You'll love Barcelona. BUt kathi - it's thieves' paradise. Figure out how to carry whatever you need (and nothing you don't) on your person. DO NOT carry a purse/pocketbook, or a backpack even. I had my wallet stolen OUT OF MY HANDBAG when I opened said handbag at a signal light in downtown Barcelona, surrounded by pedestrians at noon, to get a map out. I didn't even realize a hand had gone in by mine until I heard someone standing nearby say - HE JUST TOOK HER BILLFOLD! I tried to chase him (THAT must have been a sight!) without luck.
But it's a beautiful city. Watch out for the cats that a guy arranges into sculptures on Las Ramblas.
I went to Malaga many years ago. Friends told me to read The Drifters by Mitchner before I went. There we are sitting in a bar that looks very familiar. I asked Bill to look outside and see if there was a magazine kiosk outside. First time I ever used the word and wondered why I had used it. Out side the window was the kiosk exactly as Mitchner had described it in his book. Very strange but good experience. Loved Spain. Ate more eel in more different ways than I ever imagined.
I am going to have everything under clothing..and make sure that G has very little but ID on him. We have never had a problem before, but this time I DO NOT want to take any chances. We went to Argentina and Chile last year..or year before? Who knows..he was starting to have visable problems and had airport episodes that I do not want to repeat. I don't care much for militia guys with uzis. We will be in Barcelona for four days before getting on the ship. On the FTD support forum I have "met" a young gal who lives an hour from Barcelona and hope to connect with her. Fingers and toes are going to be crossed the entire time. I am quite adventuresome in eating, but eel? Maybe too snakey for me. I know it is very popular there..might start out with something less slithery.
Trisinger, Good for you, where in Germany will you be going? I would love to go back but my husband does not speak a word of German. He had a wonderful time there before AD but I think it would be too much for him now. All being well, we hope to go to make another trip to his country of birth next year. He is desperate to see his hometown which he left over 50 years ago and I want him to experience it while he still has some memory of it.
I'm so thrilled to see that others continue to travel with thier ADLO. My DH and I just got back from an Alaska cruise with my daughter, SIL and the 3 kids. It was great and DH held up and enjoyed himself altho he doesn't remember going now. In January we plan to go to Belize and Hondurus on a cruise with some friends who live in Ft lauderdale. I just won't go alone with DH anymore. I need more that my 2 eyes on him. I'm 65, sometimes I get tired too. (LOL)
Not 'we', we, I'm going with DD and her family. They can do all the baggage dragging and such. I'm going to miss Andrea tremendously, and have to get over a little guilt, but I want to go back to my family one last time.
Trisinger, enjoy your trip, and remember, you might be able to go back again in a few years! AND don't feel guilty! She wouldn't want you to feel guilty and you know it. Be sure and see the sights and take plenty of pictures!
I'm taking the train to San Diego. This will be the first time to go on a trip as a widow. It is just overnight from Klamath Falls, OR and I decided to splurge on the roomette so if I feel sad I'll at least be able to retreat. I have many friends from living in that area for 25 years, will stay with my son and family and get to meet Sunshyne!
I am going on a mediterranean cruise with my DH on the 24th. We will be in Barcelona and ports are in france, italy, croatia, and malta. It is a 14 day cruise. We felt like we should do it now while he is in the early stage 4. He has forgotten several trips in the past, I hope this is one he is able to remember.
You know how we keep reminding each other to watch out for UTI's? Good advice. Hauled my husband off to the doctor with me, and sure enough, guess who has a UTI ... me.
(Say what? Isn't it the ADLO who is supposed to get those, not the caregiver? Not to mention, it wasn't what I'd consider to be particularly "silent." Sigh.)
My husband enjoyed the outing. Although he has fussed every day since then about how my arm is doing. I finally realized he was quite impressed by the pressure bandage to keep my arm from bleeding after they drew blood. The infection, he hasn't got a clue. Well, I'll take sympathy no matter what inspires it.
I've also been buried in researching topics sparked by some of the threads here ... on stigma and where it really comes from, the impact of publicity on Government funding, whether early diagnosis really does make a difference ... If y'all are very, very unlucky, one of these days, I'll unload my findings on you. :-)
Sunshyne, next time you leave us for a few days, try to tell us ahead of time like Sandy D did. You know we all worry about you when we don't know what's happening. Hope you're all better now.
I do wonder if early diagnosis would have made any difference with DH, especially since there were signs and symptoms about 4 years before DH's diagnosis. Some say it was even longer for them. Let us know what you find and welcome back.
I think the earlier any diagnoses is made it would be for the better. My daughter came down with a disease called Sarcodisis several years ago and during the x-rays for that Immune system disease disease the Doctor discovered a small cyst on one of her kidneys. They did ssurgery for the syst and remove 1/3 of the kidney because the cyst was malignant. It was not causing her any problems and if they hadn't did x-rays for a unrelated illness it would not have been discovered for who knows how long. She did not have to have Chemo.
Imohr, that's wonderful. I knew someone else who needed gallbladder surgery. They usually do it through the little holes around the navel( I forget what you call that), but they couldn't for some reason. When they opened her up they found Cancer of the ovary. She did quite well for some time, altho I have since lost track. It's miraculous how these things can be found. I started my husband on Arecept about 7 or 8 yrs ago, when I first noticed the signs of more than normal forgetfulness. I think the pills have held it off and at this point he's only just deteriorating quickly. Maybe it didn't matter, and maybe he be at the same stage regardless, but it certainly didn't hurt, and I like to believe it retained his quality of life. His mother had been in a nursing home for 2 years at his age, so I have that to compare with. Anything that can be found early has a better chance of being controlled if not cured.