Away from the Tourist Crowds: Our Coach Driver Tells All
Text: EUROBUS
Whether it is sympathy for the underdog or a preference for places untouched by tourism, Christian's favourite trips take him east. Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Hungary – the coach driver loves the hospitality of the people and the variety of the countries. «You can really feel the East blossoming,» he says enthusiastically. The contrasts fascinate him: down-to-earth rural life in one place, exclusive big-city glamour in another.
From the North Cape to Morocco
Christian has been a coach driver at EUROBUS for 14 years. «I do everything – from the North Cape to Morocco,» he says. In the north, he says, you find the most spectacular landscapes: the Outer Hebrides in Scotland and Iceland have a great deal to offer, with glaciers calving into the sea and geysers: «You don't get anything like that here at home.» Morocco fascinates him too. In his opinion, Marrakesh is probably the most challenging city for coach drivers, with all the donkeys, motorbikes, taxis, pedestrians and lorries – in this city there are no rules, you simply have to adapt. And it is still worth a trip again and again. His favourite destination – if he had to name just one – lies further east, though: a few years ago he travelled to magnificent St Petersburg.
He would drive to Russia again at any time. In his private life, however, he takes fewer city breaks and prefers to go the classic route of relaxing on a beach. Then it is fine to travel by plane, too.
Kvarner Bay, midnight sun and fjords
When he arrives at the destination in the coach with a tour group, the first thing he does is hand out the room keys and the luggage, then he waits a while at reception in case any of the guests need something. After that, there is often the search for a suitable parking space. During the stay, he also drives the guests in the coach to the sights included in the travel programme. Personally, Christian is not especially fond of the big tourist hot spots – he prefers what is a little unusual and not standard – and not only when travelling. He was pleasantly surprised by the food in England: «Many people don't expect much from the food on a trip to England, and are then amazed.» Anyone travelling to Scotland should definitely try haggis: «Sensational,» says Christian.
The food in the East is excellent too: everything is always freshly made, the coach driver tells us. I ask where you find the most beautiful view. Christian answers without hesitation: in Croatia, when you reach the Kvarner Bay – the view of the islands. Closely followed by the midnight sun, which you see on arrival on a trip to the North Cape. And of course the northern lights. And the most beautiful route for coach drivers? There are many: coastal roads are always very impressive, for example along the fjords in Iceland or on the Black Sea in Romania.