A Time for Change

I have a love-hate relationship with coins. I love that they’re money, but I hate pretty much everything else about them. They’re heavy, noisy, easy to lose but hard to get rid of.

I learnt the importance of getting rid of coins the hard way. I tried to get rid of my coins before I left Germany but no banks would take them. Fortunately my lovely friends in Hamburg offered to take them off my hands, unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

I suddenly found myself in Scandinavia lugging over 150 euros in coins through 3 different countries with 3 different currencies. It’s a lot like putting rocks in your backpack. Stupid.

In Norway I bought myself a ticket for a fjord tour. The man went out back to print my ticket.

On his return he found 800krona in coins neatly piled on the counter.

He looked at the coins, unsure of what to do.

“So, ummm, you’ll be paying in cash then?” he asked.

Some people are not so nice about it. I bought a local bus ticket in Italy. It was only a 1.50euro so I thought it would be a good opportunity to use up some of the annoying bronze coins I was lugging around.

I started counting out 1c, 2c and 5c coins. The man started to lose his patience.
“Do you have anything bigger?” he asked
I looked up from counting.
“No” I lied

I got to about 1.30 and ran out of bronze coins. I had to subtly pull out a few 10c coins. That’s when he cracked.

“No, no I can’t accept these coins” he said
“But you have to” I said, “it’s legal tender”
“I cannot! No one will take these coins.”
“I know, but you have to”

Stubborn Maya was out to play.

We argued a little longer. A line started to build behind me. I had all the time in the world, the shopkeeper did not. I won.

Monthly Update

One month in and I’ve broken even (excluding flights), but only just.

The busking has been a bit tougher than I expected. Clearly I’m not in Oz anymore.

France was lovely, but the French gave me no money. Once I figured that out aand headed for Parisian tourist trap, everything got better.

Things certainly improved as I travelled north. Hamburg was OK but would’ve been better had the weather cooperated.

I discovered my new favourite coin in Copenhagen; the 20 krona (about $4)

Sadly Sweden has their 20 krona as a note, but back to Norway and it was a coin again.

My best success was in Norway, but everything was so expensive that it didn’t work that much better than other places.

Best busking spots:

For money: random park in Oslo
For beauty: Flam, Norway (view of the fjords)
For atmosphere: Schanzenvierte, Hamburg (after Germany won the football)
Best all rounder: Pont Neuf, Paris

Revenge for a Change

I missed my rideshare to Quebec city. Then I missed my bus. By the time I went to buy a ticket for the next bus, I was angry. My love/hate relationship with buses continues. It was my own fault, but I wanted someone to take it out on. I decided to pay for my $46.55 ticket in coins, my little way of getting back at Greyhound for all they've put me through.

I went over to the counter and pulled out a giant bag of change. I didn't turn around, but I could feel the people waiting in line giving me looks of disbelief that turned to pure hatred. I didn't care. I didn't even care that this wasn't Greyhound, but some poor, unsuspecting bus company. I still don't care.

I counted out the money with satisfaction.

11 toonies ($2) - That's for all the times you were late.
15 loonies ($1) - That's for all the times you were on time when I was late.
26 quarters (25c) - That's for all the times you broke down.
10 dimes (10c) - That's for the smell.
11 nickels (5c) - That's for Thunder Bay bus station.
150 pennies (1c) - And that's for taking 400 hours of my life this year.