La Hospitale

Another day, another adventure. We had a quiet day on the boat planned for this Black Friday, but it sort of turned into a Red Friday when Patrick gashed his finger open on a hose clamp while he was working on the bilge pump. After about 30 minutes, it was still bleeding. Patrick went to a retired fire chief/cruiser just to get his opinion while I was getting out all of the materials needed for an operation. I had the book open to the correct page, the water boiling in the kettle, the chainsaw was warming up. To Patrick's relief the man took one glance at it and told him to go to the hospital.

This was the time when it became very apparent that we soon need to buy a Spanish translator, or at least a translation book! Our first cab took us to a doorway that said "Entrada." It didn't look like a hospital, but that's where we thought we told him to take us. We were met at the door by three men who wouldn't even let us enter. They told us to go to the military hospital. Unfortunately the cab had already left. So we hailed another. The first place he took us DEFINITELY did not look like a hospital. The second place he took us had a gate, with an armed (machine gun) guard in camos. After a little more confusion and an escort to the correct door, we found the place where we needed to be. As far as emergency rooms go, it was the best we had ever been in. There was only one other patient, and Patrick was in and out in before the Novocaine in his finger took effect and it only cost $75.00. He had SEVEN stitches, more than he has ever had. Now we are home again and planning a quiet evening watching movies. Hopefully it turns out like we plan.

Laura