J and I off by bus to visit Jane in hospital. Know that one of the bus routes goes past the General Hospital (known locally and also on bus timetables as the new hospital - though it opened in 1984 - as opposed to the old hospital which functions as a clinic) as well as the port, which is near us. Stop at the tourist office where girl supplies schedules for what she says are the only two buses that go to the new hospital. Neither goes to the port. Know for a fact that several buses go to new hospital and one of them also goes to the port, but can see that I am dangerously close to being asked what I am doing inquiring if I know so much about it, and can also see that she has a life - and a friend on the other end of the telephone line - so meekly accept the two printed schedules.
Take number 423 from opposite St Helena's. Not the shortest route, but the most ride for the fare, with us the only passengers for much of the time. At one point the driver calls loudly out the window to three black people, a woman and two children: Chocolat! [French pronunciation]. We're stunned. He sounds cheerful, even friendly. Could there be an innocent explanation? It sounded like one of the group had yelled something first. Maybe they know each other and there's a running joke, where they exchange epithets every time they meet. Vanilla! Chocolat! Maybe.
The "new" hospital looking distinctly down at heel. Not bad at a distance, but showing grubby signs of wear on closer acquaintance, possibly made worse by our entering through the outpatients door, since the only other obvious entry is emergency. Nothing resembling a main desk that we can see. Most signs are in Greek and most people seem to understand the routine, which includes small co-payments for services for which the procedure is to buy a stamp and hand it in at point of delivery. Which goes some way to explain a small sign reading "Here are sold only stamps For Blood Tests Behind The Elevator." The initial image coming to mind being of a seedy trench coated figure with a syringe plying his trade in a corner back of the lift.
Jane in good spirits and looking amazing for someone who has spent the last forty hours lying in one position with a broken hip. They're waiting for the warfarin to be largely out of the blood and are tentatively planning to operate tomorrow. Both Jane and Bill have been pleased with the treatment, though the hospital does seem to be short of funds. The food is adequate but just. Meat and potatoes but J now craving salad. Bottled water, towels, and even soap are supplied by the patient's family or friends. Joe jokes that it sounds like a Mexican jail.
Take bus 427 back to the centre and find that it goes via the Cineplex. File for future reference.