Experience of an ordinary Indian traveler in Europe
By John V Tauro, Kuwait
Bellevision Media Network
Kuwait, 10 April 2012: The very first travel experience for many is anticipated with excitement. All of us work hard to make a living, each have a different vision of life and work towards achieving those goals. I have a similar vision, to be an explorer, adventurer and travel around the world. After years of saving up for my travel, I visited five continents. Excited with the positive responses, I received from colleagues and friends on their travel abroad, and following the advice of having the freedom to explore on your own, without pre-determined itinerary tours, I decided to travel to Europe the first time on my own.
Below is an account of real experiences from an ordinary traveler, like me.
Vatican (Beginning of my journey in the European Continent): On Sundays at noon the Pope appears at the papal window (Papal residence) to lead the Angelus with the faithful who are gathered in thousands at the Piazza San Pietro (St.Peter’s Square). All eyes and attention is on that single window. A tourist too is eager to watch the event, not being aware of what will happen in the background. The Pope begins in Latin the Angelus, the faithful recite the prayers, followed by the general greetings to the public, blessing the crowd and sign off, and everyone is happy and disperses.
Now they choose to buy a loaf of bread from the vendor, take a dig at their pockets and voila! There is no wallet, no purse, no cash, and no identity. What happened, when it happened, how did it happen are the thoughts that rush into the minds. I was in this situation. Soon I notice other people around me looking for their lost belongings. The money kept in my rear trouser pocket was stolen. Can one expect such a deed in this place? The rock of the world! Italy has the largest number of Christians (about 95%) to the rest of other religions practiced in the country. This day I lost 500 Euros (approx INR 34,000), that could have helped me survive 50 days across Europe. Luckily, my travel documents were only a copy and not originals.
Rome, Trevi Fountain: At this iconic location, I reminisce the first trip I made to this place. I was asked to throw three coins over my shoulder with my back facing the fountain. I was told that legend has that anyone who does this act will return to Rome again. I laughed at that point in time and never believed in a chance to revisit Europe. I got to enter this place four times on different occasions. However, looking at the innumerous coins at the base of the fountain, made me wonder if those would be stolen or not. I did not want to bother myself over this matter, as I wanted to believe it is possible to revisit this location again and again.
Venice, Piazza San Marco (St.Mark’s Square): A popular tourist spot and the famous St.Mark’s Basilica lies here. After the visit to the church and light refreshments at the cafe shop, most people wait to hear the sound of clock striking twelve. Tick Tock! Tick Tock is what everyone’s focus is on, not mine though. My eyes revolving around the square and ear at the bells, I was on guard for the men who were ready to make their move as soon as the clock cuckoos, seeing me looking at their intended action, they immediately retracted from the scene. After what happened to me at St.Peter’s square I remained on guard throughout my trip.
Florence to Lourdes by Train: Content with the places visited throughout Italy, I was to move ahead to France by visiting Lourdes first. The train tickets were booked well in advance, and we proceeded onwards. At the France border, policemen check the visa details of each passenger on the train and move on. I had a connecting train to board from Toulouse which was 20 minutes apart from the arrival of this train to the onward journey of Lourdes. The train got delayed at this point by half an hour. I realized we missed the next train and my visit to Lourdes was in vain. We had to cut short the travel to Lourdes and instead halt at Nice.
We had no plans of visiting this place and had to look for alternative trains to onward destination of Paris. We were informed that the next train was only 4 hours later. Later on contemplation, such experience is felt at home back in India very often and one complains about the system, the delays, and having to postpone arrangements because of delays, making it so hard for a commuter. It is no different elsewhere, or in this case Europe. The railway systems here are above distinction and yet such incidents happen.
Paris, Gare de Lyon Station: This is the central station of Paris, just like CST in Mumbai. The hotel reservation I had stated that the hotel is near the station. I arrived at this station, a little after midnight from Nice, a long journey. Following the signs, I stood in queue for 15 minutes to get a taxi. I showed the taxi driver my hotel reservation, he agreed and took a very quick round, just to follow the traffic laws and brought me to the entrance of the hotel. It was less than one minute and he charged us the usual minimum fare of 15 Euros. “That was quick! I could have walked!” is what I thought. And just before I could enter the hotel, I looked at my surroundings and I was horrified to note the fact that to my left I could see the same very taxi stand that I waited 15 minutes for. The hotel was adjacent to the station. Had I known earlier or the taxi driver was to inform us that the hotel was adjacent to where we stood and point fingers, I would not have lost another two days of my travel money. The realization was bitter; it was like standing in front of St.Agnes bus stop at Bendoor and waiting for the auto rickshaw to take us to St.Sebastian’s church, Bendoor.
France to Berlin by Train: We were given brouchers on the platform number that we would be arriving at. From this I knew, we were five platforms apart from the connecting train, a gap of 10 minutes to board the next, and take care of the big Samsonite suitcases that we were so used to carrying every time we travelled to India on vacation. The crowd at the station was somewhat similar to the Mumbai stations. We were the only ones with large suitcases while others rushed to other platforms empty handed.
From the arrival platform, we walked down the basement, looked for instructions of the direction to the next platform, and rushed to climb up stairs that can leave one gasping for breath. We managed to reach the connecting train, which departed immediately as we stepped into the train. After having settled in our seats and travelling a distance, I regretted on not carrying a push trolley kind of suitcase, medium in size that is easy and light in such situations. It also helps to keep them in the separate luggage section allotted in the train. The absence of porters to help with the luggage is deeply felt in such circumstances. A good practice for future travels, which I followed later.
To conclude, I would say what we so often grumble about India our homeland, its systems, the people, the infrastructure, etc. the grass is not always greener on the other side of our field. The same follows in developed worlds, and they are no different from ours.