What did the fancy brunch spot actually cost you, and was it mostly a view or vibe thing? Nine bucks for eggs, cheese, fruit and endless espresso is a steal in most of Europe, so I'm wondering if the hostel was just an outlier or if this happens more than people admit. Were the eggs cooked to order or sitting in a tray under a lamp? That detail kind of decides whether it was truly great or just good for the price.

Did you ever try just a long soak in distilled water? I did the baking soda thing on a couple of wheats years ago and still kick myself, so now it's water only and a lot of patience.

Does the blue pen actually matter, or would any color work as long as the phone stays shut?