Well, the French have been using coffee vending machines for so long that they think instructions are for dummies and so redundant...so not necessary.
Obviously……..they did not expect us to visit their country?Back home in Bangalore, we just hand over the cash to the guy who mans the vending machine. He asks coffeenaa teanaa? All you got to do is say coffee! And yehhh! A steaming cuppa is in your hand!
Well, our encounters with the coffee vending machine are hilarious…..and how!
read on.....
Attempt 1
This vending machine was in the railway station in the city of Orleans in France. We dropped a precious euro coin into the slot and started trying to punch in the coffee selection. I had just managed to read through some 4 options, when all lights blinked a couple of times and the coin dropped into the pocket for discarded coins. We were supposed to make the selection first and then drop the coin!
Now the coin fell with such force that it jumped right out and rolled under some chairs. France is soooo cold in February! There I was, in hard-to-manage multiple-layered-clothing, trying to reach a coin under lounge chairs!!! Not a very amusing experience…I must say!!! The coin was found and we were back at the machine. We had paid 60/- rupees for that precious Euro. We could not let it escape.
Never say die!
Attempt 2
This time I quickly selected an option and put in the coin. Oops! The cups are stacked on the side! Hey…the coffee is pouring into the drain!! Hey get me the cup…here…collect whatever you can…aah! Got a half cup……….
Gross! This is black and cold! At home we call this decoction! And this is only one of the ingredients required to make my steaming cuppa! Where’s the Milk? And the Sugar?
Attempt 3
Our next attempt was at the mall. There was no one at the lounge and the coffee machine beckoned with alacrity. We went up to the machine and almost made the selection. Aaha …this time we remembered! Let us get the cup first. Where is it stacked? How inconvenient! The machine has no cups…look there are the cups…by the water dispenser! Ok...we place the cup, make the selection and put in the coin!
WHAT IS THIS? The machine has a hidden stack of cups and a single specimen comes out like a stiff soldier when the coin is placed.
You can guess what happened! The soldier cup pushed over the thin cup that we had placed AANNDD…………………….!!! We ran!
Attempt 4
Then there was this coffee machine in a library offering some 20 selections! Coffee ……..with sugar and milk, without sugar with milk, with less-fat milk, with thick-cream, with extra sugar, a strong half cup option, a weaker double amount option….then there was all these made with real decoction too. Everything costs one euro. I took my time and gradually made a selection. Dropped a coin, collected my steaming cup and then made a selection for my husband, dropped another coin and collected one more refreshing cup. With a satisfied smile we turned back ……………and waved sheepishly at the line of patient persons waiting silently for us to finish! I dint hear a whisper of complaint or 'Arre Yaar' from them!
But! Yes, within a week we had all those machines in place……..we could order for and get exactly what we wanted! We learnt to decipher their French instructions too!
Merci!
Have a good day
heheheh that was funny!!
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