Continued from last Week (Monday 5 DEC) - (and 7, 14, 21 and 28 Nov)

Thursday morning saw us docked in Palermo Sicily we were again very near the town centre so easy to access but the pavements and traffic were once more horrific. My fellow cruisers once more came to my rescue and helped me to get on and off the pavements. Trying to cross roads was nearly impossible the crossings had pedestrian lights but the traffic just ignored them and we really did dice with death trying to get across.  I spent all morning in Palermo and managed to find a pharmacy to buy some medication for my sore throat.  When the time came for us to leave port it was a major feat for our Captain to steer our ship out of harbour because there were a good dozen other cruise ships anchored in dock.

Friday was a quiet day so that we could do our packing and last minute shopping from the ships boutiques. As usual I had to buy another small bag as I had more to bring home than I brought. Dinner tonight was time to say farewell to our fellow diners and table staff so it was quite sad but we all agreed we had enjoyed a really good cruise and the staff could definitely not have done more for us.

We arrived back in Barcelona harbour early and I had to be off the ship by 7.00.am because my flight to Heathrow was at 11.00.am. A wheelchair taxi was waiting at the port and I had an uneventful journey to the airport. A representative was waiting to escort me to the BA check in desk but this was manned by Iberian staff who spoke little English and the lady was very unhelpful and obviously not used to dealing with passengers who had wheelchairs to transport. I had paid £10 for a pre booked seat in row 12 but the check-in lady insisted I had to sit in row 24 as people with disabilities had to be seated near the rear of the plane. She then sent for two special needs helpers who also could not speak English and had no idea at all how to get my electric chair to the plane. It was a complete nightmare and I was locked up in a room with two hard seats made to transfer while my wheelchairs were checked for drugs. By the time this was done my electric chair was wheeled away and I was pushed to the departure gate and left there for two hours on my own with no help to get to the toilet facilities.

Luckily my plane left on time and I was soon re-united with my chair and luggage in the reclaim hall. Heathrow staff were excellent and I had a mobile phone call from Mark my taxi driver to say he would be with me about 1.00.p.m. I sat with my luggage and Mark arrived he soon had me and my bags stowed away and we were home in about two hours after an uneventful journey home. I had only been back half an hour when my two cats arrived fit and well from the cattery and I knew I was well and truly home.