Travel broadens the mind

If travel does not exactly broaden the mind, it certainly broadens the beam! The food does not necessarily taste better but every day abroad seems to be more regularly interrupted by meals. And if not meals, then a cup of coffee while watching the world go by. And if you are in Italy, which we were, perhaps a gelato or a dolce, just because it is tempting. Worth it though!

It started with three days in Zurich and, just for a change, Eurostar and TGV,  to get away from the purgatory of budget airlines. A ten minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est is easy peasy but then there is a steep staircase down to the station. I was thrilled and amazed to have a young man leap up from the bottom, climb up the steps to wrest my suitcase from me, offer me his arm and escort me down. How sweet! Or do I look that decrepid?

All was revealed after the descent, when a sheet of paper was pushed in front of my eyes, claiming that he was deaf and dumb, expected a financial reward and offered a pound coin (because the Euros were not handy) gesticulated madly to show that a pound was not enough! Left a sour taste. In Lucca, we were accosted by the same bright young students that we get here in London, asking one to sign up for regular donations to a charity. Globalisation is everywhere!

But international understanding is sometimes hard to achieve. We go to (supposedly) Zurich's best Konditorei and I order an iced coffee - einen Eiskaffee. 15 minutes elapse. The waitress says we are not the only customers and the cold kitchen is busy. Eventually, a huge coffee icecream arrives. I reject it. Tell the waitress that I want something to drink not eat and the waitress tells me that what she brought is what the Swiss call an Eiskaffee. Rubbish! It is taken away and the next glass to arrive is one containing hot coffee with a blob of vanilla icecream. I remonstrate, to be told this time, by the manager, that what I want is a cafe freddo! I give up and leave drinkless!