inderSTADTBala Gopalan's noWHere in the *CITY

… higher & costlier! There used to be a time when the dollar (USD) went a long way when travelling in Europe. Not anymore, evidentally, as we found out during our recent vacation in Deutschland and Italia. A triple whammy, if you will, and how so you might ask?

Firstly, the dollar is weaker than ever, viz., the near-parity days that I remember from early 2002 is a distant memory and lucky you are if you get around 76E to a 100Bucks.

Secondly, it appeared, at least in Germany, that they have retained the sale prices for items that used to cost up to 10DM but just changed the currency to Euros. There I was at my favourite Crepe stand at the head of KoenigStrasse in liebe Stuttgart with the missus, all ready to get as many crepes that my pocket change would allow and that which I thought would carry us through the rest of the day, when I was told, “Funf Euro Funfzig, Bitte!” for a couple of simple “Butter, Salz und Pfeffer crepes mit roasted Swiebelen und Krauter” … BAAAM! Thats when it hit me and I almost gasped, “You’ve got to be kidding me … aber das kostet nuer Funf D’Mark Funzip Pfennig in 2002, was passiert??” As much salivating as I had been doing in anticipation of what I had not had in over 2 years, I almost choked in Quixotic style upon letting out the gasp but recovered miraculously enough and in time to give the missus a “Fear not, what do they take me for .. a german tourist? ha, not this one, ma’am! Bring ‘em on .. I have things under control” look. At least, I thought I did! Reluctantly, reach out I did for my valet, pull out a 10E note, and gave it to the crepe vendor, even as he was ready with the balance change already. I tried to rationalize it as, “Think about the upside. On the way back, perhaps, my pocket change might even cover the cost of the crepes!”

Thirdly, spending budgets are not what they used to be from the good ol’ greedy days of the new economy. No, I am not referring to corporate budgets though truer words about them would be impossible to find presently. But am referring to that of the Average Joe Kudimagan (Tamil for Citizen).

To quote a phrase that I loathe, “this is not rocket science .. doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out .. or whatever blah + rocket science + whatever blah”.