Kiddie train, Geneva, Switzerland. Unexpectedly, I found myself in Geneva, having escaped from a French Transit strike in an unorthodox way (see my TELEGRAMS archive, June 2003 for details).

My train for Italy wasn't leaving for a couple hours, so I left my bag at the station and walked to the shore of the lake.

There I was approached by the tourist mini-train operator, wanting me to take the tour. Feeling sorry for him, since his train was empty, I said ok, but then realized that I didn't have the full fare in Swiss francs.

He agreed to take me for the child's rate, and it was both grand and silly to be riding in the little train alone. But that situation didn't last long. Soon we stopped in the park and picked up a whole big group of school kids who were picnicking there.