The Departure from HELL!

Today I got up really early because, um... Let’s just say the Slovak food did not agree with me. At all. Let’s just say it was fighting a full on WAR with my intestines. Let’s not talk explosives or exit strategy, let’s just leave it at that.

Anyway I got ready and packed up. Jose, my Spanish, freak show roommate happened to be heading to Budapest today, as well, and wanted to travel together. I politely declined and headed out for breaDfast. Yes, I call it breadfast now because I’ve started heading to the supermarket, buying a couple bread products of some kind and a Coca Cola Light, and thats the meal- breadfast.

So I ate in a square with free wifi and saw that it was about time to head over to the bus station. I got there a little early and went to the ticket counter. “1-way to Budapest please.” “No.” The ticket lady says. “Budapest out of Central Station- not here. Central Station 3 kilometers.” And she points.

So I have 11 minutes to go 3 km and buy a ticket and board- I can do it! I grab a taxi, which ends up taking 5 minutes for whatever reason. Then we get there and its 236Sk or about 8 Euro and I don’t have the right change and neither does the driver and I give him what I have and he chases me and I just give him 10 euros and I have, like 1 minute, and I run but there is a line, and then the lady says the bus is operated by a Hungarian company and she can’t sell a ticket, and she doesn’t know if I can buy on board, and I’m mad because, “Well, how can anyone buy a ticket, then?” and she’s annoyed and it’s 10:50, and the bus is gone anyway...

So I decided that I should just walk to the train station and take the 11:45 train to Budapest, even though it’s more expensive. And as I’m walking and checking the map, I realize the station is a LOT further than I thought- like about 5km total! Not that that’s so far, but I’m dragging a heavy suitcase, carrying my backpack, AND the leftovers from breadfast- I seriously have to rush!

I’m chugging along now, red-faced and panting; I’m sure I look so pathetic. I feel so weak and exhausted and the shitty thing is, I have to keep going or now I’ll miss the train, too! I really wish that someone was filming this, I’m sure it would be so funny, ya know, in a sad kind of way...

The truth is though, as I’m walking up the home stretch, and I can see the station, the clock tower says 11:41., and I just can’t hustle anymore... I said to myself, “It’s ok, girl. You really, really tried. Now you can relax at the station, and when you finally do get to Budapest you can go to the famous thermal baths, and just soak all night...”

So I walk into the station at 11:47, and notice that the train to Budapest has been delayed 5 minutes! If I really rush, I can figure out how to work the machines and switch it to English and enter the right border crossing and tell it how many total kilometers, and..? But I can’t figure it out so I run to the ticket counter, but the line is so long and I only have 2 minutes to make the DELAY, and I see an information booth so I run and ask if I can just buy the ticket on board and “Ok, what is the price difference,” and she’s eating soup and she finishes her mouth full and says she “has no idea,” and I see that the exit is roped off, but she says I can sneak under and I’m sweating and huffy puffy and I do, and I drag the bag on its side under the barrier and I’m on the platform looking for a conductor or anyone to ask about the price, because they really jack it up on board, and I see him at the end of the train, on the far end of the platform and I’m running, waving my free arm, and it’s just me on the platform and he motions that it’s all clear so I jump on and sit down in the door of the train and hit my cheek on the doorway and lift my bag and pull it up and I just need to know what it costs, but there is NO ONE who isn’t a passenger and I’m running in the aisles because I have to get to the first car and OH MY GOD- the train is moving! I’m going, like it or not!!!

I’m on the train now. Hope it’s not too expensive- I’ll let you know...

-H*