Eurotrip Furious 6 – The Train Ride to Bratislava, Slovakia

EXT. BUDAPEST NYUGATI RAILWAY STATION – DAY

A man (TRAVELER 1) carrying a large backpack on his back and smaller backpack on his chest is waiting at a platform. A train has just pulled up to the platform. Traveler 1 inspects the destination signage on the train and then checks his ticket on his phone. He seems certain and starts walking towards the door to a train car. Another man (TRAVELER 2) carrying only a day pack approaches Traveler 1.

Traveler 2: Excuse me. Is this the train going to Bratislava? It says, “Praha” as the destination.

Traveler 1: I just checked my train schedule. This train is heading to Prague, but it is stopping at Bratislava. You going there too?

Traveler 2: Yeah.

Traveler 1: Well, let’s get on the train and see if I’m right.

Traveler 2: Or wrong.

Traveler 1: If I’m wrong, that’ll be an interesting adventure as well.

The two men board the train car.

INT. TRAIN CAR HEADING TO BRATISLAVA (PRESUMABLY) – DAY

The two travelers are sitting across from each other in a private cabin of the train car. There are three seats on one side of the cabin and three more on the opposite side. The cabin is bright and warm from a large window composing a wall of the cabin.

Traveler 2: You sure I can sit here?

Traveler 1: My ticket says that I have a seat reserved in this cabin. However, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people boarding the train. If you’re sitting in someone’s seat, they’ll kick you out, and you’ll move somewhere else. Not a big deal.

The two travelers sit in silence for a moment.

Traveler 1: So, is this your first time travelling around Europe.

Traveler 2: No, I have been to Europe twice before to visit my partner. She’s studying here in Budapest. My ticket just didn’t have a lot of details, and I have never been to Bratislava before. You?

Traveler 1: This is my first time in Budapest, but I have been traveling by train the past couple weeks, so I have gotten comfortable with deciphering the train schedules at stations. What is your partner studying in Budapest?

Traveler 2: She is doing research for a PhD.

Traveler 1: Nice. And where are you from?

Traveler 2: India. You?

Traveler 1: I’m from the US, but I live in Qatar.

Traveler 2: Oh, I lived in Dubai for several years. What do you do in Qatar?

Traveler 1: I teach English. What do you do in India?

Traveler 2: I used to work for Amazon, but now I help run a startup.

Traveler 1: Wow, how long will you be here in Europe?

Traveler 2: For about 20 days, and then I have to return to Bangalore. You?

Traveler 1: I’m here until July 15 next month.

Traveler 2: Nice. Are you traveling by yourself?

Traveler 1: Not the entire trip. My oldest son was with me when I was in Switzerland. And, after Bratislava, I will go to Prague, where my youngest son will join me for about a week.

Traveler 2: Nice, I would like to travel with my daughter someday.

Traveler 1: How old is she?

Traveler 2: She is 15. Her mother doesn’t want her to miss school. Otherwise, I would love to take her with me sometime. Do your sons live with you in Qatar?

Traveler 1: No, they are grown men. They’re 22 and 19. They live in Wisconsin.

Traveler 2: Nice, I lived in Seattle for a while.

Traveler 1: What were you doing there?

Traveler 2: Amazon.

Traveler 1: I see. How long are you visiting Bratislava?

Traveler 2: Just a couple days. My partner needs to focus on her research for a couple days, so I booked a train ticket and Airbnb last night in Bratislava.

Traveler 1: That certainly was spontaneous.

Traveler 2: Yeah, I just have one outfit and a toiletry bag in my backpack, but that’s it. I like traveling light, and I like finding new adventures. I have no plans whatsoever in Bratislava. You?

Traveler 1: I just have a couple nights booked and a list of things I might want to do. But, I have no definite plans either. I might do some of the things on my list, or I might do none of the things. We’ll see. I found that once I started traveling to other countries more and more, I started doing less and less planning. I arrive. I look around. I do some Googling. I let adventures find me.

Traveler 2: Exactly. That’s the best part of traveling: the unplanned adventures. How many countries have you visited?

Traveler 1: If you count Northern Cyprus, which I do, then 33. You?

Traveler 2: 35. So, do you always travel alone?

Traveler 1: Sometimes I travel with my sons, but most of the countries I have visited alone.

Traveler 2: Don’t you want to travel with someone? Maybe someone special?

Traveler 1: Not really.

Traveler 2: Why?

Traveler 1: Because for me, traveling is about freedom. I get to go places that I want, I get to see the things that I want, I get to do the things that I want. If I want to sleep in, I do it. If I want to get up early, I can. If I want to have a beer at 11am, there’s nothing stopping me. I don’t have to compromise or fight with anyone about the things that I want to do. In addition, I am only accountable for my own safety.

Traveler 2: What do you mean?

Traveler 1: When I was in Rio de Janeiro, I was up early. So, I decided to go see Christ the Redeemer just as it was opening. I wanted to try and beat all the tourists. So, I hopped in a taxi and got to the top of mountain. I was the first one up at the statue. I took my pictures, I walked around area, I was able to enjoy the site without being overcrowded by tourists. Then I found out that I could walk down from the mountain to another site called Parque Lage. It was 2 km downhill.

Traveler 2: So, what happened?

Traveler 1: Well, I couldn’t find the start of the trail, so I asked an attendant, and I was pointed in a direction. I walked in that direction, but I couldn’t see the start of the trail. The two soldiers dressed in fatigues and carrying guns walked by. They looked at me menacingly, and all I said was, “Parque Lage?” They motioned me to follow them.

Traveler 2: What were the soldiers doing there?

Traveler 1: Good question. I was wondering the same thing as I was following them. Why do they need guns? Are there dangerous animals living on the side of the mountain? Are there gangs of criminals hiding behind trees or in caves? Part of me wondered if it was safe what I was planning. Maybe I should turn back and take a taxi down the mountain.

Traveler 2: But?

Traveler 1: But, I decided that the only life that I was risking was my own. I might get attacked by a wild animal, or I might have to fight off an attacker. If I was with someone, I would not have put them in that position. However, since it was just me, I was going to follow through with my half-baked idea. I was going to walk the 2 km down the mountain. If I was right and the trail was safe, I would have a good story. If I was wrong and the trail was not safe, someone would have a good story to tell about how I met my end.

Traveler 2: I assume that because you and I are talking here that the trail was safe.

Traveler 1: It was almost straight downhill at some points! I was lowering myself by holding on to tree roots so I didn’t tumble off a ledge! However, aside from it being physically exhausting and dangerous because I could fall a long way at some points, there were no wild animals or robbers lurking in the forest.

Traveler 2: So, why the soldiers with guns?

Traveler 1: Well, at the bottom there were more soldiers. They were charging an entrance fee and keeping track of the hikers that wanted to climb the mountain. The trail closed at 5pm, so there were soldiers at the bottom and top of the mountain to make sure no hikers were stuck on the trail when it got dark.

Traveler 2: Ah, that makes sense. No, I understand your reasons for wanting to travel alone so that you can be free and take risks.

Traveler 1: Have you taken any risks while traveling?

Traveler 2: Not yet, but I might.

Traveler 1: What are you thinking?

Traveler 2: I would like to take a road trip from India to the UK. It would take about 3 weeks. There’s a convoy that used to go every year before COVID, but I don’t want to travel with a bunch of people. I would like to do it by myself.

Traveler 1: Very nice. When do you think you’ll do your road trip?

Traveler 2: It’ll need to be in the next couple years.

Traveler 1: Will you take your partner?

Traveler 2: No. This trip is just for me. It’s about the challenge. To see if I can do it.

Traveler 1: I get it, man. You know what I decided the other day?

Traveler 2: What?

Traveler 1: I have no problem visiting different cities and countries by myself, but I’m going to save Venice for if I ever meet someone special.

Traveler 2: How come?

Traveler 1: In a museum in Vienna, there was an exhibit talking about Venice as an exotic and romantic setting in European art and literature. I decided then that Venice was off limits to me and my solo travels. I need to find someone special if I ever want to see Venice.

Traveler 2: Maybe you will when the time is right.

Traveler 1: Or, maybe it’ll always be wrong.

The two men chuckle.

Traveler 1: By the way, my name is Conan.

Traveler 2: My name is Brijesh. It’s nice to meet you.

The two men shake hands.