Geoff Perkins
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Back at Home

12/6/2014

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After three weeks in Switzerland (and an afternoon in France) I am back home again. I began my writing telling about the internet connectivity I had chosen for my trip. So now it is time to tell how well it worked for me. You may recall I selected a Vodaphone plan to take away. It was one of their Red plans - the $50 one. 
The marketing suggests I would get
Infinite standard minutes in Aust
Infinite Text in Oz and OS
Infinite Voice mail
Infinite 13 and 1800 calls
and $65 of stuff I did not think I wanted or needed.
All of this would translate internationally to 47 other countries including Switzerland for $5 per day used overseas.
It seemed very good so we need to ask, Did it Deliver?


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Bikes

11/6/2014

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Bikes are big in Basel. In fact bikes are big everywhere in Switzerland - and Switzerland has hills - mountains. It surprised me. These bikes are ordinary bikes. They are not the amazing sporty things we see all across Australia, they are just normal bikes. They have gears and they have baskets to carry stuff. And joy of joys, they have dynamos for the light kit. I recall the joy of getting my first dynamo kit for my bike as a kid. It meant freedom to be out late at night. Of course in winter in the north of England, late at night meant 4.30pm but  I still see the dynamo as a mark of freedom.
In Switzerland a bike is a tool, it is not a fitness statement or a recognition of sporting prowess it is just a tool to get from here to there efficiently. Families are out on bikes at all ages. Bikes with trailers behind to drag the youngest along. The youngest progress to bikes with no pedals to scoot along and get good at balance. Then kids graduate to small genuine bikes and head out riding. 
Everybody rides and locks their bike to the nearest fence, gate or traffic pole. Bikes need to be secure, it needs to be waiting for you as you head home.


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    Geoff

    I love to travel but don't get to as much as I want. Occasionally I get to make a trip. When I do I'll post a few pics and thoughts about my places. I'll also drag out a few old photos from time to time and remember my time in those exotic places.

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