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Kristen and I had to say goodbye to Julie today. She is to fly back to the UK meanwhile Kristen and I have to do our complicated trip from Greece to Croatia. For anyone who has done this, you will understand. These two countries are physically so close to each other but it is difficult to get from here to there. I have heard of people going overland (ie through Macedonia/Serbia or Montenegro/Albania). Each overland route has issues (ie political unstability, issues with transfers at borders and inbetween including 4am transfers on buses) and generally involve a flight first to Thessoloniki. Our trip is made more complicated as we are on an island rather than the mainland.
Another route I heard about from Julie was to fly to Rome, bus/train to the otherside to a eastern port (possibly called Bari) and you can ferry across. I think this is an overnight ferry. When you look at a map and the distance between western greece abd Dubrovnik you would think a ferry would be put on. No such luck.
A direct flight is occassionally available for about NZ$600 one way from Athens to the capital. Or you can fly back to UK then direct from the UK (also not cheap).
Instead this is how we will get from Mykonos to Dubrovnik....
1. Flight from Mykonos to Athens.
2. Flight from Athens to Budapest.
3. 6 hour train from Budapest to Zagreb (capital if Croatia).
4. Flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik.
Its a pretty horrendous trip but avoids long distance buses, is cheaper than the other flight and gives us a night in Budapest (a city we will return to in about 6 days to visit properly) and a night in Zagreb. The train is an afternoon train so hopefully it will be a nice trip through the countryside.
Right so upon arrival in Budapest I attempted to get a small amount of cash from an ATM at the airport (equal to about NZD$60) to see me through a few meals and transport requirements. No cash came out of the machine. I discovered once I could finally access the internet that of course the funds had been taken from my account. When I called my bank to advise them of the issue I was informed I needed to complete a form disputing the transaction and fax it back to them. Informed them that as I was packing light I didnt have a fax machine on me. Also printing is a bit of an issue-easier to solve than a fax machine though. I now have to prove I did not get the money. Oh, and if the bank decide that the transaction was valid then I get charged another fee of $15 (despite the fact I am in a bloody country without their goddam currency because their f***ing machine didnt bloody give me any). How the f*** do I prove I didnt get the money? Take a photo of my wallet showing that I only have Euros?? Explain that food in Budapest will now consist of leftover chocolate from Greece and water (thank god the hostel has free coffee) and that I wouldnt willingly subject myself to that if I had access to the currency the machine was supposed to give me (and as deducted from my account). Should have taken a photo of the ATM not giving me money. For f*** sake - thanks for your help, I am superglad I have been a customer since I was 10 years old. I also enjoyed the money I just wasted on ringing you (do you not realise how much international phone calls cost from a mobile??).
I knew I would encounter set backs on this trip - loss of money through theft, documents stolen, reservations not being received at the other end, lost luggage, food posioning and a myriad of other mishaps. Kind of hoped it wouldnt happen for another couple of weeks now. It may only be a small amount of money but at a weak moment after two flights today its enough to make you want to go home. Oh and as a result right now I have little to say about Budapest that doesnt involve four letter words. I have heard its a lovely city. The hostel Kristen and I are staying in is beautiful and has redeeming qualities. Overall though, it has been tarnished and will be forever known to me as that city where I got ripped off by an ATM.*~*
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