the next two months, I scheduled for November. 

My next stop was the dermatologist. He gave me a once over and declared that I have no trouble spots.  This only happened after he told me to take my cloths off right in front of him.  No paper dress, no nurse just me naked with the dermatologist.

He told me some interesting stuff.  He said 1 in 10 people usually get skin cancer and on the island 8 out of ten get it.  He told us to put on 50 sun screen every day and every two hours.  Which is nuts. Nobody does that and we are all here for the sun.  Rick and I will be more diligent about putting our sunscreen on but it won't be every two hours.

I wanted him to take off some bumps, moles and warts.  I had suggested using liquid nitrogen like they use in the US.  He said he would shave them off as it is a better method.  Yikes, that sounds like it's going to hurt!  He told me the removals were not medically needed but rather driven by my vanity. Geesh.  Anyway, I will get these removed (for my vanity) in November.

 

Pool Noodling

I exercise with a group of ladies.  Each Friday we do a noodle class in the pool at Divi Flamingo, a local resort.

Our instructor, Kelly, took these photos for her promotion of the class.  She also teaches yoga, is a personal trainer, and health enthusiast. 

I also try to swim  and walk in the pool at home.  It amazes me how walking in the pool is aerobic. As you change directions, you walk against the current.

The pool is really warm these days because it's REALLY WARM on the island. Sure makes it easy to get into.

For those of you that know me well, you know I hate getting into water.  It usually takes me many minutes. My water buddies continue to threaten to push me into the pool.  I even wear a rash guard thinking that will help.