One Eventful Train Trip

Yesterday I traveled, by train, from Budapest, Hungary to my home here in Vienna.  I settled in with a book, a few snacks, and prepared to not be disturbed for the 3 hour journey.  As I read my book about the history of the Hapsburg's (former ruling empire) I was quickly brought back to reality when I had the urge to ... use the facilities.

I was just finishing up my experience in the WC, washing my hands behind a locked door, when suddenly the door was thrown back from it's secure position.  As I gasped, a very tall Policeman excused himself and proceeded to make his way ... in a hurry ... down the isles of the train.  Thankful I had finished my ... business ... I took my seat and began to look around for clues as to why the disturbance. 

In the car in front of me, another Policeman gathered with my WC Policeman and they were talking harshly with a group of young men.  A few more fast paced walks back through my car ... and returning again ... they settled in the afore mentioned car with this band of young men.

At the next stop, on the border of Hungary and Austria, the Policemen escorted these young men out of the train and lined them up along the platform.  What would have been a normal 1.5 minute unloading/reloading stop turned out to be a 10 minute delay as the Policeman gathered papers and documents from the group and spoke strong Hungarian through their walkie talkies to some unknown recipient.

Gathering from their body language, the Policeman gained some sort of "all clear" through the mysterious voice on the other end of their walkie talkies and they allowed the group to come on board the train ... but I never found out where they took them.  They didn't return to their original spot.

It was then that it dawned on me that the average American has no idea of what it means to:
... always carry proper documentation on your person
... have a police force ready at all times to apprehend illegal peoples
... the confusion of having transactions take place around you in three different languages
... how "good" we really have it.

Just another day in the life ... and what a life this is!