Slow train to Bucharest
We caught an overnight train from Budapest leaving at 7pm and taking 16hrs. At the last minute we upgraded to a sleeper and were pleased we did. This was without a doubt the slowest train trip we have ever undertaked. It seemed to be an all stations, although it also stopped many times without the aid of a station.
Crossing the Border was uneventful and rather easy, however. We just stayed in our bunks and the guards came to us. At about 11pm the train stopped in the middle of nowhere and someone knocked on all the doors saying something (unintelligible to us) as they did.
We got dressed and waited. After about ten minutes I put my shoes on as we thought we may have been ordered out of the train. I need not have worried as the Hungarian border guards were slowly moving along the carriage checking and stamping passports, with illegible stamps. Maybe fifteen minutes later the train started moving again very slowly and, after about 5 minutes stopped again. This time the knock was accompanied by the single word "passports". It was the Romanian border guards. They were more official and also friendlier. After checking us on their system and checking the toilet for smuggled people they asked us no questions and welcomed us to Romania.
The middle stages of the trip were through the Carpathian Mountains near where we would commence our walk at Bran. Around dawn, through the dirty windows we caught glimpses of truly high steep mountains with more than a hint of snow still covering the gullies. I confess to little trepidation re my bodies ability to tackle what is ahead.
The train had been advertised as "sometimes" having a buffet car and passengers were advised to stock up before they got on. At around 10am Clare heard transactions in the corridor and guessed that coffee was available. I walked up the corridor to find our carriage attendant (in civies this morning) brewing coffee on a small portable stove in his cubicle. He was most surprised that we didnt want sugar and had to ask twice to be sure. It was strong and dark and I had to help Clare drink hers. He later made Clare a tea, also to his great surprise , without sugar. It turned out to be berry tea.
We caught a subway, which came immediately, from the central station to our hotel in the centre of town and felt very proud of ourselves for advancing in our use of city transportation systems.
Sorry No pictures!
Crossing the Border was uneventful and rather easy, however. We just stayed in our bunks and the guards came to us. At about 11pm the train stopped in the middle of nowhere and someone knocked on all the doors saying something (unintelligible to us) as they did.
We got dressed and waited. After about ten minutes I put my shoes on as we thought we may have been ordered out of the train. I need not have worried as the Hungarian border guards were slowly moving along the carriage checking and stamping passports, with illegible stamps. Maybe fifteen minutes later the train started moving again very slowly and, after about 5 minutes stopped again. This time the knock was accompanied by the single word "passports". It was the Romanian border guards. They were more official and also friendlier. After checking us on their system and checking the toilet for smuggled people they asked us no questions and welcomed us to Romania.
The middle stages of the trip were through the Carpathian Mountains near where we would commence our walk at Bran. Around dawn, through the dirty windows we caught glimpses of truly high steep mountains with more than a hint of snow still covering the gullies. I confess to little trepidation re my bodies ability to tackle what is ahead.
The train had been advertised as "sometimes" having a buffet car and passengers were advised to stock up before they got on. At around 10am Clare heard transactions in the corridor and guessed that coffee was available. I walked up the corridor to find our carriage attendant (in civies this morning) brewing coffee on a small portable stove in his cubicle. He was most surprised that we didnt want sugar and had to ask twice to be sure. It was strong and dark and I had to help Clare drink hers. He later made Clare a tea, also to his great surprise , without sugar. It turned out to be berry tea.
We caught a subway, which came immediately, from the central station to our hotel in the centre of town and felt very proud of ourselves for advancing in our use of city transportation systems.
Sorry No pictures!
Comments
Post a Comment