2025 POSTCARD FROM GRAN CANARIA - Friday 19 December – Monday 22 December

I left home on the afternoon of 19 December and spent a quiet night at the Gatwick Hilton South. Took a picnic supper and breakfast with me, so was able to stay in my room and not go in search of restaurants! At 11am on Saturday 20th Assisted Travel picked me up from the Hilton and wheeled me into the BA Lounge. All very efficient. They then picked me up and took me to the plane. Unfortunately we were delayed by two hours – so a long wait sitting in the plane. On arrival the Portuguese were very poor at Assisted Travel – eventually picked me up off the plane and then when we got to the luggage carousel he disappeared. Some kind fellow travellers helped me get my luggage and then found another airport helper to wheel me out to my car. Not the best of taxi journeys but made it to the hotel with rain coming through on to me through his airconditioner!!!.....and a very noisy radio all the way. My room at the Occidental is very basic and very cold. Had a bad/cold night! On Sunday morning I managed to get a towelling robe and some slippers which helped. Sun tried but pretty cold on my sun-less balcony. So spent the day doing tapestry in my room. On Monday 22nd I was so distressed sitting in my cold room with miserable weather outside that I decided to go home. My back was not good, my whole body was freezing cold, and enough was enough! Trailfinders were put to action and I got a flight home that afternoon. I left the hotel around 11.45 and eventually checked into my flight at Las Palmas airport at 12.45. The flight was quite delayed but I eventually landed back at Gatwick at 20.30 and was back in my nice warm flat soon after 22.30.