Remember trying to make my own glue from a recipe like that once. Ended up with a pot of stuff that smelled like a wet dog and wouldn't stick anything together. My project fell apart faster than my confidence in being a pioneer.

Nice, @beth_kelly, that scribe trick saves so much time on wonky baseboards.

Saw a tip online about dusting the flask with talc or graphite powder before packing the sand. Supposed to act like a release agent. Might be worth a shot for next time, sounds cheaper than a heat gun.

Look at the price of a sit-down lunch near a major site, plus a coffee and a pastry. Throw in one museum ticket and a basic dinner. That's already pushing eighty bucks before you even buy a single souvenir or take a taxi. A nice dinner alone can wreck a budget. It adds up so fast without you even trying.

Totally feel this, my building in Old City had the same crash. Got a cheap 4G backup router for the bad days, it's a lifesaver.