Before i walk through the real incident, i need to give a brief history of why yesterday was special. This isnt my first trip the land of dreams (should i rather call it land of lakes and mountains?), but this time the added advantage was that Switzerland was part of the Schenegen treaty and that allows me to travel within Europe with no additional VISA requirement. There is catch though, you need a document called the residence permit or a schenegen VISA to allow the travel within Europe to be possible. I obviously did not have the Schenegen VISA, so had to wait for the permit, which normally takes about 4 weeks from time of registration. Mine took 9 weeks! so after much fanfare, and endless waits, and a trip to Paris made inadvertently, i had the necessary documents to travel within Europe. so the combined effects of boredom, having seen a number of places in switzerland, and the receipt of "THE" document that allowed me to travel resulted in my deciding to travel to Stuttgart yesterday. This trip would not have been possible if not for the help of a number of unknown individuals whom i want to thank and i did not know how else i could reach this word across to them but to write that down someplace.
I needed a lot of help if i had to get to Stuttgart! The travel time is 3 hours if i managed to take the train from the main station at 9:10 AM at the latest.I had not booked my tickets, so had to get this done as well in the morning. So the plan was to leave my place by 8:15, and take the 8:26 train to the main station, get my tickets and be on the 9:10. I had to buy tickets to the main station as well btw, coz my pass works only after 9 AM. Plan was perfect, execution was simple tardy. I woke up late, was not able to cut down the beauty bath time, and had to drink the coffee before i could leave. So i finally left my house at 8:29, hoping to make it to the main station by the 8:36. I am entering the local station at 8:34 and hear the gates closing for the train to arrive any minute. I reach the ticket vending machine only to realize that i have no clue how i buy the ticket to the main station. here comes my angel number 1! She wanted to buy a ticket herself, and came running in as the train entered the station. I let her get her ticket as i realized i was just in her way, and she had a chance of making it while i did not! She punched her numbers, got her ticket and asked me where i needed to go. Oh btw she speaks german, and i English. I tell her my destination, and she punches the number, and the train doors are closing. I ask her to please rush in and see that i just have to collect the ticket and change, the cost and destination are perfect. I've inserted the coin and am waiting for the ticket to fall out of the machine, and here comes my Angel 2! she is standing at the doors of the train to prevent them from closing, coz she has seen me frantically trying to get the ticket and enter. the doors close on her, and move out because of intervention, and she still is standing there, waiting for me. i leave the change, pull the ticket and rush in, the doors close and am on the 8:36! i turned to Angel 2 and thanked her profusely. This is what she told me " I have been in that situation a number of times, and other people have helped me. I know how it feels. Sometimes its very important to get the train at the right time.". I should have hugged her!!. Angel 1 was on the upper level, so couldn't thank her personally.....
8:36 reaches main station at 8:50, and i wanted to get some grub before i can get the tickets just so that i don't end up starving to death in case i got the tickets and made it on time for the 9:10. So i ran up to the bakery, picked a sandwich and ran up again to the ticket counter. The counter was empty! Am sure god was making sure, i could make it to Stuttgart today i thought. My token was the next in line at the counter, and in walk 3 men, with no tokens and reach the counter...i am left staring..this never happens in Zurich, and the time 9:00 AM. I waited, and waited and waited...they were at the counter...9:03 AM. I was making plans to eat my sandwich on my way back home, when counter 2 displayed my token number. Enter Angel 3! I asked him for the cost to Stuttgart and back on the same day, and if it was possible to leave now by the 9:10. He looked at his register and confirmed the fare (much lesser than what i thought it would be) and said he was giving it to me at that fare only for that day. I would not get that if i come at the last minute the next time. I confirmed i wanted to go, he quickly made the reservations, told me the platform, and printed out the tickets ---9:06 AM. "Please run, your train is in 4 minutes, and do come early next time! Have a nice day! Bye Bye." So i ran again, my coach was the last coach on the platform! more distance to cover!...but i made it. 9:09 inside the coach and at my seat! 9:10 on my way to Stuttgart!. A most awesome day! the day i felt blessed!
Thank you dear people, for helping me reach Stuttgart yesterday, and for instigating me to write today!
