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They look visibly impressed. “Is it free?” the second one quipped. “Obviously not, you log on and pay for it online. You are granted access instantly” I replied. “Oh no! We don’t have that in Europe”. Now I had almost assumed an air of American supremacy over low tech Europe. “Is that so?” I asked depreciatively, “I had assumed Europe had heard of wireless access.”
The first one looked at the other and chuckled “We have hot spots too; it’s just that they are free”. Ouch! I mumbled something to myself and avoided looking them in the eye.
I love stinging humor.
by Patrix | on Monday, July 19th, 2004 at 7:12 pm | 
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July 19th, 2004 at 11:04 pm reply
Ouch! But yeah, some places in Europe are way ahead in this area…Paris was planning wireless access across the entire city as far back as mid ‘03
July 19th, 2004 at 11:18 pm reply
Spaceman - Yeah! I too had heard of the dream internet access in Europe so I actually was taken aback by their initial comment.
July 20th, 2004 at 2:41 am reply
Hope you wiped your feet first. ;-)
July 20th, 2004 at 6:54 am reply
Seriously, were you paying for the connection? The cafes don’t charge if you order something and Wifi is generally an on-the-house thing. If Starbucks was charging you, someone rightly said replace the ‘b’ with an ‘f’ because that’s what they do.
July 20th, 2004 at 9:23 am reply
Leela - The frequency with which that happens, I keep them spotless these days :)
Chetan - T-Mobile offers wireless in Starbucks and Borders so is a different entity. I don’t surf the net there coz home is just few mins walk away.
July 20th, 2004 at 11:34 am reply
I am surprised that you were surprised. Europe and Japan always led the way in wireless telephones and later wireless networking. Europeans were using sleek Nokia and Ericsson phones while Americans used to carry bricks around in the name of cell phones. Europeans still have that edge in wireless technology.
Next time go to a Borders or B&N. You’ll get coffee as well as free Wi-Fi access.
July 20th, 2004 at 1:06 pm reply
Parag - On the contrary, I was surprised (for a lil while) to hear that Europe didn’t have easily available wireless (from the two guys)…and Borders gives only one day free Wifi..u gotta pay $9.99 for a day’s access thereafter
July 20th, 2004 at 2:39 pm reply
Ouch… That must hurt.
an air of American supremacy
So u now belong to this place huh??
July 20th, 2004 at 3:55 pm reply
Sapna - The feeling has gradually crept in in spite of me trying to fight it :) Pretty observant of you to notice that.