Are You a Rule Follower? I AM!

Our hotel in Lugano was in the mid point of the hill - the funicular bringing people down to the lakeside leaves from the train station, 100 feet up.  So, we could walk 100 feet back up to go 300 feet down, or just amble down the winding streets lined with shops.  You guessed it, we shopped.  On our route, we passed a residential building with a guard dog dutifully watching those walking by.  Of course, my dad has to stop and engage with the dog.  Luckily, the german shepherd found him to be a non threat, and didn’t react to his advancements and whistles.  Oh dad... always with the animals.  

We eventually got down to the lakeside and wandered for a bit before landing at our safe place, McDonalds.  We thought we’d get a “cheap” dinner and seek out something more Swiss or Italian the next day as it was already afternoon.  The joke was on us however as we AVOIDED the wraps that burned us in Lucerne and ordered McChickens and a burger.  Grand total 35 Swiss Francs, or approximately $40.  yeesh.  One good thing about having purchased something at the lakeside McDonalds is that you’re given the code to the bathroom that is otherwise locked to non-patrons.  All three of us took our turns punching 2-2-1-0 to access the customer only bathroom.  I suppose you could consider it a perk for our $40 meal.  

As we sat and finished up our meal, there was a group of 5 women who came in from the outside just to use the bathroom.  As they were not customers, they did not have the code.  We watched as they looked discerningly at the code pad on the door, looked at each other and tried punching in random numbers.  They looked around confused, and didn’t know what to do  After about 3 minutes, a man (a customer of the establishment) came and punched in the code to use the mens room.  Again, quiet mumbling and looks were exchanged among the women.  All the while, my mom is saying that we should give them the code to get in.  For some reason, I had a visceral reaction to this, and insisted that it was NOT okay to hand out the code to those who had not paid to use the restroom.  Right?  I’m right aren’t I?  I have purchased my share of small items at McDonald’s and other fast food places around the world, knowing that with that purchase came the ability to use their restroom.  Why couldn’t they buy a Coke or something small to justify their usage?  While this is happening, a restaurant worker went into the mens room and came out - we cf course thinking he was checking for cleanliness or something.  Then, out of nowhere, my mom gets up and goes over to punch in the 2-2-1-0 for these ladies.  WHAT?!  How could you betray those of us who have purchased something?  Funny thing is, the code no longer worked.  The McDonalds employee CHANGED THE CODE!!!!!  HA!  Now you can’t breech the bathroom you free-loaders.  Victory was mine.  The bathroom remained for customers only... for now anyway.