There are always posts about trouble with travels, and I confess I was dreading my trip: an escorted art tour in the Netherlands followed by fleeting visit with UK cousins, two weeks altogether. On the second evening I was so worn out, basically at the bottom of the well, and not sure I could carry on. Also it was raining. But from that moment it was fabulous all the way. The sun came out eventually and stayed. I ignored my aching legs and carried on. My fellow travellers were a terrific and interesting group and we bonded to some extent during the nine days. Saw so much I realized last night I couldn't even visualize all the hotel rooms we stayed in (four in Europe), except the appalling glass bathroom in an extremely modern hotel in Rotterdam is definitely fixed in my memory! So wonderful to see great works of art from the past, and also to visit the studios and shops of a number of up and coming Dutch artists and craftspeople. We feasted well, but walked so much I actually lost a couple of pounds (not good). Fantastic to see my cousins and spend a couple of days in the UK. A fun visit to the Sherlock Holmes Museum which I enjoyed a lot, more than I expected to, and found the perfect gift there, a pewter tankard, for the son who lived in our house while we were away, minding the cats, etc.
At the end of the day yesterday, home again, I got down on the floor and discovered I can still do most of my exercises, not performed for two weeks. I woke up this morning with neither headache nor bad back. So travel has been good for me. If I feel well tomorrow I'm going to start tapering again.
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HeronNS
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What a wonderful read. You write so very well! I laughed out loud at the glass bathroom detail. 😄 I’m so happy you had the journey and are home safe and sound. Thank you so much for sharing!
The glass in bathrooms seems to be a trend in Europe. One I hope they abandon very soon!
Last week we stayed in a very nice old Gasthaus on the way back home - the only flaw was the beautiful sliding glass door to the bathroom. It was so heavy it was almost impossible for me to close! Not a problem for me - but OH is a bit sensitive about locking bathroom doors...
That sounds wonderful HeronNS! It is important not to give up just because you have an off day. You will be sifting through those memories for a long time to come. I found your story inspiring.
Well done! And a great sense of achievement to have come through unscathed!
Sounds like a great trip and jealous regarding all the old masters you must have seen. I hope charlesII collection back in all original galleries though I suspect many were in private collections. Glad you thrived rather than survived!
There was a surfeit of great art! My head is still reeling in a way. We carried on with the art theme in the UK where we went to two (yes, 2) galleries of contemporary art, both in Nottingham, and to the Tate Modern in London. Also made my pilgrimage to the British Museum to see whichever examples of Mary Delany's botanical collages were currently on display, as well as old friends in several of the galleries. If you have never heard of Mary Delany, do look her up. She is a true inspiration for those of us on the downward slope of life....
I don't know how artists get images so life like. I don't know why I am surprised there is a woman artist I don't know. It happens often enough across that arts.
That gives me hope for my September trip. Sounds really interesting and different. Glass bathrooms “WHY”!! I have stayed in places with that feature it’s ridiculous. Boutique Hotels? Just weird.
You are in Scabs? I drove through last Thursday - OH was convinced we had to get to Hull before the roads closed for the Tour de Yorkshire. As a result we were far too early, almost caught it at Hornsea and had AGES to waste before the ferry. My daughter is a paramedic in Whitby.
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GCA and people not understanding
My lovely gurus ——advice needed again please. 
PMR signs getting worse (again)
OK! I'm starting to prednisone taper again...
