I'm still looking forward to our trip to Budapest next June. Perhaps we will walk :).

Peter_S_Aus: <i>"In Budapest, even if you are there for only a day, a handful of the local coconuts or cash is a good idea."</i>

You need coconuts for travel in Budapest? Why don't the guide books give people key information like this? And how does one tell a local coconut from a foreign coconut? Does the local coconut speak only Magyar?

Coconuts are local to Hungary? Perhaps they are migratory? Or do we have to have a conversation on wingspan to weight ratios again? :D

Well, I'm kind of sitting on the fence on this one.

One moment I think she's genuine, and the next moment I think she's not.

Certainly, people target tourists and others who are not regulars.

Some workers in transportation, such as those in airlines, can afford to be rude at times because they know the likelihood of their ever seeing you again is close to nil. (I had a particularly unpleasant experience with a TSA agent during a time when TSA rules had changed - going out it was one set of rules, coming back it was another set of rules and I was still following the older set of rules. It happens.)

It's also not unlikely that tourists will be the target of scams.

What makes this particular episode unbelievable is the OP's own attitude - expecting transit workers to speak English, etc. Which brings up all the other "travel tales" where the OP turns out to be just pulling our legs.

Even if you do research things, actual events can get confusing on the ground, so please give the OP some benefit of the doubt. Alright, she may have over-reacted by hitting the controllers, but fear can make you do stupid things. The way she's been trashed by posters on this board is nothing short of bullying!

Many years ago in Rome I went to the Porta Portese for the Sunday flea market. Made the MAJOR mistake of wearing sandals I had thought were comfortable, but never really did much walking in. I also got lost within the flea market so the exit gate was not the same as the entrance area. When I was leaving I searched for about 20 minutes for a cab -- no luck. I hopped on a bus because my feet practically had me in tears as they were rubbed raw in a few places. Not knowing any better and not having planned to ride a bus, I naively assumed I would be able to pay the fare on the bus once I got on. Seems I was wrong, so I just stood there riding the bus and not knowing what to do. Finally, I got off once I recognized where I was. Now, if the authorities had caught me, I certainly would have fessed up and paid the fine!

Actually people cannot even complain about ignorance as the requirement to validate the ticket is on the ticket itself and even in English....

Good catch, tomascc!

After reading this person's teenager-like response to Peter's very experienced, eloquent, well described and frankly much too kind response... and then reading OP's post about being able to tell from a distance that police are corrupt because of their looks..

Well, I'm just not sure that "naive" is exactly the right description. I can think of several more accurate.

guys, if she's a troll, all you are doing is feeding her. let it drop to the bottom of the posts and don't respond.

if she isn't a troll, then we are being pretty nasty. I just sent a friend here and told them not to be afraid to post questions and how helpful everyone is. Where is that friendly community ?

I guess I remember how overwhelming it can be when you are in a new country and flustered, so we can just let this whole thing die a slow and painful death?

oops, should be 'can we' just let this whole thing die ?

"Well, I'm just not sure that "naive" is exactly the right description. I can think of several more accurate."

I can think of a 50+ English or American man who is just having a little fun.

Because nobody can be like OP in real life.

Sure I have been confused on occasion when traveling. But figure that's my own fault. I sure didn't rush to a bunch or different travel forums, and register to rant & complain about my experiences and blame other people for my own mistakes.

I still think that's probably true elina.

I just can't fathom that someone thinks that based on an unpleasant transit experience, and a surly cab driver - both pretty much universal experiences wherever you go - that it means an entire city is xenophobic. Then to throw in xenophobic or just plain racist things like what's been said about police she never even engaged or attempted to speak to and apply THAT to Hungarians and their institutions as well? I'm sorry, but I can't think how any of this fits the purpose of the forum in terms of either accuracy, cultural awareness or community, frankly. I can't even fathom how someone can miss every possible step on how to take a trip somewhere and how to get around, and then be angry at a city for not holding their hands even more. Jeez, it's European travel. There's so much information available you've nearly had your precious bottom wiped for you before you've ever left your lounge room.

The only rational explanation is that it's all a put on. No one could be this adamantly, well.... not naive. Future readers should at least be able to see this for what people who know better know it to be

Hi verynaiveirishgirl:

I live in Canada.

I never heard of validating a ticket.

I do not know what entails a validation !!

Whenever I have had to,I just buy a ticket and get on the train/bus/tram!

I know the busy Square ( ter) you are talking about in Budapest.
However,I did not take the Metro there.

But let me tell you "verynaiveirishgirl", whatever comments have been made, you sure got a lot of people talking.

When I have coffee with some of my European friends here ,I will certainly ask them about ticket validation.

I have also been to :

"Dublin's fair city
Where girls are so pretty".

Why ,that's where I met Molly Malone :)

Take Care, at least I have learned something and it's ticket validation !

This thread really has it all….. 5 star locations (5 stars!), international intrigue/complaining at the highest levels, and a narrow escape from a distressing experience in deepest, darkest Budapest. There is even an evil twin subplot. Ever notice that naïve irish and pretty american are never in the same room at the same time?

What is this - the 3 faces of Eve?

I could add a story about how I dropped my sunglasses and the lens fell out - I'm sure it would somehow be the fault of those evil government minions for not warming me properly not to drop my sunglasses. Or not providing me with someone on the spot to repair them. Or a guide to lead me to the nearest optician.

You know what's worse than the sunglasses? The first night there, we went into a basement sort of eatery and no one spoke english! And as if that wasn't bad enough, the waitress giggled when I pointed at something and then pointed at something else completely! Finally, I took the suggestion and that something else turned out to be a large pig knuckle in broth. Sure, it was tasty, but did it come with chips? No.. It didn't. What kind of country doesn't offer chips with everything? An evil country, that's what. One what hates foreigners.

Well if you need money to pay your fine, there's a nice man who keeps popping up on the forum offering interest free loans

.....I can think of a 50+ English or American man who is just having a little fun.....


Yes, it's CW or Pal in drag or the two of them doing a double act.

I have an alibi. I'm 70+