With  most cycling  blogs even when the pedals stop turning, we get to read some pieces of denoument as the travelers return home, and their bikes do too, or not. So we'll continue writing here for a bit, even though we are clearly going nowhere, by bike anyway.

A fair few people suggested we should still hang out here in the sun. Since we have already escaped Winter, why waste it? It's tempting, but we feel Dodie now needs to sit by her own fire and be in her own bed. 

The first step was to get her out of the hospital. This morning they were still putting pain killer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-biotic in her IV, so it seemed maybe she should stay. But the doctor mainly converted these to oral prescriptions, so there was no reason not to walk out. Except of course for the bill. 

In every country where Cycleblazers roam, this will play out a little differently, but our example could be instructive, or maybe a little amusing.  I will try to put it in a compact form, but each twist of this story took time:

When  we first arrived we were asked for a deposit of 10,000 pesos, which we paid by Visa. We were also told that the doctors were paid separately, by cash only.  OK. Today we saw the actual figures: General doctor 500 pesos, orthopedic specialist 2500 pesos, Xray, Cat Scan etc. 10,200 pesos, hospital day rate 1200 pesos, plus medicines, materials, etc. totaling with the day rate, 4700 pesos.  

So the total job was $17,900 pesos (about $CAN 1250). "Here's 3000 pesos cash  for the doctors, and with the 10,000 peso deposit, I still owe 4,900 pesos, so here's my Visa card and we're done. Right? " "Not so fast!"

Here are the various cuckoo glitches they seemed to invent one after another:

The x-ray part is a separate division, you have to pay them separately. They only take checks, by the way.

The main hospital bill is less than the deposit, so while a refund may be due, we only do it by check. The check will take 7 days to prepare and you have to come back to pick it up.

"Maybe we could refund to a debit card. Do you have a debit card? ""Yes!, up in room, I'll be back".  "Ok, here's my debit card, let's get on with it". 

"OK, we decided maybe we can refund with cash, but first you have to pay the x-ray.  X-ray is in a different building."  At x-ray : "Do you happen to have a bank statement we can see?  No? Can we see a debit card? Yes? Ok, forget it. " Is this credit card a credit card or a debit card?".

Back to main admin: "Sign here for the cash".  "Can you bring us the TV controller and AC controller? " Ok, here is your "Exit  Pass" - stamped, initialed, dated, signed. Give it to the nurse as your ticket to freedom.

To nurse: "here is my "Contrasena de Salida", we're out of here." "Whoa, wait, your 11x14 or bigger folder of original xrays. Sign this form saying you received them. Now sign our giant historical leger book, saying we gave them to you.  And here is a Pagare for you." "What's a Pagare?" "It's a bill" "A bill for what?" "Ok its a receipt" "A receipt for what?" "Ok, you don't need it, do you want us to rip it up for you?" "Oy, gevalt!"

The doctor also provided extensive hand written case notes and instructions for Dodie, and prescriptions for pain killer and antibiotics. With that Dodie walked out on her own steam, to our refuge a block away.

I was sent out for the drugs. First pharmacy, closed on Sunday, second had neither of these common items, and third time almost lucky. I came home and Dodie pointed out I had been given a box of 10 pills, but the prescription was for 2 per day for 7 days. 2x7=14! and with antibiotics you never stop short. Back I went, and the "pharmacist" produced a second box of 10, for a second 362 pesos! "2x7=14" I said. "20 is easily 14" she said. "This sure is not Canada", I thought, and slunk off.

The man (tour guide) who first stopped at the accident scene, and who gave me his card, is going to drive us tomorrow eve to Cancun, and Jorge, at the B&B where we first stayed will receive us.

Next step will be to try to arrange changed flights, bearing in mind the Canadian negative covid test within 72 hours of flying rule. By the time we arrange the test, and fly, it will be next Friday at the earliest. So there is still time in paradise, which we will spend folding and wrapping bikes and looking for tests. But we could manage to test positive, which would put us in indefinite quarantine indoors in paradise. errrph.