We got picked up from the InterContinental in Budapest by a lovely man named Levant, who was born in Romania, but now lives about 30 kms from Budapest CBD. His English was very impressive and he admitted he wasn't sure about that as he is self taught. He also speaks Hungarian, Romanian, French, some Spanish and a little Italian. As you do!
The central train station was about 10 minutes from the hotel although due to road works it took a little longer. When I say road works you conjur up
images of lanes blocked by little orange hats or lines of orange tape blocking off the offending work, don't you? Hah hah not in Budapest. Driving along admittedly traffic a little slow, when I looked out of the left side and there was a long trench about two meters wide and about four meters deep stretching for half a block!!! With only small wooden poles to keep I'm not sure what from falling in!!
The train station was busy and we were immediately ushered by a porter into a Business Lounge (which we knew nothing at all about). This was manned by a terribly ineffective young man who smiled weakly and said "yays" to every single thing I asked! Anyway apparently we were entitled to this lounge as we had first class tickets!
We had a walk around the station and found quite a magnificent annexe, of which Ross, of course, photographed.
So by just before 1 pm the porter returned and started moving us toward the train. How efficient thinks us, how sweet thinks Pollyanna, how "tight" thinks Porter when we hand him $2 euro tip! He actually stood there holding out his hand and pointing to his badge (which said Porter) like we were meant to know his true worth?? Anyway Ross found a 500 florin note which seemed to satisfy him. Hah hah that's only worth about $2.50aud!
The train was a fairly new, very clean RailJet, with economy, first and premium class, and full dining car etc. We are flying along at speeds of up to 200km per hour. We have had some lovely views, but my dream of sitting back as we amble through alps is not quite accurate, as it's already going dark at 6.30pm. Oh well, major games of Angry Birds and minor nanna naps are taking place.
We'll get to Munich by 8.30pm and leave again for Paris at 10.30pm, this time in a sleeper cabin complete with our own wash stand!! Wow!!