The following is a train schedule from Como Nord Lago to Lugano. Does this mean I have to walk from Como Nord Lago to Como San Giovanni. I know what a "zebra crossing" is but not with respect to train schedules.
COMO NORD LAGO 6:53 AM - COMO S.GIOVANNI 7:13 AM Zebra Crossing
TRENORD S10 25110 COMO S.GIOVANNI 7:13 AM - LUGANO 7:56 AM
Thanks.
From Como Nord Lago to Como SG you can walk (less than 20 min) or take a bus (which might save you a few minutes). I have no idea how long riding a zebra would take. Never seen zebras in Como. Where did you find that? In the Serengeti train timetable?
Ah Roberto, I hope you were being funny and not sarcastic.
If you look at the Trenord schedule in Italian at www.trenord.it, it says "Passaggio pedonale" which my very rudimentary understanding of Italian suggests it means something like "Passage on foot". The little "walking man" icon is another hint. So the translation provided when you switch to the English version of the website is curious indeed.
I am curious if you are arriving at Como Nord Lago station from somewhere else, like Milan, in which case you would be better off departing from Milano Centrale rather than Milano Cadorna and avoid this Zebra Crossing. Then you could go straight to Lugano on a direct EC train, with no intermediate passaggio pedonale.
Or if you want to get there that early, leave from Milano Porta Garibaldi at 5:49 and arrive Lugano at 7:41 with a simple train change at Chiasso.
Hehe Marie. Didn't you enjoy my brilliant satire?
That is simply a Google Translate translation.
Pedestrian crosswalks in Europe (and sometimes in America too) are marked by these road stripes.
Since zebras (the animals) are characterized by black and white stripes, in the Italian language, the crosswalks (or passaggi pedonali) are also called "zebra crosswalks", or zebre pedonali.
The online timetable you looked at, probably used Google Translate to translate "passaggio pedonale" or "zebre pedonali" into English.
But basically it means that the two stations are connected by a "walk". They are about one Km apart (not even 3/4 of a mile), so it's no more than 15-20 min walk. There are buses from Como SG to that Como Nord station area (where ferries also dock), so if you don't feel up to the walk, you can take a bus too.
Gosh........I learn something new every day. Marie, I would have been confused, too.
This serves as a reminder to those in the US that OUR language also has some words with triple meanings and some unusual terms that are likely VERY confusing to those with just a basic level of English. Throw a few of our Southern expressions into the mix, and we can really confuse someone :)
Thanks to this posting, I will be prepared for Zebra crossings :) :) outside of Africa.
They are also called Zebra Crossings in the UK. That is the official name!
Thanks to all. I am staying in Brunate and want to do a day trip to Lugano. I will take the funicolare down to Como and walk to S. Giovanni to catch the train....Roberto, .I will be on the lookout for zebra's along the way. :)
The Como nord Lago services the old "Ferrovie Nord" line to Cadorna, while S. Giovanni services the international line Milan-Como-Chiasso-Lugano-Bellinzona and up the Gotthard. The two lines are physically separate and simply do not connect - till a few years ago the "Ferrovie Nord" were an independent company running a few commuter lines around Milan. If you want to travel to Lugano you have to leave from Como S. Giovanni.
As the Como to Chiasso section on the international line is quite steep, there is also flatter line to Chiasso bypassing Como S. Giovanni through a tunnel, usually used by freight trains. A few passenger trains may use the bypass line as well, so will not call at Como S. Giovanni. It may be that going by local train to Chiasso and changing there may offer more travel solutions.
Thanks Lachera. I am really looking forward to returning to Switzerland even if it's only for a day. I haven't been there since 1966 when I was a summer student at the Institut auf dem Rosenberg in St. Gallen.
LMBO roberto
great explantion and pictures, plus your satire (both funny and sarcastic) to marie for her reply.
Maggie, i'm with you learning something new every day and here on this forum. besides throwing in "southern expressions" which i have part of, also got my "hawaiian expressions" that drives my friends crazy. So true about basic english, their meanings or translations. I too will be on the lookout for zebra crossings!
