Budapest at night

    My stay in the Hungarian capital was a must; I did not plan it at all. But I had a flight from Milan-Bergamo to Budapest, scheduled arrival at 23:59. From there I had a train to Sturovo in the east of Slovakia at 5:25 in the morning. Sturovo is just about 50 kilometres from where my parents live, so they would pick me up with a car.

     I intended to spend the five hour gap that occurred in Budapest getting from the airport to the train station and waiting there for my train. On the plane I met a cool guy from Milan. He had purchased the flight tickets 3 months prior to the departure for just 2 Euros. Now, he decided to board the plane and head for the Sziget music festival in Budapest. No accommodation at all, just a sleeping bag attached to his bag. Great, I have also nothing to do in Budapest. High five. We’ll go for a beer in the city.

      We talked for a while, some English, some Italian. After I while the ‚fasten youth seatbelt light went off and I was free to move around the plane. I started talking with one stewardess. Some inquiry about the night transport in Budapest, but also because she was attractive. She was from Hungary, in February Ryanair opened a base in Budapest - the final destination of the crew for that day. The pilot was excellent; we landed about 10 minutes earlier. But I lost my Italian friend. He must have left the plane while I was still engaged in conversation with the stewardess. She advised me about the night buses and shuttles, I will find out.

      Luckily, I run into Francesco, which was the name of the Italian guy, in the arrival lounge. We booked a seat in a special shuttle bus that would take me directly to the Keleti Palyaudvar Station, and him to the city. It was the best option. Night buses would take hours to get there. We had to wait about 20 minutes for the shuttle. Francesco went for a cigarette, I was, rather shyly, spotting the arrivals gate, fostering my false pretence that the stewardess would walk through the barrier with other passengers. Actually, there were some stewardesses travelling with the shuttle busses.

     Finally, my bus was due so I left Francesco and my hopes at the airport. I arrived at the Keleti Palyaudvar at 00:40. Just wanted to enter the building and lie down on the bench. Actually, I wanted to lie down somewhere else but go figure. However, the station was closed from midnight till 3:45 in the morning. Several people were camping at the front door. I did not feel like sleeping outside, rather went for a walk. For a few hours I was a homeless. Not so bad, but not enough to make a decent living.

      I met some guys, old rockers, at one of the near the station. While I was talking to them, I spotted the prices of the drinks. You could get a beer for 300 Forints, which is approximately one euro. Quite cheap. I left the rockers and walked along the Rakoczi Street. I met real homeless people, one of them had only one leg. Authentic experience. Two different worlds collide at night. The very poor who fed upon the rubbish, and those enjoying the parties and pubs. They are the source of the fresh rubbish.  

       Around the corner was some big square with a nice hotel, so I took a picture. There was a fast-food nearby. Prices were really low; the whole trip reminded me of the Bratislava experience from the Euro trip movie. I decided to go to a McDonald, to use the toilet. I had seen one before, still open. It was full of the typical 2 a.m. customers – drunken youth and few people who work late shifts. I got an ice cream for just about 50 cents, and 20 minutes of internet connection for 30. Amazing. Eating the ice cream I chatted with my friends about my homeless experience in Budapest.

     When my time was over I decided to retreat back to the station. While walking, I was approached by some woman sitting on the street. She was a hooker and offered me sex for just 15 Euros. However, she was so ugly that I gave her 50 cents if she leaves. At the station I met some guys from Austria. They arrived to Budapest at 22:00, for the festival. Assholes, had left their baggage in the left luggage office and headed for the city. They returned after the midnight only to realise that their baggage and clothes were locked up inside the station. It was getting pretty cold outside. Poor them. But I did not offer them my jacket. There are no rules when you live on the street. Survival of the fittest.

     I told them about my experience with the hooker. We talked in German for a while, walked around the station, actually it was nice night out. At 3:45, we lined up at the door. Finally, we were let in. I bought my ticket to Sturovo and lied down on a bench. After a while I was woken up by an employee. It is not allowed to sleep at the ticket office. Luckily, my train was already at the station so I got on and lied down in a coupe. I slept about 20 minutes, because I can not sleep on a public transport. My parent were waiting in Sturovo. I do not understand their logic. The drove the 50km to pick me up, but refused to drive the 80km to the Budapest.