Day 13: In Trainsit to Budapest
I was coaxed into taking the train to Budapest by the delightfully liberal German friends. Carbon footprints and whatnot. I'm glad I did it, really. I got to see part of the countryside I wouldn't have otherwise. The train went south through Germany and went through Slovakia, Czech Republic and took me to my destination Budapest, Hungary.
I stepped off the train and there was an instant change in mood that was so different to Berlin or Amsterdam. There were people waiting by the currency converters offering me better deals to exchange my Euros with them. I warded them off but I could not fend off the taxi scammers 20 minutes into my Budapest experience.
I had no grasp of Hungarian currency and was not quick enough on my feet to do some quick conversions. I was also unprepared with not knowing where exactly my hostel was in relation to where I'd get off the train. I had planned to do all of this on the train, but I was surprised to find there would be no internet connection for the 12 hour ride.
It was a bit peculiar because I knew exactly what was happening and yet I let myself get fucked by these Hungarian men that crowded around me, yelling numbers and directions, knowing full well my vulnerability and picking up on my cluelessness about Hungary. In the end I paid 4000 HUF, which is around $20 AUD, for a 5 minute ride to the hostel.
It was all made better by meeting the rest of the Aussie crew, and finding out that Ned and his friend Josh had paid 40 Euros each for exactly the same ride.
Cheers.
I stepped off the train and there was an instant change in mood that was so different to Berlin or Amsterdam. There were people waiting by the currency converters offering me better deals to exchange my Euros with them. I warded them off but I could not fend off the taxi scammers 20 minutes into my Budapest experience.
I had no grasp of Hungarian currency and was not quick enough on my feet to do some quick conversions. I was also unprepared with not knowing where exactly my hostel was in relation to where I'd get off the train. I had planned to do all of this on the train, but I was surprised to find there would be no internet connection for the 12 hour ride.
It was a bit peculiar because I knew exactly what was happening and yet I let myself get fucked by these Hungarian men that crowded around me, yelling numbers and directions, knowing full well my vulnerability and picking up on my cluelessness about Hungary. In the end I paid 4000 HUF, which is around $20 AUD, for a 5 minute ride to the hostel.
It was all made better by meeting the rest of the Aussie crew, and finding out that Ned and his friend Josh had paid 40 Euros each for exactly the same ride.
Cheers.
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