Two shifty looking Croatian men were in the lobby entertaining us. One had a guitar, the other had an electric mandolin. They specialised in distorting the English language - mangling it in fact. But they didn't seem to care. They could play their instruments pretty well. The mandolin player kept looking towards the hotel entrance as if he was expecting a visit from the cops.
During "My Way" there was a kerfuffle at the reception desk. A middle aged German woman was panting and clearly distressed. It concerned her husband. The head receptionist asked the shifty guys to stop playing.
Soon an ambulance with blue lights arrived. The grey-faced German husband was strapped to a trolley and then transferred into the waiting ambulance.
The blue lights flashed again and the emergency vehicle drove away. It is a long way from here to a hospital of any significance. At least two hours I would say.
With the German fellow gone, The Shifty Band started up again and the song they chose to punish was "Let It Be" by The Beatles:-
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
OR
Ven ah fend moresell in toms o travel
Mudda Mayway come timmy
Seekin worms oh Wisden
Lettuce bee
OR
Ven ah fend moresell in toms o travel
Mudda Mayway come timmy
Seekin worms oh Wisden
Lettuce bee
Perhaps the German casualty heard the song faintly as he was whisked away into the Croatian night.
One day the blue lights and the siren may come for me too - and surely for you as well dear reader. But it wasn't our turn to go last night and hopefully not tonight either. Ambulances are like grim reapers on wheels. We have all got to go one day, one night, one time. Hail and Farewell. Leaving - not to angelic music but to blue lights flashing in the night. Roy Orbison singing, "It's Over" comes to mind.
Oh my goodness. Enjoy your holiday while it lasts Mr P!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping I can keep the blue lights at bay till Sunday morning.
DeleteAt least they didn't play "Always look on the bright side ..."
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone need an electric madolin? Acoustic ones are too loud as it is. The banjos and the mandolins drown out us guitarists at the folk group I go to.
The guitar was also amplified. It is a big, sprawling lobby. I must get to see Tasker and The Dogs of War.
DeleteWhat a strange evening. Goodness! Well, you won't forget that.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, despite the long distance to the hospital, the man will be okay. They do have lots of equipment and drugs on ambulances that can serve well until the hospital is reached.
I believe I saw him by the pool the following afternoon. He dodged the bullet.
DeleteMy son is a paramedic. He says that he performs CPR with the tune of "Another One Bites The Dust" raging in his head. I don't think that I'd call him the grim reaper, but he does have a gallows sense of humor.
ReplyDelete"I Wanna be in America" would speed up the compressions. I wonder where your beloved son gets his gallows humour from?
DeleteWell, that was damned depressing. And when I saw the title of this post pop up on my sidebar, I was afraid that something had happened to you or Shirley. Not nice, Mr. P, not nice.
ReplyDeleteAll part of life's rich tapestry my dear.
DeleteWell, this certainly is an uplifting post...NOT!!
ReplyDeletePresently, there are enough troubles being suffered by many hereabouts from the devastating bushfires, and other harsh realities of life, I think I'll go and bury my head some comics to lighten the mood - my mood! I've had more than my share of heartache these past few weeks having lost someone about whom I care/cared dearly. And on top of everything else, the fires others have been dealing with, and are dealing with, don't spread much happiness and positivity around, unfortunately. More depression is not needed.
Very sorry to have added to your woes Lee.
DeleteIt's very upsetting when you see a fellow tourist in great distress. They are far from home and support. Yes, it makes us think how vulnerable we are.
ReplyDeletePrecisely Red. You got it.
DeleteGosh I hope she was ok in the end, I would imagine that music would've been quite distracting.
ReplyDeleteIt was the wife who was distressed at reception but the husband who had an ambulance ride Amy.
DeleteFor a split second, on seeing the title, I thought the ambulance was for you! It must be terrible being taken so ill in a foreign place. The singers sound hilarious. The whole thing must have made you feel you were in the middle of a bad dream.
ReplyDeleteThey weren't meant to be hilarious but in a way they were. And yes - it's bad enough having an ambulance coming for you in your home country but in a foreign country the anxiety must be very much increased.
DeleteNot the sort of post we expect from you on holiday YP !
ReplyDeleteTrue it's a sad reality of life, but we hope for reports of blue skies, sunshine and pretty scenery, and the occasional description of good food to cheer us.
Enjoy the rest of your stay.
I am sorry that I veered away from the path CG!
DeleteI hope to die in my back garden, amongst my flowers on a lovely summer day.
ReplyDeleteDig a hole first.
DeleteI hope that poor guy managed to pull through whatever was happening. I love your transcription of the Croatian version of "Let it Be"! I can just hear it. (But maybe not understand it.)
ReplyDelete