What is my deal with the bus system here?
Upon my arrival in Geneva, I had some difficulty figuring out the bus system. Basically, there are these ticket machines at every stop, so you can buy a ticket before getting on the bus. I didn't know this at the time, but the machines only take coins, and despite a number of card slots on the machine, take no credit cards. So, being a newbie, I tried using a paper note, until I figured out that none of the slots on the machine were large enough for bills. Haha. I bet that was entertaining for the onlookers. Then, since I had no coins, I thought maybe the card slots would be for credit cards. So I put my credit card in the most likely slot, and when that didn't work, I tried the other one. After about 5 solid minutes futzing with the machine, I gave up and found a ticket counter inside the station. No big deal, but I did have to laugh at myself.
Then today, I managed to find another way to fail at buying a bus ticket. I thought I was being really smart, and bought a discount bus card to save some cash. However, I lost time in the end, because it took me so damned long to figure out how to use it to buy a ticket that the bus sitting at bus stop left without me. Awesome! Seriously, I stood there for at least 3 full minutes, muttering to myself while shoving the card into every available slot on the ticket machine. At least I figured it out in time for the second bus to show up, and before I was reduced to kicking and screaming. Blessedly, everyone here has the manners not to laugh out loud at me.
UPDATE: Two hours after I finally figured out the effing ticket system, my roommate took me to the train station and got me a monthly bus pass that doesn't require any ticket finagling. Figures.
Then today, I managed to find another way to fail at buying a bus ticket. I thought I was being really smart, and bought a discount bus card to save some cash. However, I lost time in the end, because it took me so damned long to figure out how to use it to buy a ticket that the bus sitting at bus stop left without me. Awesome! Seriously, I stood there for at least 3 full minutes, muttering to myself while shoving the card into every available slot on the ticket machine. At least I figured it out in time for the second bus to show up, and before I was reduced to kicking and screaming. Blessedly, everyone here has the manners not to laugh out loud at me.
UPDATE: Two hours after I finally figured out the effing ticket system, my roommate took me to the train station and got me a monthly bus pass that doesn't require any ticket finagling. Figures.