European Vacation 2023 Musings

As the wheels of our Mercedes bus, earlier the proud carrier of the Czech football team, hummed along the road from Paris to Engelberg, we found ourselves at the threshold of Switzerland in the border town of Basel. Basel, a name synonymous with the stringent banking regulations that govern the financial heartbeat of the world, offered us a brief respite from our journey.

These highway havens, with their mini shopping complexes, are a traveler's oasis, complete with cafés and a plethora of shops brimming with everything from gourmet snacks to fine liquor. Operated by brands like Autogrill, they offer a slice of luxury with their complimentary washrooms—a rare find in a continent where a euro is often the price for relief.

As we veered off the Rhine's path, our bus nestled into the forecourt of a rest stop. Here, amidst the hum of transient lives, I encountered a cultural crossroad.

 

At this Basel town store (above), I picked up a can of beer costing three Euros and proceeded to pay the counter manned by a lady with African features but brownish skin color. She nonchalantly refused to accept the Euros and insisted on a Swiss franks. In many parts of Switzerland, the traded currency is Swiss franc even though Euros are accepted. While I was keen to get rid of the coins I was carrying. So I returned the beer can to her and had almost walked out of the door when the guy standing behind me said ‘Hey, just hang on a minute’. This guy appeared pretty normal, most probably one of the many motorists from Switzerland crossing the border.

After paying the cashier he carried the beer can along with his other stuff and handed it over to me. I gladly accepted and handed over the money. Nodding his head he said ‘No No No’….’ Enjoy your beer’ and just walked away. I was just dumbfounded! Beer is an important part of German culture and  is considered their national drink. I experienced a bit beer hospitality too!

This act of kindness from a stranger, a fellow patron who, with a simple gesture, reminded me that humanity knows no borders. He purchased the beer and, dismissing my attempts to pay, gifted it to me with a smile, embodying the generous spirit often found in the heart of Germanic beer culture. I stood there, momentarily stunned, a recipient of unexpected generosity

Later that evening, we checked into our hotel in Engelberg, located atop a hill overlooking the Swiss Alps nestled at the foot of Mount Titlis. We were slightly delayed as there was an unexpected stopover for checking as we entered the Swiss border. A police car just tailed the bus and without sirens or any communication conveyed the driver somewhat telepathically conveyed the driver to follow the car to a Garage. Here they tested the vehicle for structural integrity while they inspected all documents including the driver’s permit & license (who was a Czech national, a burly man who smoked whenever there was a break).  This unforeseen delay was a reminder of the meticulous Swiss attention to detail, from the structural integrity of our vehicle to the credentials of our Czech driver, a man as sturdy as the mountains around us.

As dusk painted the sky, we arrived at our hotel, perched like an eagle's nest on the hillside overlooking the Swiss alps. The hotel itself was an architectural marvel, connected by tunnels and lifts, a perfect blend of nature and design. My family and I, among the first to disembark, quickly settled our luggage and proceeded to the dining hall, where tables awaited, marked by colors for different tour groups.

Apparently, there was another Indian group checking in from another agency that night. As I were the first to enter the dining room, the lady receptionist at the lobby stepped forward and asked ‘Are you the driver from Kesari group?’ As I was squirming for a reply and looking for a way out, the hotel floor manager in a dark suit with a tie standing nearby overheard the conversation and took me to the side. Apologetically he said ‘ Sorry sir, the lady mistook you for the driver as you have some European features!’ much to my chagrin and bemusement!

This humorous twist of fate, where I found myself mistaken for a driver by the lady at the reception, a case of mistaken identity that was swiftly and graciously corrected by the floor manager. His apology, tinged with a hint of humor, was a gentle reminder of the diverse tapestry of European features and the amusing misadventures that travel often brings.