India going Bangalore to Delhi over 36 hours in "1st Class AC". This is the transport mid-senior level civil servants and like used in India at the time - those not quite rich enough to fly (and me). It was quite comfortable in a couchette type cabin of 4. Further down the train were 2nd and 3rd class sleeper carriages and at the end a bench seat carriage into which people jumped in and out while the train was still moving so they actually got a seat. As my Indian colleague explained, "people no longer travel on the roof here, we are not in Bihar" (the poorest Indian state). The doors were good. You could open them inwards and just stand watching, with nothing to stop you falling out, except common sense. The toilets were not so good.... We got 3 meals a day brought round with a choice of "meat" or "veg". I went "veg" on the basis it was less likely to make me ill - it didn't. Also someone came round at hourly intervals (24hrs a day) offering incredibly sweet milky tea or coffee. No, I don't want sweet tea at 2am and still don't want it at 3am, and no, you really don't need to check if I have changed my mind at 4am.
My travel story in Switzerland, just getting there: keep in mind I had a job that required my planning ahead for patient care for the whole time I would be away, only two wonderful weeks. The paperwork to get all eventualities covered in my absence took working all but three hours a night for many days before departure. Sleep deprivation might have done me in had I not been so very excited to see Switzerland. Remember getting from Birmingham to Atlanta by air (old saying was you couldn’t get to Heaven or Hell without going through the Atlanta airport) and then nonstop to NYC which I had never seen before. Just the day there and a night flight to Zurich. On arrival exhaustion kicked in and I found the hotel room reserved. That’s the funny story. It was very quaint and the smallest hotel room I’ve ever seen in my USA travels. Or anywhere! Tiny half size bed against the wall, the door barely cleared the bed 🛏️. A shower curtain on a metal ring with a drain. There must have been a facsimile of a toilet but I do not recall. I recall nothing else. Literally passed out from exhaustion on that tiny hard half size bed; think I slept about 2-3 days before I could venture out and do, see anything. But I was the guest of my companion whose ex-wife made all reservations. And we were on the economy plan. So, I had no part in planning and my companion, boyfriend at the time, was fearless in foreign countries, traveled extensively, even traveled through most of one night because we had no hotel; eventually found a place for a few hours before meandering on in the rental car. First goal was Lausanne then drove to what was then Chechoslovakia, Communist. Had a lovely time going through all the beautiful cities along the way but I’d vote for making my own arrangements like you do so meticulously every time. I’d be much more confident that way! And get enough sleep to get the most out of every day. You excel at planning but you know your country; next time (don’t have time left but assuming I did) I would ask you to be my travel guide! Love you, my friend! 😘
Poor you! Sounds like a real adventure. Thanks for sharing that.
Wish you could make it back here! That hotel room sounds like the mine in Maastricht. You could either have your suitcase open or go to the bathroom or open the actual door to the room.
I have literally nothing planned. I arrived in Maastricht and couldn’t remember why I had wanted to go there. On to Den Bosch because … I’ll remember at some point.
On the way back home I’ll be on like 10 different trains and train replacement buses - no direct ICEs (blessing and a curse?). Glad I have books and my phone.
At the risk of TMI, my companion was an orthopedic surgeon who had a professional engagement in Lausanne for a week and then was the team doctor (USA) for the Six Days Enduro Motorcycle World Competition in Povasca Bystrica, Chechoslovakia (like the Olympics of endurance motorcycle competition without the Eiffel Tower or the Seine River).
So, I actually got to walk in the opening ceremonies with a flag and confiscated a press pass as a photojournalist to get closer to the action. Very interesting stories but too many for your post. Have a great day! 😘
A train story for you:
India going Bangalore to Delhi over 36 hours in "1st Class AC". This is the transport mid-senior level civil servants and like used in India at the time - those not quite rich enough to fly (and me). It was quite comfortable in a couchette type cabin of 4. Further down the train were 2nd and 3rd class sleeper carriages and at the end a bench seat carriage into which people jumped in and out while the train was still moving so they actually got a seat. As my Indian colleague explained, "people no longer travel on the roof here, we are not in Bihar" (the poorest Indian state). The doors were good. You could open them inwards and just stand watching, with nothing to stop you falling out, except common sense. The toilets were not so good.... We got 3 meals a day brought round with a choice of "meat" or "veg". I went "veg" on the basis it was less likely to make me ill - it didn't. Also someone came round at hourly intervals (24hrs a day) offering incredibly sweet milky tea or coffee. No, I don't want sweet tea at 2am and still don't want it at 3am, and no, you really don't need to check if I have changed my mind at 4am.
Thanks for that Martin. I could just picture that. And now I do want a sweet drink 😉.
😂🤣the hourly tea!
I know 🤣🤣 - Martin's got the good stories.
Welkom terug in Nederland.
Wishing you a great time.
Dank je wel! 😘
My travel story in Switzerland, just getting there: keep in mind I had a job that required my planning ahead for patient care for the whole time I would be away, only two wonderful weeks. The paperwork to get all eventualities covered in my absence took working all but three hours a night for many days before departure. Sleep deprivation might have done me in had I not been so very excited to see Switzerland. Remember getting from Birmingham to Atlanta by air (old saying was you couldn’t get to Heaven or Hell without going through the Atlanta airport) and then nonstop to NYC which I had never seen before. Just the day there and a night flight to Zurich. On arrival exhaustion kicked in and I found the hotel room reserved. That’s the funny story. It was very quaint and the smallest hotel room I’ve ever seen in my USA travels. Or anywhere! Tiny half size bed against the wall, the door barely cleared the bed 🛏️. A shower curtain on a metal ring with a drain. There must have been a facsimile of a toilet but I do not recall. I recall nothing else. Literally passed out from exhaustion on that tiny hard half size bed; think I slept about 2-3 days before I could venture out and do, see anything. But I was the guest of my companion whose ex-wife made all reservations. And we were on the economy plan. So, I had no part in planning and my companion, boyfriend at the time, was fearless in foreign countries, traveled extensively, even traveled through most of one night because we had no hotel; eventually found a place for a few hours before meandering on in the rental car. First goal was Lausanne then drove to what was then Chechoslovakia, Communist. Had a lovely time going through all the beautiful cities along the way but I’d vote for making my own arrangements like you do so meticulously every time. I’d be much more confident that way! And get enough sleep to get the most out of every day. You excel at planning but you know your country; next time (don’t have time left but assuming I did) I would ask you to be my travel guide! Love you, my friend! 😘
Poor you! Sounds like a real adventure. Thanks for sharing that.
Wish you could make it back here! That hotel room sounds like the mine in Maastricht. You could either have your suitcase open or go to the bathroom or open the actual door to the room.
I have literally nothing planned. I arrived in Maastricht and couldn’t remember why I had wanted to go there. On to Den Bosch because … I’ll remember at some point.
On the way back home I’ll be on like 10 different trains and train replacement buses - no direct ICEs (blessing and a curse?). Glad I have books and my phone.
At the risk of TMI, my companion was an orthopedic surgeon who had a professional engagement in Lausanne for a week and then was the team doctor (USA) for the Six Days Enduro Motorcycle World Competition in Povasca Bystrica, Chechoslovakia (like the Olympics of endurance motorcycle competition without the Eiffel Tower or the Seine River).
So, I actually got to walk in the opening ceremonies with a flag and confiscated a press pass as a photojournalist to get closer to the action. Very interesting stories but too many for your post. Have a great day! 😘
You go girl!
And just so you know, my brain replaces "companion" with "lover" every time 😉.
Well, I am informed! 😂🤣😂🤣