I’m a bit late with this blog but that’s ok because it’s
just for me. But you are welcomed to sneak a peek if
you want. I’ve decided to write this
all down before I forget.
Dear Diary (or blog as the case may be), I had a very busy December rushing to get up
the garland that I made by hand from a mini Christmas tree that someone had
chopped down from their garden and dumped at the recycle center. I just reached into the mountain-high pile of
garden trash and pulled it out and quickly threw it into the car. Once I got it home I chopped it up into
small pieces and twined it up to the railing of our balcony. Then I zipped around that with a mile-long
strand of x-mas lights. It turned out to
be very pretty as I knew it would be.
But no picture to show – so sorry. Besides, you've seen it here in previous stories before. For example this pix from 2011:
Next was the rush to get the bedroom closet going.
This has been on my mind for a number of years since moving here and fiiiiiinally I got
my azz in gear and got it going. I wanted to get
it completed before our flight to Gran Canaria so the pressure was on.
Here you can see the tiny bedroom closet from a photo from when we moved
in.
These are very fancy schmancy and expensive closets. You'd never know it but it's true. So it feels very weird to get rid of them and
replace them with cheap IKEA shit. But
that is exactly what I did and I am very satisfied with the results – when taking
into consideration all of the options.
I wanted a professional wall to wall, floor to ceiling
closet. From wall to wall it is just a hair over 4 meters. But that was going to cost some
serious ka-ching. The next option was to
do 2 – 2meter long IKEA closets side by side like my neighbor has. Very nice and the next best thing to a wall
to wall closet. But we already had 1
closet and I just needed another. The
only problem was, our closet is 1½ meter long, not 2.
To get a 2 meter-long closet would look stupid and out of balance next to a 1½ meter long closet. To get another 1½ meter long closet would set
the balance but would be 1 meter too short to go from wall to wall. What to do?
What to do? The neighbor with the
2 X’s 2 meter closets does not have a tv in the bedroom and Jens spends a lot of
time in the bed watching tube. So I figured
out a way to get the extra closet space that we needed and still keep one of
the 2 bedroom dressers that we have. As
well as keep the balance. The room is tiny and the dressers are deep and not
practical. We are keeping the smaller
one and I have just sold the larger one.
The pix below is of the one that just sold. It's practically new and we are practically giving it away. Notice how the top and sides of the dresser match the closets that I am about to pull out of the wall.
My brainiac idea was to squeeze in
the smaller dresser between the 2 – 1½meter long closets and have the tv up
above the dresser. On top of the dresser
we have some fine Danish crystal vases and a matching lamp that would have
to go into the basement if we didn’t have the dresser for them to stand
on. The entire thing fits perfectly with
just a tad space left over to hide the ladder –
Brilliant !
Here you can see that I have now pulled out the closets and in the process of painting.
All we need now for the bedroom is 2 night stands and
a new bed frame because Jens is shredding his shins to pieces on the sharp
edge of the bed.
And here are the final results. It actually looks better in real life because you can see more room, although not much more - this dump is tiny.
Pretty nice, right? I know. Thank you. Yes, of course you are wowed by the bedsheet stripes that match the royal crystal - who wouldn't be?
OK - so back up a bit.
Before I actually got the closet thing going, I had to pull out the old one
and repair and paint the wall. Then I had
to go and get the dang thing from IKEA.
So funny how everything here comes in a flat box. A big box! So I had to have the timing just right with what to do next and when so that the big boxes laying in the middle of the living room would be there for a minimal amount of time. I’m too cheap of a guy to pay to have someone
deliver the closet to the apartment when I can do it myself. I
was able to slide the big monster boxes all the way into the car over the dash board and over the
seats and it stuck out of the back end by only 1 inch. Simple.
I tied down the hatchback door with rope just to be on the safe side and
drove home with my brand new shit from IKEA. Yes, that’s right – shit. It’s just very shiny shit, so it looks ok and
will do the job for now.
OK …. So I screwed the 1001 pieces together by way of
Google Translate. I clicked onto Ancient
Egyptian Hieroglyphics and proceeded to translate the IKEA picture guide on how
to build a box. Yes, it's true the company is Swedish but the instructions are in Rosette Stone.
Once I was done I realized that I need more
shelving. So I drove back to IKEA to
pick up just 6 more shelves. That was
all I needed. Just 6 and it would just take no more than a few minutes. On the way to IKEA I snapped 2 of my 1,000 favorite
buildings in this city. This is the
Royal Music Conservatory building. You
can tell because it says so on the building.
Isn’t it pretty? It used to be
just as ugly as the building next-door.
But they just recently gave it a face lift. So, snap!
And this building too (below) is also
one of my favs. Also recently refaced. I posted this story on my facebook in December,
so some of you may have already read the following: The building was originally built to help women in the low income
bracket or women having a tough time in general. It was built in 1873 -1875 by
Countess Danner. Google her – she has a
huge heart. Quite an interesting story.
In 1979 the building was almost destroyed. Saved by the modern women's movement of the times, it became a place of refuge for abused and battered women and their children. Men are not allowed in the place. It's operated for and by women. About 2 years ago the place was totally renovated (at least on the outside) by men but still other than that, men are not allowed on the premises.
The building is beautiful and since it is huge, I had to take this shot in 2 pix and then digitally put them together. So if you think it looks a bit strange, that’s why. But I think it came out pretty well for snapping a pix on my phone through the car window while standing still at a red light.
Ok – so I finally made it to IKEA. I told Jens it will only take a moment to go inside to buy the shelves that I need – 6 of them at 50 crowns each. But I was a bad boy. I grabbed a shopping cart and decided to do some Black Friday Shopping - albeit, a bit late.
I walked in. I walked left. I walked right. I walked through that horrible 2-mile mouse-maze warehouse with so much junk everywhere, it will drive you crazy. Mental note to myself: call the shrink when you get home for some mental help and call the doctor for some anti-acid tablets. All this stuff is turning my stomach and making me nauseous. Once you start walking the maze, you have to complete the entire route. There is no turning back. With a basket full of Black Friday stuff that I was NOT supposed to buy, I finally got to the end of the maze – no cheese. But I couldn’t remember which “take yourself” warehouse aisle had the closet shelves that I needed. So I walked up to one of the computer stations to search the IKEA website that tells you where everything is located. When I clicked onto “closets”, I heard a woman’s voice say, “Excuse me sir, I think that’s my basket.”
In my own little world and caught off guard, I was surprised that the voice was directed at me. My silent thought was: who is this crazy woman and why is she bothering me with her petty problems? But of course I was nice and polite and asked, “Excuse me?”
“My basket. You have my basket.” She said while pointing at the cart and with a look on her face that could kill.
“I have your what?” and I looked down at my shopping basket and was soooooooo embarrassed to see that it was NOT my basket. I was walking around with somebody else’s shopping cart.
“Oh my goodness, I am sooooo sorry”, I said and continued, “But wait! If this is your basket, then….. where is mine?” totally puzzled.
Her voice said in a quick sharp tone, “You left it back in the lamp department” but the look on her face said, “You dumb shit!”
OK – SO ….. with closet in place, wall painted, TV hanging on the wall, royal crystal oo la la vahzes standing just so, yada, yada, yada, it was time to pack and get ready for some travel. And one of the nice things about the closet is that there is now space to keep the luggage in the apartment and not in the basement. We packed in good time and we were ready to go with plenty of time to sit and have a very nice lunch in the airport lounge. It used to be free for airline employees but now I have to pay like everybody else. But I still get to take 1 guest – at full price. Wait ! What ?! OK OK – we save about 7 bucks a person - big deal. But..... it’s still a pretty good deal if you eat like a pig and drink like an alcoholic – and believe you me………………
November 2014 we had a horrible experience with Booking dot com. Too much to bother you with but it took about 50 calls and just as many mails to get the money that was due to me from them. We’ve used them many times before. This was the first and only time to have a problem with them but what lousy service when the problem does arrive. Because of that experience I have learned and am now sharing this vital info with you: Even though you have a booking and even though you have a booking number and even though you have paid in advanced, be sure that you have contact with the hotel to remind them that you are coming. Booking blob com is just the middle man. What the hotel actually does with you, Booking could care less. And they will only reimburse you if you become a pain in their butts - which is pretty easy for me to become - Just ask Jens.
With that in mind, Jens said he wanted to book a nice room in a nice hotel this time. So we did and without the help of booking flop com. The hotel was not far from the Yumbo Center where we like to hang out in the evening time. The Yumbo Center has all the bars (we didn’t go to any this time) and hundreds of restaurants (we only went to one). Still….. it’s what we like so we satisfied ourselves with the nearby hotel/Yumbo Center.
I didn't do many pix because I already have millions. Plus you can google Gran Canaria for yourself and see it all on the web. And of course I have so many of my own pix here on my blog as well as my first blog site. So I just basically took pix of us - eating. Jens had a difficult time and he didn't really get out of the hotel much and I just spent a few hours each day down at the beach which I must say - was heaven.
Departure Day
Gate 12 A
Taking off in clear weather.
If you look carefully, in the background is the bridge to Sweden but I like to call it the bridge to nowhere because it doesn't actually go all the way to land. It stops just short of Denmark.
Over the Pyrenees.
Waiting for cocktail service.
Just arrived and continuing our 25 year Silver celebration with a little bottle of Spanish bubbly.
Day 2
Sunset - the sky was washed in a beautiful yellow and orang hue but it didn't come out in the photos.
On my way to the Pharm to get some meds that I need.
Jens has on his party face.
This is the place we ate every meal but one. The food is very good. The service is great and the waiters know us as we have been coming here for years.
The water fountain is a nice touch.
This Poinsettia is huge - up to my waist. The grow like weeds here.
Day 3
The hotel advertised itself as a 4*. 3 maybe, but for sure not 4. But it was very nice and the breakfast room was probably the most cozy of all the places that I have been to here on the island. The food was great and they serve breakfast until noon. There are only a few rooms and no children. The place was practically empty so it was almost like having everything to ourselves.
Does this tank top make my man-boobs look too saggy?
The smoking table - there is only 1.
Dinner time once again and back at the Yumbo.
If the place looks a bit tacky, it's because it is. But they do a great service for very little money with great tasting food and a huge selection.
If you are into drag, this place is like paradise. It's wild about the number of drag shows going on and almost all of them free and hysterical. Here at a bus stop in front of the Yumbo, an advertisement grabs my attention and I snap a pix of the queens. Wink Wink - with long eye lashes !
Day 4
Before even departing from Copenhagen and before I even had the closet finished, I had already planned on sending X-mas cards from Gran Canaria. I thought it could be fun with a Spanish Isle theme. But this was the middle of December and there was hardly a Christmas tree or Christmas bulb anywhere to be seen on the island.
It's only 2 weeks till Christmas yet there are very few decorations out. The big celebrations get going in January with the celebration focus on the 3 wise men. This blog is about 2 of them. The set up here in the background was what I wanted to use for the X-mas greeting but there was no place to set my camera. I thought it was odd that Feliz Navidad was in English. But we moved on upstairs to the big cardboard Christmas tree. I had to move things into high gear because I could tell Jens is about to call it a night. My camera needs to be updated. It takes too much time to find a nice night-time exposure even though there is a setting for that. It was too much strike-a-pose for Jens and too much walking this evening for him so we sat at a nearby café to take a break and have a quick bite for dinner.
This is not the Yumbo Center. It's the Cita Center about ½ a mile away. Loaded with bars, restaurants, shopping and one of the bigger more professional drag shows; this place was the only place that I could find with any sort of serious decorations. Here we are on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria yet in the background is a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant in the back on the left is La Estancia. It was our favorite for many many years until the owners sold. It hasn't done well since then - sorry to say.
Day 5
Shrimp, mushrooms, garlic in sizzling oil.
Salmon
Sangria
Day 6
Dinner time again. Earlier I said that the place was a bit tacky. It is. However, they do have a fancy inside restaurant. It's almost always empty early in the evening but fills up later when all the patio/terrace tables are filled. We always sit in the tacky part of the restaurant because it's nice to be in the fresh air and Jens can smoke without having to get up and go outside.
In Gran Canaria it's normal for a waiter/host to stand in front of the restaurant and try to lure people in. It's irritating we think but that's just the way it is here and you just have to say no thanks and move on. Here is one of the waiters ready to snag in the next customer. Remember this the Yumbo Center which is an open air mall. Just on the other side of the walkway is a tourist shop. It's all tourist here. And all the shops have the same kind of stuff. It's quite funny actually and a bit weird.
The restaurant is called Martel House. You can wet your chops here on Trip Advisor to get an idea. In general it has good scores. I think when you take into consideration the location, indoor or outdoor seating, price, service and most importantly - taste, it pretty much sums up why we were here every evening.
Day 7
It's our last full day so I decide to snap a few pix of the grounds before leaving. It's an ok place but I certainly would not give it 4 stars. The price was for 4 stars but over all I would have to say 3 stars tops. The room itself was for sure one of the nicer rooms we have stayed in. The place is very old as are most of the bungalows in this side of town. But these have been revamped. They took out the kitchen which gives a more smooth look and larger living room space but making sandwiches and coffee was done with great difficulty. And we always do sandwiches and coffee.
This is the pool. You could only walk around 3 sides. The far side backed up to a wall and on the other side of the wall was not the most enjoyable view - that was my biggest gripe but I was at the beach every day so not really a big deal for me.
This is the breakfast room and terrace. It's all open but only one table is actually outside. That was the only table for smoking and there was a British couple who didn't smoke but loved to sit there. We got there twice before they did and you could see the disappointment on their face as they walked up the stepping stones and saw us sitting at "their" table. And the stepping stones from pool to breakfast room made us laugh and laugh because they were set up in such a way that if you walked them incorrectly, you could break a hip. Jens would stop at the first stone and concentrate and then walked the "catwalk" as we called it. He did pretty well too considering the Parkinson's. We couldn't help but laugh at each other. This must be the place where they train those girls to walk that goofy walk.
There was also a really nice indoor loung with tv, computer, games, books, bar, and fireplace.
There was also a Christmas tree and after sending the Christmas photo I snapped at Cita Center, I realized I could have used this tree instead of dragging Jens all the way to the shopping center.
Now we are back at Martel House in the Yumbo Center.
The man on the right is Swedish. I met him out on the beach. He lives here in Gran Canaria and goes home to Sweden twice a year. Jens and I and this Swede are leaving tomorrow but he has a late evening flight and we have an early afternoon flight. On the beach I told this guy all about Jens. He said he would love to meet Jens and wondered what the possibility was for that. I told him where we would be eating dinner and that he was welcomed to pop by and say hello. I didn't realize he was going to be joining us for dinner and with a friend from Norway. That's the guy on the left - he just arrived this day not long ago. So the 4 of us had dinner together and it was really a nice and fun way to have our last dinner on the island.
Departure Day
Our last breakfast and it's at the smoking table so I am happy that Jens could have our last breakfast in comfort the way he likes it.
It's nice to just sit and take your time and enjoy the perfect weather.
This was also a cozy terrace corner for just hanging out. If you wanted to eat your breakfast or have your coffee here, you could do that too.
I realize too late that I could have taken our Christmas photo right from the hotel lobby.
Why Audrey Hepburn's pix is on the wall is a mystery to me.
The little garden and pool.
The breakfast room with no doors nor windows but no smoking either. The one table outside where you could smoke.
Since our last visit, they have opened an Irish pub and restaurant on the upper level with indoor/outdoor seating. Wish we had known that before eating in the noisy departure hall. But for sure next time we will make a bee line for the upstairs restaurant and terrace.
Jens waves good-bye. I pretend like I'm staying for another 3 or 4 months.
Just after take off. I snap a pix and try to take the island with me. Hanging on and wont let go.
In the foreground is Gran Canaria. In the background is the active volcano Tilde on the next island over called Tenerife.
At the north tip of Gran Canaria lies the capital city Las Palmas.
On this side of the city is a very large harbor. On the other side is a huge and beautiful beach.
The volcano on Tenerife and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.
Now we are home and I can hardly wait to go again. Care to join us?
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