Disconnects

When travelling, especially on a tight budget, you are open to the vagaries of services being available and then working. At home you are in control. If it doesn't work then you get it fixed. On the road you just move on and try again.

Take internet access, in some towns it is hard to find, in others it appears on every street corner. Access to Skype represents another level of sophistication. There is a huge market for Skype compatible headsets to replace the millions of dead ones that lie around in internet cafes, many with a disconnected wire, probably caused by user frustration.

Another example is waiter service. You depend on them spotting you. With counter service you are somewhat in control: wait in line and eventually you should get served. In Belgrade, Costa Coffee have moved to table service. Their takings must have plummeted with customers mislaid or missed altogether. So you chose a table and wait. They eventually find you or you return to the counter once more to flag your presence. Of course, you could have gone to the Four Seasons Hotel but you have traded your time for a reasonable price.

Oh good, here comes my beer after 25 minutes, but then it should only cost 1 Euro for half a litre.