Dea had a really bad night last night, she’s in a lot of pain and I decide it’s time to make a decision. Now that we are in a larger city, Rethimno Crete, I ask Stella if she can organise for Dea to see a local doctor. If he says there’s nothing can be done we’re coming home, it’s just pointless continuing when she is clearly not enjoying this, regardless of what she says.

Stella organises a orthopaedic doctor and a taxi to get us there, the doctor is English speaking but she will come with us to help with translation. We see the doctor straight away and after explaining what’s happening and a few prods and pokes he asks what had our doctor done for this “just painkillers”. He’s horrified with this as he can clearly see Dea required more help. We walk away from the doctor with better painkillers, a packet of anaesthetic patches and extreme pain relief injections and a note for a back brace. The cost of the doctor €40.00 cash, all the medication €40.00, and the back brace fitted €190,00. As soon as the back brace was fitted Dea felt and looked a lot better. Stella was fantastic, Crete was her time away from the cruise and she chose to help us.

Once we got back to the boat Dea took the painkiller tablet and about half hour later she was almost back to her usual self. The doctor did say she would have to take it carefully and the brace will aid in the healing of her back.

Lunch time and we catch a taxi for a 5 minute trip to the cafe section of the port area. We have a nice lunch together, pain free. Dea has a look in a couple of shops and buys more clothes. Catch a taxi back to the boat. We both have a ‘nanna’ nap this afternoon as tea is going to be late and then there some Greek dancers coming on board to entertain us.

We’ve been advised that the next leg to the next island is going to be rough.

After tea and the dancers it’s off to bed. Brace off to sleep and the patch applied. Off to sleep. Shortly after the boat is truly rocking and Dea having trouble relaxing allowing sleep. It’s the muscles on the side of her chest causing grief, her back is numb. I think about 3 in the morning she finally relaxes even though the boat is still rock and rolling, and we both wake up at 8:30.

We’re in the harbour of a new island, Kythera. Nearly missed breakfast. But missed the bus to the main town on the island, I  don’t care Dea slept well and looks pretty good today. There is now a chance we are going to make it to the end of our planned holiday.