Train to Prague

Keleti Station is Budapest’s main international train station, but it is quite small and chaotic. Because it doesn’t have many platforms you only find out which one your train is leaving from a few minutes before hand, so everyone crowds in front of the boards waiting. When I did get on the train, I was at first in a nice car with air conditioning and talking to a guy from Slovakia.

About 10min into the trip, the air-con stopped working. Then the lights. Then when the Slovakian got off we stopped for about 20min while they fixed something on the train (not the air-con or lights).

Wondering what was going on I got talking to a Chilean guy who was wondering up and down the train trying to find out, and ended up sitting with his family in a different car which had no air-con so we could open the windows. But it was still boiling. And there was nowhere to get water!

We were later told the other car was a 1st class car, and it was put in second class BECAUSE the air-con didn’t work!! Bastards! haha.
At the next station the Chilean and a Brazilian guy ran out to grab some water and I had to stop the doors closing and the conductor from letting the train go without them! haha

11hrs later with no sleep and boiling, I got to prague and then back home where I could finally sleep!

Budapest, Buda Walk

Today I decided to walk to the Buda side. Continue Reading…

Budapest, Pest Walk

If you didn’t know, Budapest is actually divided into Buda and Pest, separated by the Danbue river. Me and a French Canadian dude walked through the city on Andrassy Street, an entire boulevard street listed as world heritage! But it’s actually a pretty dull as most of the big buildings are just offices or apartments or something. It does however have one famous building, and not for the best reasons. Continue Reading…

Caving Tour and the “Party Island”, Budapest

I was tired from the travel and wondering what to do, and Pheime convinced me to go on the Caving Tour! Continue Reading…

The Island Hostel

The Island Hostel is a fairly new, basic, relaxed hostel. Located on one of the islands on the Danube, between Pest and Buda. It has 3 large dorm rooms with around 12 beds and they all open onto a large patio/terrace which looks onto the river. While basic, the relaxed setup makes a cool atmosphere and nice place to chill out, especially in the mega-heat of summer!

It’s cheap as chips at €8 a night, they have a computer with free internet they sell cheap beers at reception. They also have a small kitchen and fridge you can use. Totally casual.

The place is run by ever-energetic Phemie, a funky British/Chinese girl who is mates with the guys from Carpe de Noctem. She works 24/7 but always greets everyone enthusiastically with a smile and offers advice on what to do and see. I don’t think the place would be the same without her!