Croatia: our coach driver Stephan Billeter tells his story
Text: EUROBUS
In his private life he prefers to travel spontaneously, with no schedule at all, says Stephan Billeter. Together with his partner he puts two mattresses in his Toyota and off they go. For him, relaxing holidays mean walking holidays – no wonder the walking tours to Croatia and Tuscany are in his top 3.
«The combination of limestone mountains and sea is simply something very special»
Stephan's favourite trip, the «Croatia Walking Tour», leads through one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Adriatic: in the Kvarner Gulf you find crystal-clear water and picturesque fishing villages, and in the enchanting hinterland lie the famous Plitvice Lakes. The route runs via the Gotthard and northern Italy, past Venice and across the Slovenian-Croatian border. Travellers can look forward to a 7-day adventure along the coast, with stays in Plitvice Lakes National Park, on the island of Krk, in the Vinodol valley and on the ridges between the Velebit mountains and the Velebit Channel. I wanted to know from Stephan at what point on the trip he first feels he has arrived at the destination. «As soon as you reach the Bay of Trieste and the view of the sea opens up,» says the EUROBUS driver. Asked what he does first on arrival, he replies: «I make sure all the travellers are looked after, then I take care of the coach.» Stephan always travels with the same coach, and it is a bit like a home to him. He knows every corner of the vehicle like the back of his hand – so he can always act professionally and confidently, which matters to him.
«We're like one big family here, and I like that.»
Stephan has been a coach driver and tour guide at EUROBUS for 26 years. Before that he was a primary school teacher and pursued coach driving as a hobby. As a coach driver, he enjoys the variety of his work: besides the tours, he also gives coach driving lessons, keeps the coach in good order in the workshop and does office work such as trip planning on the side. He greatly values the contact with his colleagues. «We get on well with Welti-Furrer too, it's all like one big family here,» he stresses.
Stephan the walking enthusiast takes every opportunity to join the walks on EUROBUS tours. I press him: why Croatia in particular? Stephan raves: «It's not just the spectacular landscape. The people are very pleasant, the traffic is relaxed – so I can cross the road with my travel group relatively carefree, which is really wonderful.»
When Stephan talks about his favourite trip, it is as if you were leafing through a colourfully illustrated travel guide. I can picture the barren rocks of the island of Krk, shaped by the ever-surging spray of the Adriatic. As bare as the moonscape appears on this side of the island, the landscape in the south-west is deeply wooded, Stephan explains. I want to know more: what should I do on the island if I only have an hour? Stephan's tip: «In that case I would visit the old ferry port, where you have a great view of the bay, the Krk Bridge and the island of Sveti Marko.» In Crikvenica he recommends the gelaterias and bars away from the centre or the restaurant «Vagabundina Koliba» half an hour inland, in Lukovo – his culinary tip for the region.
«It's not about getting there quickly – the journey is the destination.»
It doesn't surprise me that the mountain pass drive in Switzerland is one of Stephan's favourite routes. He doesn't find motorways so exciting; after all, when travelling by coach the journey itself is the destination: people want to see something and be able to ask questions about it. I become curious: what do travellers ask? «At the start they are usually very simple questions about geography or sights: ‘What's this castle called’ or similar. Over time it gets more complex, people want to learn more about the background and ask about social and cultural topics.» All questions that Stephan gladly answers. The exchange with the travel group matters to him – «Otherwise I would have become a lorry driver,» says Stephan. The nicest experience he has had with a travel group? «There was once a lady with special care needs – normally a big challenge. But the travellers kept agreeing among themselves and took turns looking after her. Thanks to the group's support, she was able to have a wonderful trip.» That is not to be taken for granted, you can't expect something like that, Stephan stresses. All the nicer to be surprised in this way by how supportive and compassionate such a group can be. Stephan remembers that moment with pleasure: «It was simply wonderful!»