Sunday ; Sunny and mild, the nicest day so far here in Ponta Delgada. Too bad Joanne was ill all day.
She began to feel ill overnight. Suffering from “upset stomach” also made her feel very lethargic today. She was unwilling to go anywhere or do anything. She came outside with me for a very short walk around 5 PM, but it just made her feel worse, so she returned to our suite and had a very long nap.
I went for an earlier walk by myself. It was a nice weather day, and I walked east along the waterfront, enjoying the sunshine and sightseeing. Back in our room I processed photos, posted my blog, filled out the ArriveCan app for our return to Canada, etc.
Monday ; Sunny and mild. Joanne was ill for a second day.
So … I went for a long noon walk by myself. And then late in the afternoon I went for a blue route city bus circuit around Ponta Delgada by myself.
We packed and prepared for departure tomorrow.
Tuesday
; Ponta Delgada, São
Miguel Island to Terceira Island, Azores,
Portugal to Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Yeah … well ! ! ! THAT didn’t happen ! ! !
Overcast, raining in the evening.
We left our guesthouse suite and our pre-arranged taxi arrived at 9:30 AM to take us to the airport. We were at the SATA Azores Airlines check-in counter by 10 AM for our 10:35 AM flight to Terceira Island, connecting to our flight to Toronto in mid-afternoon. The check-in agent entered our data into her computer, stared at her screen, blinked a few times, then asked why we were flying to Terceira Island for two days, then catching a flight back to Sao Miguel Island in two days to connect to our flight to Toronto ?
WHAT ? ! ? ! ?
Apparently our flight from Terceira Island to Toronto this afternoon had been cancelled, and we had been rescheduled on a flight in two days … from here in Ponta Delgada to Toronto.
WHAT ? ! ? ! ?
And … obviously … we had not been advised ! ! ! ! !
It took quite awhile, but SATA Azores Airlines took complete responsibility for the … <ahem> … miscommunication, and scrambled to find a reasonable solution. They offered three options. The most agreeable one was simply to stay here in Ponta Delgada for two more days, then catch the flight from here to Toronto on Thursday. Taxi from airport to hotel today, taxi from hotel to airport in two days, two nights in a luxury (expensive) downtown hotel (not our usual style), and all meals for the next two days in the hotel’s upscale (expensive) hipster restaurant (not our usual style), at the expense of the airline. Well … <shrug> … fair enough.
Certainly a better offer than the kick in the teeth we received from WestJet last November ! Which was essentially … “**** off or we’ll call security to remove you from our check-in counter”.
Before leaving the airport … hotel check-in wasn’t until 3 PM … I sat in a corner of the airport for a few hours and scrambled to make arrangements made necessary by today’s change in travel plans. I had to extend our travel medical insurance. I had to reschedule / re-book an overnight stay in a hotel near the Toronto airport. That proved to be the most difficult and time consuming task. I had to reschedule the delivery of flooring material for our condo that was to be delivered on Friday. I had to reschedule our pick up at the Winnipeg airport by Joanne’s sister. That was the easiest task today. Thank you, Lorraine. We had a late lunch at the airport before heading to our new hotel.
We were surprised upon arriving at this expensive hotel at 2 PM to be told that we could not check-in until 3 PM. There were quite a few customers sitting around the lobby until allowed to check-in at 3 PM. <rolling my eyes> I understand that some rooms are cleaned and available earlier than others, but … to make ALL guests sit and twiddle their thumbs until precisely 3 PM, and then have them line up like cattle to all check-in at the same time seemed a tad ridiculous, especially at this hotel’s prices.
We went for a walk late in the afternoon to the Spar supermarket. We had only enough toothpaste left for two more days … IF we use it sparingly. And we needed hand washing laundry detergent. We are out of clean socks and underwear ! HA HA HA !
Joanne was ill again today. She seemed to be improving early in the day, but took a turn for the worse in the evening. Maybe she just doesn’t like hipster cuisine ? HA HA HA !
Wednesday
; Toronto, Ontario to Steinbach, Manitoba
Yeah … well ! ! ! Obviously THAT didn’t happen either ! ! !
Sunny, mild, windy.
Late yesterday evening Joanne became violently ill. Spewing out both ends. <sigh>
<mumbling> At least once every ****ing winter travel season !
I suppose the moral of that story is … old women who have already been ill for a few days shouldn’t fill themselves with hipster chef created rich foods. Accordingly, she chose not to eat today, until she begins to feel better.
Oh, well … at least last night’s expensive supper was on someone else’s dime. HA HA HA !
It seemed as if I spent much of the last twenty-four (more like ninety-six !) hours being a sicko’s caregiver. I’m feeling despondent and defeated. <sigh> I want to go home already !
I obtained breakfast from the hotel’s breakfast room. Breakfast is included at this hotel. The breakfast offerings are varied and extensive. I went for lunch to the hotel’s restaurant next door by myself while Joanne slept fitfully. The eclair served for dessert was so exquisite looking I decided to take it back to our room, hoping Joanne might be able to eat it at some point today. The maitre d’ offered to have one prepared for Joanne, encouraging me to eat mine. OK … you’ve twisted my arm. HA HA HA ! It was reaaalllyyy good ! And pretty ! See pic below.
Before lunch I went for a long walk around this part of the city, an area we had not yet explored. I walked all the way to the airport and back. It was such a nice weather day. And we really have not had enough of those this winter, it seems.
I had dinner alone again at the hotel’s restaurant next door. Superb ! Albeit a bit pompous.
Thursday ; Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal to Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mix of sun and clouds, mild, windy in Ponta Delgada.
Joanne continues to be ill, although not quite as bad as the previous two days. Both of us are eager to get her home, and feeling well.
We checked out of our hotel room this morning at 11 AM, I went for a brief walk while Joanne sat with our luggage in the hotel lobby, and I returned fifteen minutes later to find our pre-arranged taxi already loading our luggage. We have used the same taxi driver for each our four taxi rides in Ponta Delgada. Very nice and helpful fellow, reliable, speaks excellent English. Today he pointed out to us on our ride to the airport that we should obtain a copy of the Portugal airline customers’ compensation regulations regarding cancelled flights. <blink blink> Who knew ?
Unlike Canada and the United States, the European Union countries have imposed rather onerous obligations on airlines when they cancel flights, as a disincentive to do so. I obtained a copy of the regulations from the SATA Azores Airlines sales office at the airport. And reviewed it. HMPH ! Seems as if SATA Azores Airlines owes us monetary compensation in addition to paying our taxis, hotel, and meals for the last two days. I returned to the sales office to get more information on how to apply for / obtain further compensation.
Well … there ya go … another task for me to do within the next few weeks.
We were required to check out of the hotel at 11 AM, but our flight wasn’t leaving until almost 5 PM. We had a lot of time to kill at the airport. When all the passengers on a SATA Azores Airlines flight to Lisbon were finished checking in around noon we checked in early at the SATA check in counter. Around 2 PM we went to a café in the airport and had some lunch. Joanne has been having difficulty eating for the past few days. Everything she eats tastes wrong, makes her feel sick, and … is in a rush to be expelled, one way or another ! <sigh>
After eating lunch … well, I ate mine, Joanne didn’t eat much of hers … we went through security, before it got busy. We were sitting in the boarding gates area by 3 PM.
Along with three young, female Canadians, dressed like they were on the beach ! <rolling my eyes>
Boarding of our aircraft was one hour late. Take-off was fifty-five minutes late. No explanation. Boarding was a complete cluster**** ! Stupid people getting themselves settled into the wrong rows, or the right rows, but on the wrong side of the aircraft. Stupid people assigned to rows at the back of the aircraft boarding through the front doors. Stupid people assigned to rows at the front of the aircraft boarding through the rear doors. Gridlocked traffic jams in the aisles. Assholes jamming the overhead bins with their “carry-on” luggage the size of steamer trunks. HEY, ASSHOLE (with the mullet), WHAT’S THE REASON YOU CAN’T CHECK THAT MONSTROSITY INTO THE CARGO HOLD ? WAITING AN EXTRA FEW MINUTES FOR YOUR LUGGAGE GOING TO MAKE YOU LATE FOR HOCKEY PRACTICE ? ? ? ! ! !
GAWD … getting on an airplane ain’t rocket science ! ! !
<taking a deep breath … putting away the laptop … trying to nap in the crowded Airbus>
We arrived in Toronto twenty-five minutes late at 9:15 PM. After clearing customs, retrieving our luggage, walking for miles and miles through Pearson Terminal 3, we finally found where our hotel shuttle would pick us up, made it to the hotel, checked in, and were in our room at 11 PM.
A hundred and fifty bucks to be in a hotel room for eight hours ! ! !
Joanne is becoming sicker by the minute !
Friday ; Toronto, Ontario to Steinbach, Manitoba
Up at 6 AM, out of the hotel at 7 AM for the short shuttle trip back to Pearson airport to catch our 9 AM WestJet <shudder> flight to Winnipeg. Raining heavily in Toronto this morning.
Checked in at WestJet, through security, and endless walking to Gate 2BC (HUH ?) by 8 AM. Joanne so ill today that she was unable to walk unaided to gate. Had to get onto large golf cart like shuttle for the handicapped to get from security to departure gate.
Note to self ; new rule for future travel ; NO CONNECTING FLIGHTS THROUGH TORONTO PEARSON TERMINAL 3 ! ! !
While waiting for boarding of flight I phoned our Manitoba family doctor to try getting an appointment today for Joanne. <shrug> Desperate, hopeless effort, phoning from Toronto at 8:30 AM / 7:30 AM in Manitoba.
WestJet flight boarded half an hour late at 9:10 AM, took off twenty-five minutes late at 9:25 AM. HMPH ! Most comfortable plane I’ve ever been on ; Boeing 737 MAX-8. WestJet cowboy pilots deliver again ! Arrived on time in Winnipeg at 10:45 AM. After Pearson experience Winnipeg airport seems SO civilized ! Joanne’s sister waiting at airport for us. <sigh of relief> Thank you, Lorraine.
While I manhandled luggage Lorraine pushed Joanne in wheelchair through airport and out to car park. J**** C**** ! ! ! Coldest weather I’ve experienced since moving from Winnipeg on January 1, 1988 ! ! ! While Lorraine drove through Winnipeg I phoned family doctor again. Left message advising that I was bringing Joanne in to Ile-des-Chênes office opening time of 1 PM.
Once out of city and onto highway, blowing snow reduced visibilty to near zero. Arrived at doctor’s office at 12:30 PM, and receptionist allowed us into office when she arrived to unlock door at 12:45 PM. Doctor saw Joanne promptly at 1 PM. <another sigh of relief> Ailment diagnosed and medication prescribed. Thank you, Dr. Hughes.
Blowing snow made visibility worse and worse on drive from Ile-des-Chênes to Steinbach. Had to be rerouted on gravel road detour to get around highway accident. Finally arrived home in Steinbach at 2:20 PM. <another huge sigh of relief> We’re very grateful to Lorraine.
She helped get luggage and sicko into suite, rested briefly, contemplated worsening highway weather conditions, then left for difficult journey back home to Winnipeg.
Joanne took medications and went to sleep. I made myself some soup for lunch, then I went to sleep for awhile. Around 5 PM I walked (BRRRRR) to Giant Tiger and bought enough grocery essentials to get us through the next day or two.
Very glad to be home, with medicated wifey sleeping comfortably.
Yes, yes, the last week has been challenging ! ! ! ! !
Saturday ; Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
Minus 23 degrees this morning ! ! ! ! !
Well … we’re home, safe and comfortable. Joanne remains very ill. Yesterday the doctor diagnosed her with diverticulitis.
What lessons did we learn this winter ?
We do not want to do business in the future with WestJet.
We do not want to have connecting flights through Toronto Pearson airport.
Southern Europe is not warm enough for us in the winter.
It is too difficult / strenuous to visit as many destinations / relocate as often as we did this past winter.
BUY CHEAP THRIFT STORE LUGGAGE. The airlines destroy luggage !
March is too early to return to Manitoba.
We have been keeping some good news under wraps until we’re home ;
We have bought a seniors’ condo suite in Dugald, Manitoba. We are moving on June 1. We have been waiting for four years for availability in this seniors’ condo.
Our Steinbach seniors’ condo suite will be for sale in a few days.
I sold our truck and camper ! I received an unsolicited offer from a man who has been wanting to buy my truck ever since we arrived in Steinbach in June 2021. He phoned me a few weeks ago with a reasonable offer. I refused to sell the truck without the camper. SO … we negotiated, he bought both and will re-sell the camper. <shrug> Works for me !
DSK
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