Trains, planes or automobiles?

Really it’s name your poison. Planes are awful, seats too narrow and my feet swell. Too mean to buy business so I travel economy, pay for a sensibly positioned seat so that I am on the aisle thus reducing the number of people who have to clamber over me, but basically I hate it lousy view, indifferent food, inconvenient stopovers and then you need to get into the city. Compromise is that on international I travel economy but leave a day or two early, and book a nice hotel, organise a massage and sleep like the dead. Cheaper than Business.

Trains: Love them, great view, lots of leg room, space to walk around, you can bring your own food and some even have disabled facilities.  train stations not so much. research and if in doubt arrange to be met AT THE TRAIN, not at the kerb outside the station.  In extremis I use the porters no matter how many times the web tells me they are ripping me off. the last station I was at, Sofia, is a work in progress and it will be great when it’s finished but at the moment there is a huge stair case and I paid to have my cases carried. Cheap at the price.  Plus I was directed away from the two cash machines which were not working, but the tourists couldn’t read the sign, to the Bureau de Change which was operating. Helped to a taxi and got to my hotel quickly.

Automobiles: can be a blessing. it depends on the rate, distance and balance between cost, comfort and convenience. I don’t drive in Europe. It has to do with everyone driving on the wrong side of the road and from the passenger seat, frankly I am danger to myself and other road users.  What is wrong with the rest of the world??  But if I’m tired, like now, and if I’m not looking forward to a particular railway station, and if the costs of taxis either end , train tickets and porters is near equivalent to what might be charged by the likely lad driving the BMW, then I’m likely to be seduced by the Beamer. There is something to be said for door to door comfort and convenience. So I’m occasionally a wimp? Who cares!

I accept there are buses, but they have high steps, awful loos, limited leg room and they rarely stop at nice restaurants. Generally buses and I do not compute, though I intend to try them at some stage during this trip just to test my own theories, and to research the accuracy of my prejudices.

I will probably be grumpy as a consequence. This may be amusing but no promises.