Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2017
Edit Blog Post
Day 6 was a long slog (15 hours) on the train from Budapest to Bucharest. We had tried to figure out about the train, amenities, etc. before we left, but left things a little too late and couldn't get the info we needed about our train by looking online. Like: Is there wifi on the train? (No) Are there plugs to charge your devices (Yes) Is there a dining car? (No) is there a bar (No) and probably the most important one for a 15hr trip - Can you buy food on the train (yes, but you won't know that until after you start thinking maybe there won't be any snacks and you won't be able to have anything until after you arrive at 11pm and by then you'll be "hangry" and that's no fun for anyone). Our hotel had packed us some take away breakfasts since we were leaving so early, so we had provisions but I was the only one who didn't eat mine in the morning (I was so tired, I slept all morning on the train). I knew I'd be fine since I had my whole snack pack to tide me over but my fellow travellers may
have had a wee bit of worry (I'd grade it at level "panic-light") at the prospect of not getting any other munchies all day.
Interestingly, crossing the border was more involved arriving by train than flying. Hungarian officials (in magnificently over-sized hats) boarded the train before we left the country to examine/stamp our passports and then Romanian officials boarded for the same purpose once we crossed into that country. Our 1st class car was virtually empty by then, but we picked up a bunch of folks later in Romania. Not a lot of cross-border travellers by train it seems.
Once in Romania (at about the halfway point of our trek) snacks and drinks were available for purchase on the train and T dove into those baskets like a kid opening Lego at Christmas. I'm pretty sure an entire sandwich got airborne before it landed on our table. I've also never seen my Aunt so thrilled as when I heard her exclaim "is that beer!?!" (it was).
It was a pleasant ride, though, and an absolutely charming Romanian gentlemen kept a watchful eye over us (we *may* have switched seats at the beginning for a more primo spot...they
weren't reserved by anyone when we switched but whenever someone new boarded and seemed to be eyeballing our (possibly actually their) seats, our excellent friend shoo'd them away and told us to stay put). My 15 word Romanian vocabulary did cover it - but I suspect he said something along the lines of "these are clueless but harmless tourists. It may confuse them if they have to move. Plus it was very funny when they got excited about sandwiches and I want to see what they do when the coffee guy comes around".
He was a darling man and we loved him.
Day 7 consisted of a little sleeping in and walking about Bucharest Old Town. T and I also stumbled on a craft and antique market with some truly gorgeous stuff. We'd love to bring back some amazing ornaments we saw made by a local craftsman but since they are fragile have to think about how to get them home intact. We have another long couple of days coming up so are taking it easy the rest of the day.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.264s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 9; qc: 52; dbt: 0.0601s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb