I'm off.

[marcmagus]

This is my last time online before my vacation. My parents are dragging me (kicking and screaming the whole way, you can be sure) to Europe for a week and a half. Specifically, to Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, the region my great-grandparents who aren't from Russia are from.
Other than scrambling to get everything ready, I'm surprising calm about the whole thing. It'll be nice not to have to go to work for a couple weeks. I'm bringing the camera, so hopefully there'll be another website when I get back.

Comments

[agiel.livejournal.com]

Oh, the horrible, horrible pain of going to Europe. I hope you survive the trauma. Be strong!

I wish *my* parents would torture *me* like that...

oh, the humanity...

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

How very evil! I never would have imagined your parents could be so cruel, M.

Enjoy, you will be thought of fondly while you're gone- and there BETTER be a website! ;)

love
--K

Budapest Scam artists and ripoff restaurants and bars

[(Anonymous)]

Be wary of Budapest. The people are generally unfriendly, and the friendly ones are scam artists out to steal your money. Watch out for friendly people approaching you in the street, and asking to show you where a good restaurant or bar is. This is usually done by 2 hungarian girls who ask to go for drinks. They will order blue drinks, and you will order beers. Before you know it, the waitress will come up to the table and you will have to pay the lot. It will be about $500. You will not have enough money, and the girls wont have anything, or maybe a little. You will be escorted to your hotel or nearest atm and have to get more money to pay. They will take what you have on you first. If you refuse to pay, you will get beaten up by one of the bouncers or workers. You should say you must draw money, then once you're outside, make a run for it, or call the police, or preferable your embassy. This is a scam and they are good at it, dont go for drinks with anyone. Another scam is this guy at the palace. He will sell trinkets, and when you give him one of your dollars, he will check it out, then swap it with a fake. Dont buy from these scamsters. The gypsey caravans at the palace are okay. Most importantly watch out for the Blue drink scam as mentioned above.

Re: Budapest Scam artists and ripoff restaurants and bars

[marcmagus]

Thanks for the warning, whoever you are. I didn't have any problems. I found people to be perfectly friendly - or at least as friendly as your average New Yorker. I didn't get taken in by any scams other than maybe people selling me things for more than they were worth, but nothing major.