September 2024
Fedyan's ways are mysterious. As usual, I forgot to take vacation for a whole year and took a random week in a hurry
I wanted to go to Portugal or Italy, but was sad and didn't get around to it.
Due to a series of coincidences, the vacation ended up in Paris.
The Olympics had just finished there, so buses weren't allowed into the center. Had to be clever and take a night train to Zurich (to finally check off Switzerland), from there a Flixbus to Strasbourg, and from there a high-speed train to central Paris
What were my expectations of Zurich? That everything should be expensive and civilized there. Well then.
The trip started with a night train. Found my compartment, my neighbor was a Swiss guy my age. Small talk, everything seemed fine. We were happy we'd be just the two of us.
Right before the trip starts, a drunk Slovak bursts into the compartment. Swearing, conversations, millionaire from the 90s, the mafia screwed him over, now he's an electrician. Showed off his card that says he's not allowed into Bratislava (but he's a European, while I'm sitting here waiting for citizenship, just an uncivilized serf)
The millionaire drank 4 beers and 200ml of Božkov. I hid all my stuff under the pillow, was ready to fight, and went to sleep.
Half an hour later - bang - noise. The Slovak fell off his bunk. The Swiss guy panics, asked me to check if the dude is alive. I listened - he's breathing. I think, fuck it.
The Swiss guy needs to pee. We tried to wake him - no luck. Fine, he went and peed. Can't get back in - the millionaire's blocking the door with his head.
I went to the conductor, asked for another compartment. The Swiss guy asked to come with me. We relocated. Slept well. Turned out to be a good guy, some professor, teaches 3D printing of buildings or something like that. Exchanged Telegrams, hugged. Following old European tradition, he never replied to me, his savior, again.
For those interested in the 90s millionaire, here he is:
Zurich greeted me with the fact that it's a city like any city
Well, it's beautiful, it's quiet
Well, Federer
Well, there are almost no people
Well, the center is awesome
Well, little streets
Well, a river
Well, signs
Well, embankment
Okay, the embankment is nice
Well, a park where I ate a baguette (prices like in Prague, damn Prague is expensive)
Well, Chinese park
Well, main square (where the hell are the people)
In short, a city like any city
Where and why there's so much money here - unclear
Such a dull city is hard to find
