TRAVEL TALES

Young Chang

Richard Krenz fell ill during a recent trip to Spain, Portugal and

England.

A slight heart condition even sent him to the emergency room at one

point, where Krenz says he had an “experience” with the British medical

system.

“Six and a half hours of people hovering over me, and I didn’t have to

pay anything,” he said. “I asked them how much I owed them, and they

laughed.”

Despite the untimely bout with sickness, Richard Krenz and his wife,

Estelle, say they had a good vacation. The Newport Beach couple were able

to see their daughter, who recently took a job in England.

The family took drives out to the countryside and took pictures

outside of the castle of Anne Boleyn’s parents, called Hever Castle. They

watched a Spring festival unfolding with folk dancers in costume and

jubilant singers.

“It was just very festive. It was a lovely outing,” said Estelle, 76.

Before arriving in England, the couple visited Spain and Portugal in

late April with a group tour aboard the Clipper Cruise Line. Their stops

included Barcelona and Malaga in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal. It was a

tour of the art and architecture, but Estelle says they didn’t make it on

land too often.

“I saw it from a boat mostly,” said the retired schoolteacher.

“Unfortunately, we’re just too old.”

In Malaga, the situation didn’t get much better. The couple

disembarked in hopes of shopping for souvenirs, but that day turned out

to be the Spanish equivalent to Labor Day.

“But we took a horse carriage ride around town, which was very nice,”

she said. “The driver was driving his horse, and it was the kind of

carriage you see in New Orleans.”

Richard, a 78-year-old retired employee of Pacific Mutual Life,

enjoyed seeing the Sacred Familia cathedral in Spain.

“My husband likes to take trips,” Estelle said. “I have trouble

keeping him home.”

* Have you, or someone you know, gone on an interesting vacation

recently? Tell us your adventures. Drop us a line to Travel Tales, 330 W.

Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; e-mail young.chang@latimes.com; or fax to

(949) 646-4170.