LUCERNE, Switzerland--Travelers know too well by now that like one’s own country, no foreign nation is perfect.
And that while one’s own country often appears miserable by comparison with other countries, especially Europe, still the helpful approach is not self-reproach. Rather, one must keep a watchful Best-Practices eye.
A familiarization tour of six countries was jointly organized this month by Philippine Air Lines (PAL), Global Link Travel, and Cosmos from the Globus family of brands. To this I was invited, thanks to PAL’s senior account officer Honey Ortiz and Sun.Star Cebu’s Nelia Neri.
In all six countries so far visited this month--Belgium, England, Austria, Italy, and Germany--what always stands out is the cleanliness of the streets, the lush greenness of the countryside and mountains, the respect for history and cultural/historical sites and structures, and even the absence of smog and smoke.
This doesn’t mean they’re 100 percent squeaky clean. Some parts are better appreciated when taken in their totality.
One cannot, for instance, possibly have an authentic gondola ride along the canals of Venice, Italy without a sniff as well of the sea and the standing water surrounding the houses along the canal routes.
To reach the top of the Stanserhorn Mountain in Lucerne 1,900 feet above ground, one needs to take first a mountain train until where it can’t scale no higher. Thereon, the cable cars take over.
Along the way up and down, we pass by cows grazing contentedly in the green, green grass. But where cows are, the smell of manure cannot be far behind.
I’ve always been amazed by how dining places can operate on such lean staffing, and yet how speedy the service can be.
Even the design of the operations area allows much activity on so small a space, but not at the expense of efficiency. Thus, from where she is, the cashier and the cook actually double as food servers.
Respect for and protection of intellectual property and distributorships is strictly enforced. Until some years back, one could buy five pieces of signature bags at the same time.
Then it was discovered that some Asians re-sold these bags without proper rights and at very high prices. Since then, purchases of bags, jackets, shoes and other branded products are limited to one piece. Also, buyers are reminded to be ready to show their purchase receipts if asked by airport police check-in personnel.
Many years ago, Germany and Italy reportedly called some of their wine “champagne.”
France, however, protested that only grapes grown in Champagne, France could rightfully attach that name to their wine.
So, off to court France went and obtained favorable resolution. Germany and Italy, thus, had to change their labels thereon.
Water is very expensive in Europe, costing between one Euro to 1.5 Euro, or at least P56 per bottle. If we were to show that same respect for water and value it properly, we would not worry about a time when the wells run dry.
(lelani.echaves@gmail.com)