13th - 14th Apr 2019
A train ride to and around Switzerland seemed a jolly thing to do and to meet up with some friends in St Moritz whom I hadn't seen for 20 years.
Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris then on by TGV to Strasbourg for a night/half-day stop-over.
I arrived at the Parliament building (left) and my jaw dropped. It is a vast ultra-modern edifice and my photos cannot do justice to the sheer scale of the place. It is the temporary, once a year, 'home' to which the EU Parliament de-camps, lock, stock and barrel, from Brussels for a couple of weeks to enjoy having a chin-wag and fatten themselves in Strasbourg's smart restaurants. Utterly pointless in my opinion and what a waste of money (our money). It is nothing but a vast and hideously costly French vanity project.
I am trying to display the incredible size of this building. The 'tower' in the centre is only a small part. It is surrounded by a huge glass and concrete monstrosity (right) which must house tens of thousands of officials and staff, for only a short period in the year. What do they all do? Bugger all, I expect, except (those who bother to stay awake) make many silly rules and regulations in the afternoon, over which we have no control, after a good liquid lunch. I was totally gobsmacked! No wonder the EU's finances have never been approved or ratified by audit. What an appalling example it sets to poorer countries. Obscene!
Everywhere is very 'Politically Correct' with banners flying like this one (right).
Left: Even a tram station named 'Human Rights. What a load of bullshit!
They go to extraordinary lengths to justify their existence. Their fat salaries depend on it.
Right: Some of the stately buildings in the centre. All very smart, neat and tidy.
Left: One of the signs which tell you when your tram is arriving. And they do, spot on.
Right and below: Shots of some of the old buildings in the area on the river and canals called Petite France. Very charming and there were some lovely cafés and restaurants around here.
Didn't see any 'pie 'n mash' caffs Bernie! Maybe there's an opportunity here?
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| Matterhorn near Zermatt. Named after me? |
Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris then on by TGV to Strasbourg for a night/half-day stop-over.
Left: The central station in Strasbourg. An impressive space-age edifice and very user friendly. Indeed Strasbourg is an impressive city. Very clean with some beautiful stately buildings and a picturesque Ye Olde Worlde district around the canals and the River L'ill.
The place looks incredibly prosperous and immaculately clean and tidy, helped presumably by a large inflow of our taxpayers' money via the EU.
I decided to go and have a decco at the European Parliament buildings in the outlying Quartier Européen district to the North-East of the city. I got there by an impressively modern, efficient and cheap tram service (example right). They are quiet and pristine clean with illuminated signs both inside the carriages and on the 'platforms' telling you where you are, the route and when you will arrive at whichever stop. They are light-years ahead of anything that we can even imagine in the UK.
I arrived at the Parliament building (left) and my jaw dropped. It is a vast ultra-modern edifice and my photos cannot do justice to the sheer scale of the place. It is the temporary, once a year, 'home' to which the EU Parliament de-camps, lock, stock and barrel, from Brussels for a couple of weeks to enjoy having a chin-wag and fatten themselves in Strasbourg's smart restaurants. Utterly pointless in my opinion and what a waste of money (our money). It is nothing but a vast and hideously costly French vanity project.
I am trying to display the incredible size of this building. The 'tower' in the centre is only a small part. It is surrounded by a huge glass and concrete monstrosity (right) which must house tens of thousands of officials and staff, for only a short period in the year. What do they all do? Bugger all, I expect, except (those who bother to stay awake) make many silly rules and regulations in the afternoon, over which we have no control, after a good liquid lunch. I was totally gobsmacked! No wonder the EU's finances have never been approved or ratified by audit. What an appalling example it sets to poorer countries. Obscene!
....but that is only one of several ostentatious buildings which include the 'Palais de Droits de Hommes' (Human Rights), the 'Conseil de l'Europe' (Council of Europe) and something called 'Agora' (no, haven't a clue either) plus others. It all seems simply a means of providing a comfortable salary to those countless unelected politician types and other staff (think of the maintenance!) who enjoy having their noses, up to their shoulders, well and truly in the trough.
Left: Forgotten which this one is.
Everywhere is very 'Politically Correct' with banners flying like this one (right).
Left: Even a tram station named 'Human Rights. What a load of bullshit!They go to extraordinary lengths to justify their existence. Their fat salaries depend on it.
Right: Some of the stately buildings in the centre. All very smart, neat and tidy.
Left: One of the signs which tell you when your tram is arriving. And they do, spot on.
Right and below: Shots of some of the old buildings in the area on the river and canals called Petite France. Very charming and there were some lovely cafés and restaurants around here.
Didn't see any 'pie 'n mash' caffs Bernie! Maybe there's an opportunity here?
Only spent half a day here and I didn't get a photo of the Cathedral which, I am told, is mighty impressive.
It is certainly a very attractive city.
OK, haven't got to Switzerland yet but due to catch a train to Chur. Yodelling on.........
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