I had a similar experience, but if yours scores a 10, mine would be a 7. Same setup: arrived in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) on a day all hotels were booked due to a convention or something. I spent the night of my 28th birthday on the floor of the train station. Luckily for me, though, this was India so I was in the ladies' waiting room along with several others and nobody was required to leave.

You might be pleasantly surprised when you get to Spain. So far, we’ve been finding restaurants opening by 8:30 or even eight. So much better! It might be different further south though - I don’t recall now.

Yes correct! Just cycled from Matera to Alberobello today. The weather gorgeous, cool in the morning, warm during the day. Not dissimilar to what you’re getting. Enjoying catching up with your trip report in the evening. We’re just hanging out waiting for a restaurant to open. It’s going to be challenging in Spain waiting for that 9pm opening!
Safe travels to you too and hopefully no more mishaps!

You’re in Puglia then? I’ll bet it’s beautiful there right now. It’s no fun having a cold, but you’re in a good spot to recover from one. Ours are thankfully finally moving on.

I don’t think we’ve ever had a serious dog problem, although we’ve worried about them in various places - especially Rachael, who used to be more afraid of them than she is now. I’m sure they can sense that. We always hear about how bad they’ll be in various places - they’ll be awful in Greece, terrible in Taiwan, etc. it never quite pans out as a real threat though.

Good luck with getting past your cold, and safe travels! Two weeks in Puglia and two in Andalucia, if I remember correctly?

Hi Scott & Rachael - glad you managed to avoid an outdoor camp last night!
We started our tour today and after feeling sorry for you having had colds to deal with have found ourselves in the same predicament. A wonderful ride nonetheless apart from our encounter with a pack of dogs. I had read about this potential situation so we were armed with cheap plastic (loud) whistles which worked brilliantly . I’ve never read in any of your blogs that you’ve had dog issues?

Thanks for the Spanish lesson! I thought this meant brother when I first looked at it. Good word to know!

Hermoso!

I never have trouble with this, Jacquie. I just spaced out the fact that a pass code was involved at all, until I closed the door and realized my mistake. Everything about it was a total brain fart, including the fact that it occurred to me to wonder if the door would lock while Rachael was still inside the hotel, but then waited until she stepped outside with me before testing it out. One for the record books.

Here's another "why didn't I think of that!" moment for you (for which I can't take credit because somebody else suggested it to me): use your phone and take a picture of the passcode. In fact, both of you should do this because the chance of both of you misplacing your phones or having them go dead at the same time is pretty small.

Yes, please.

Sorry to disappoint you and the Feeshko by ending the day with a roof over our heads, but it does bring to mind a night with a less optimal outcome, except for giving us a memory to last a lifetime. I’ve never posted that story, but perhaps the time has come.

While I'm glad everything worked out well for you in the end, part of me wishes I could have read your "Desperate American Couple Sleeps In A Spanish Gutter" story. I know you would have written something great from that experience.

Even so, it was still an exciting story. I was reading it out loud to The Feeshko and we felt so bad for you having to pay for a second hotel room. And then we read the no passport part. What are Scott and Rocky gonna do? And then the happy conclusion.

That about matches my own reaction, once we knew we were saved from a night on the street. It’s clear that this is one of those days we won’t forget.

I ear ya’.

Well, if you're going to end an AFD streak, it might as well be with an entertaining and memorable story!

Stressful, yes, but you put a great spin on it with the 'modest stupidity tax' angle. And then you discovered the magic of local connections. How fortunate that the people at hotel no. 2 knew the right number to call to get the entry code!

So, the error was free and provided your readers with a smile or two.

Adversity transformed by creativity and kindness!