Questions (Not to ask)

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Best Tourist Questions (Not to Ask)

I thought a nice way to end this would be with a small compilation of some of the questions actually overheard asked by tourists in the Berner Oberland. From these questions we might infer that a casual glance at a pamphlet or guidebook isn't necessarily all that's required of travellers; a little bit of common sense is also sometimes helpful...

	"Can we get the boat in Lauterbrunnen?"
	"Which one of these lakes is Lake Geneva?"
	"Couldn't I just walk from Kleine Sheidegg to the Jungfrau?"
	"Are the hikes in Grindelwald two-hour hikes or four-hour hikes?"
	"Are the mountains open today?"
	"What's Fondue? Chicken?"
	"Two half-Francs. Is that a Franc?"
	"Is there much climbing involved in this boat thing? I mean, can I wear a dress?"
	"Do I have to take the train to the boat?"
	"The boats go through the caves, right?"
	"If I take the Grindelwald bus, where do I get off?"
	"Did we get off at the East or West train station?"
	"Can you tell me how to get to the famous waterfalls? The ones in the Löwenbräu Valley?"
	"Is there ice at the Upper Glacier?"
	(while looking at a cow) "What kind of animal is that?"
	"Can you tell me what mountain it is I'm supposed to climb?"
	(on the phone) "I'm in Grindelwald, and it's raining. What should I do?"
	"Can you tell me what the museum times are in Italy on the feast of the 'Ascension'?"
	"So, is there anything to do around here?"
	"The sign says, 'Two Two Franc coins.' Does that mean four Ones?"
	"What's a good restaurant on Mykonos?"
	"Is there a Spaghetti Factory here?"

Though the last question was actually asked, I used it only grudgingly to replace the better question "Is there a McDonald's here?" Unfortunately, since I first wrote this, Interlaken has gotten a McDonald's. All the more reason to run faster and farther into the hills. See you there.

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