Public Transportation

I admit... I’m a little scared of public transportation. Being from southern California will do that to you. Nobody gets on mass transit to go anywhere. You get in your car, by yourself, and you go. In Europe, however, it’s really not that easy. Most places we fly into, but sometimes you are forced to hop on the local bus, train, or trolley and navigate your way around (in a foreign language no less). But sometimes even when I know it’s the easiest and most cost effective way to get somewhere, I still fight it. Take, for instance, when I landed in Cologne, Germany where I am based for the month. I was told you could take the train from the airport and get off at the main station, which was a mere couple blocks from where our apartment was located. Instead I took a taxi. A 15-minute taxi ride that cost me 30 euros and still didn’t drop me off right in front of where I was going. When I went to explore the train station the next day, I realized that it really was less than 5 minutes away and that the cost from there to the airport was 2 euros and 40 cents. Lovely.

Well, today I am happy to tell you that I am riding through the German countryside on my way to Switzerland on a train. Sure, it will take me 5 hours, compared to the 1 hour to fly into Zurich, but being that Zurich is an hour away from where I need to be and the whole arriving at the airport early, flying there, and then waiting for a ride, it’s almost comparable. Not to mention that I’m going big time and riding first class. That means super comfy seats, wireless internet, a waitress that brings you food and drinks if you’d like, as well as the ability to walk around without waiting for the seatbelt sign to be turned off. You seriously can’t beat it. I’d like to think that I’m a first class kind of gal but right now my funds only allow me to experience that luxury on the train. But guess what? The trains over here beat an airplane in terms lavishness by far. In fact, take a look at the picture I snapped two days ago of the “business class” section on my flight. You know what the only difference was between where I was sitting and them? That blue curtain and a hard piece of bread. Suckers!