Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you.
My hidden talent is perhaps a little eccentric: identifying the nationality of a European car registration from 50 metres. It is born of years standing on continental roadsides hitching rides. Subconsciously I scan the oncoming traffic looking for the familiar font of a number plate from Germany: its citizens have always been surprisingly inclined to stop for hitchhikers anywhere in Europe. On journeys within Germany, the initial letters even inform you where the vehicle was registered, from Hamburg (HH) to Konstanz (KN) – and hint at where the car might be heading.
