To the mountains via Zurich.
I already knew that May was going to be a
very fully-packed month travel-wise and had warned my landlord in the mountains
that I probably wouldn’t be there much when I dashed up to make the beds and
haul out the stored items this past weekend.
What I didn’t realize was that it was also
going to be “one of those” months.
Already the various downpours, flooding
rivers, raised lakes made the beginning an unusual one: imagine if you can a
lake that is approx. 72 km long by 13 km wide (at its widest point) containing 89 billion cubic meters of water
actually raising half a meter on the average- and depending upon where - up to
a meter!
However, due to good coordination in
between the French and the Swiss Geneva managed to avoid a major catastrophe
and with a few days of sun, the current danger level is back down to almost
normal. Due to a series of barrages they are able to retain the waters from the
Rhone which flow out in Geneva as to let the waters from the Arve (coming from
the Mont Blanc area in France) flow more freely: they still had to close all
the bridges crossing that river with the exception of the oldest (built back
when the so-called less technical engineers dealt more closely with nature so
allowed greater margins of safety).
Upon my return home Monday from opening the
flat in the mountains, I started packing for my trip to Germany – that involved
basically trying on everything in my wardrobe (don’t ask). The good news is
that when I go to pack for Prague later this month, I should not have to spend
any time at all, as I will surely remember my combinations (anyone tempted to
bet on that would be well advised not to).
Tuesday dawned “normal”, I had coffee up in
the village as usual then set off for the train station with plenty of time
allowed for minor problems: just as well as due to the lights being out of
order (why, you ask? Just another of the results of having 5 bridges still
closed so with two major entry’s melding into one road to cross the main bridge
let’s just say it took 25 minutes to drive the usual – even in main traffic
time – 10 minutes). Had time at the
train station to have my parking ticket stamped and go buy a banana for
mid-morning.
When they started switching around tracks
for the various trains I should have perhaps already have suspected that the
day wasn’t going to be “normal”, but in my naivety just thought – oh the poor
people going toward the Valais are having to be bussed due to a mud slide, glad
I’m going elsewhere.
Second clue was getting on and in a compartment
behind one where a young businessman proceeded to make call after call on his
cell phone – calls which all of us in that particular train car could easily
follow. He had finally calmed down an hour and a half later when an elderly
woman asked if she could join me in my compartment then proceeded in an even
louder voice to chat with me until Zurich. Now remember that I am slightly deaf
and could hear both of them very, very well indeed: that will give you a clue
as to the volume at which they talked (was going to say conversed, but that
would imply a more logical volume and way of speaking than either of these two
possessed).
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| Higher altitude along the way so more lovely Colza fields |
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| water, water everywhere |
In Zurich I had a quarter of an hour to
grab a sandwich from one of the many choices – I always make a beeline for Nordsee and a fish sandwich – so having
duly located the track from which the ongoing train was to leave I did just
that. On one of the billboards I read
that the German trains were on strike, but as my train had been posted thought
no more until I saw my train disappear from the schedule board and in its place
“cancelled” written. Gulp.
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| Niki de Saint Phalle's "prtoecting angel" in the Zurich trainstation |
Sent the first text message to the friend
who had organized the get-together. Got into line to find out what the
possibilities were for proceeding to Lindau (with many others… meanwhile all
the trains to Germany had been cancelled) that day. Duly arrived in front of a pleasant chap,
explained and he started looking.
Continuing would have meant 4 different stops and changes… even so was
hesitating until the notice popped up that on one of the stretches there had
been a “personal event” – the euphemism for a suicide on the tracks.
Yes I could have gotten there, but by then
I was remembering the train ride after the strike in Germany last summer when I
was returning from the in-laws and knew that even in a best-case scenario I was
going to arrive hot, bothered and tired with a few minutes to change for
dinner. At that point I sent the second text telling my friend to cancel my
hotel room, I was going back to Geneva. It wasn't a birthday celebration, a wedding or memorial - I'll see them sometime.
The chap at the counter asked if I was
sure, I replied yes, he re-routed my ticket on a direct train, I had onion
rings at Burger King and got back on a train for another bout of three hours.
I can attest to two things: all the rivers
in Switzerland are full and muddy brown and three hours in a “silence” car are
much better than three in one where people talk too loudly!
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| Silence, blessed silence |
Actually a third thing – the Swiss train
system, personnel and routes are some of the best in the world!
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| Another great mode of travel, the Swiss Postal Cars |
Once back in Geneva I again stood in line
to see what could be done about a partial reimbursement (as advised by the chap
in Zurich). The wait was a wee bit long however the young girl, Ms. Garcia,
more than pleasant. After trying to cancel the ticket she had to go get the
assistance of a colleague (you try cancelling a ticket when the date and time
are already passed), but in the end the ticket was cancelled and my credit card
credited with the entire amount. I said, o.k. now you can charge me the Geneva
– Zurich – Geneva portion to which she replied “no, it’s all taken care of”. I have never complained about the Swiss train
system and did just renew my half-tariff card for another three years, but that
was beyond belief. They actually reimbursed me the entire amount when it wasn’t
their fault at all that I didn’t continue my journey. I certainly won’t be
complaining anytime soon and can only encourage one and all to take advantage
of our wonderful train system!
To recuperate, and as I have my delightful
younger son currently at home to take care of the house and cats, I made a snap
decision to “bail out”, “abandon ship” or whatever you wish to call it and head
for the mountains where life is simpler.
May might turn out to be easier than I thought.
