Three of us arrived in Dublin in 1985 on a cycling trip. The first thing a friend did is lock his bike to a street sign outside the hotel. A young kid walking by said, without breaking stride, "I wouldn't do that. It'll be gone in ten minutes."

Sounds like the people in Dublin are friendlier than Budapesters.

sorry if it really was the fine. I shouldn't have interpreted it that way perhaps.

I didn't feel you were told an amount and then paid that amount . I thought your husband just got out his wallet and gave them some money and the greedy- eyed ones were happy and then left.

I think if it had been a bonafide fine you would have been given a receipt for having paid it.

<I>Sounds like the people in Dublin are friendlier than Budapesters.</i>

Not only that, colduphere, but in Dublin when they take they bike, they leave a thank you note.

One proof of paying a fine is that one is given a receipt. Not the case with a bribe.>

seems like these folks may have paid the money and instantly darted off - so again assumptions made could be wrong - the controllers may have been preparing a recepit, etc.

It is hard for me to believe that Budapest would allow controllers to take bribes on public transports - so openly - does not pass the smell test to me at least.

I would hope not.

While I take your point that people in Budapest can be difficult to warm to (50 years of communist oppression can do that to a nation) you were the one breaking the law in the first place - by not validating your ticket. And I find it difficult to believe that you were that stupid - in almost every major European city you are expected to validate your ticket in some way before you travel - and I include Dublin in this so don't bother with your "niave Irish" posturing.

"I wished them both a very merry (expletive) Christmas and tapped her on the arm and was barked back with don't touch me."

This is quite simply obnoxious behaviour and you deserve all that happened to you on the tram.

Have been to Budapet several times and found it a wonderful city. Have found some of hte people to be charming, some a little cool - but none unplesant. But then I don;t commit infractions, have a princessa snit fit when called on it and then start hitting people.

Your screen name is absutely right - you are incredibly naive. And that is not a way for an adult to go through life.

I don't see why it is a shock that tickets are checked - they are checked in most cities. And if stopped (and why NOT on Christmas?) one does not walk away - nor does one lose one's temper - nor does one assault a city employee doing their duty. (Try this in NYC and yuo would have been arrested.) It is more than naive to think that you can "tap" or strike another person with impunity - no matter who they are. Everyplace I know this is considered assault.

If you are going to travel to other places it is your responsibility to

1) learn the rules
2) keep you temper under control
3) if uncertain what to do ask questions - don;t curse at people
4) not commit personal assaults

I'm sure that Budapest is more than happy to see the back of you.

(And I fail to see how your staying at a 5* hotel has anything to do with the matter. And if you were - why not just grab a cab rather than deal with public transit you didn't bother to red about?)

I have been to Budapest twice, albeit long ago. I did not find the people 'warm' but I found this normal. The first time I went, the Iron Curtain still existed. The second time, it had not been removed for long (McDonald's had not yet arrived). Of course, this is not at all the same as someone who went as recently as 2010, but I have always respected the 'reserve' of certain cultures and tried to abide by their codes. I am sorry to say this, but it sounds like <b>verynaiveirishgirl</b> simply expected the people of Budapest to conform to her own concepts.

Stereotypic ugly American for sure!

Thanks so much for the endless mentions of your 5 star hotel. A sense of entitlement maybe? I've never, in all my years of reading travel message boards, read a post by someone who felt it necessary to point out the number of stars with every single mention of the hotel. Kind of speaks volumes.

first time poster's rant: eee-yawn.

Maybe the very naive girl is not American but Irish.

I have been reading a bit about the anti-semitism that is resurfacing in Hungary. Jobbit or some sort of party is now in the Government along with others - Jobbit seems to support Nazism. It seems Hungary will hopefully be soon rid of all foreigners. thanks be to God.

Agreed. Don't see anything at all that states or even implies she's American.

I would bet my last Hungarian forint that the OP is a regular poster having a little fun. I mean, the airport story is hilarious. I can hear the poor employee yelling "TURD DAY - YOU FIND BAG"

Too funny.

I will agree with verynaiveirishgirl that the current Hungarian xenophobia is worrisome -- but it is not tourists that they are being xenophobic about.

Off topic I saw a local guy arrested by 2 cops in Madrid for fare jumping on suburbian cercanías train so knowing local fare rules & procedures makes trips safer.

Some of you must be spectacular parents. Your kid has a bad experience, tells you about it and you spend all your energy yelling at them for not knowing better. The world was a much kinder gentler place before we had the internet for frustrated know-it-alls to lash out at others.

Amazing.

<<realised>> <<honour>> <<behaviour>>

I don't think she is an ugly American... she writes as if she is an ugly European.

It sounds to me that you got as much out of the trip as you invested in it. = nada, nothing

IF ONE HAD DONE A BARE MODICUM OF RESEARCH on the city, one would have probably noticed that the cautionary advice to make SURE one validated a tram ticket on the tram lest a ticket warden catch you.

P.S. Perhaps you should also avoid Singapore, as it also is somewhat demanding about adherence to local laws and customs, regardless of the number of stars given one's lodging.