On the Midnight Train to Budapest--With Lots of Baggage

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu

I could have stayed in Kraków a few more days, but there were other nearby places in Eastern Europe I wanted to see.

Leave Poland? Not an easy decision. I could see Wrocław, Gdańsk or Warsaw, the way I had originally planned, or move on. Given my first impression of Warsaw, I decided to move on.

Prague? That didn't excite me. Ditto for Vienna. Lviv, Ukraine, was a short bus ride away, but there were numerous reports on the Internet like this and THIS that put the fear of God in me. And I didn't know any person of color who had been there. Friends had recommended Budapest, so I decided to hop a train there.

Budapest didn't come without contemplation. It required a nine-hour overnight train ride. And there were some horror stories of guests being gassed and robbed on the sleeper cars. Not to mention that due to language barriers, lack of diversity and some jeers and leers, Eastern Europe had brought out all my biggest fears. And I would be traveling alone.



I believe legends are rooted in some truth--and so I hesitated on where to go next. In the end, I had nothing to fear.

The only ones with access to my train car were my doting conductor and the 10 or so people staying there. I met a lovely couple from Ireland two doors down and a charming couple from Los Angeles, who were right next door. They promised to come save me if anyone got close to my cabin door. But to be sure, I cracked the window the outside of my cabin in case of gassing and closed it back at station stops.


My tiny cabin (above) with my foot on the locked door, just in case someone tried to enter


Preparing for arrival (above)

It all seems a bit funny as I write this now but many times we let our fears--unfounded or not--keep us from living. How many times have we been afraid to go, do or be because of fear? Have you been afraid to fly, sail or travel to a place solo or where no one looks like you? Are you afraid to visit a place because of what people might say/think/do?

I'm glad I pushed through any fear of traveling to Budapest. It turned out to be my newest favorite city. (Check out my cheesy slideshow below.)

Now, if I can just work up the nerve for Ukraine.

Budapest Slideshow: Monica's trip from Krakow, Southern Poland, Poland to Budapest, Hungary was created by TripAdvisor.