Article Six
Budapest – Hungary
Then Murphy struck! Firstly, Patricia’s main suitcase didn’t make it to Budapest…”…been left behind in Vienna…possibly we can have it delivered to your hotel later tonight after the next flight arrives…?” so they say! Off to collect our hire-car. Strike two…”…oh no sir, your car is waiting at our town office…” I produce the confirmation email stating that our car was to be at the airport. “…Oh no sir, we sent you an email three days ago (the car was booked and confirmed six WEEKs ago) and because you did not again stipulate ‘at-the-airport’ it is available in the city…see sir, here is our copy of the email we sent you…!!!” Away again by taxi to our booked, close-too the airport, hotel, which we selected because we were picking the car up at the airport and, strike three! Very sorry sir, although have a confirmation of your room booking, I have NOT been notified that you were arriving today…!” Fortunately, there was plenty of spare rooms.
Next morning, now the seventh of September, we collect the car (Suzuki Swift) from the agent and with a minimum of fuss and lots of argument on the way, made it to Hevis in Southern Hungary without being involved in or causing a single accident. Murphy had not given up! Strike Four! Arriving, wet, cold, and rather angry after failing to find our ‘apartment-hotel’ after asking at four shops, in and out of the car in pouring rain, we were informed that we were a “day early! Apartment changeover is on a Saturday to Saturday basis!” Even after producing our confirming documentation (Arrival 7/09/07) we were still “..a day early no matter what the Australian Office had agreed!” But we had a room, slightly smaller than what we booked but by this time we couldn’t care less. Bought some food, beer and basic essentials…the hotel accommodation consists of serviced, self-catering-apartments and it was time to do the washing and get some shuteye.
Oh yes, Pat’s suitcase did turn up late at night in Budapest and, we did stipulate arrival on 7th Sept simply because we could not fly from Russia to Budapest on the 8th Sept. without paying a huge AUD$400 more, each! Because our ‘cheapie’ airline only flies to from Russia on certain days of the week!
Tried the local internet at the hotel, but couldn’t access an English version of Hotmail…no help from the staff…” we don’t do that during nightshift…see the day shift manager…” So another week has rolled around without any access to the internet. I may try to find a WI/FI site by asking at the Tourist Information Centre, tomorrow morning.
