The journey
On 30 August, my mother and I left Cologne together by train in the evening.
The journey was annoying because every train we used was late.
So we had to re-plan our journey after every train.
And we didn’t make any of our planned connections.

It started badly in Cologne as the already delayed train departed from another track at short notice. The train had not been cleaned.
By Stuttgart, the train had reduced its delays, but the new driver was late, so the train built up new delays and we didn’t get our connecting train in Munich and had to take another one.

On 31 August we then took another train in Munich, which also left on time and was still on time at the beginning, but it also built up delays throughout the journey. In addition, we had to change trains in Vienna in the middle of the journey.
These delays meant that we didn’t make the connection in Budapest.

The train we then took in Budapest also started on time, but it was also delayed due to the age of the train and the rails.

We arrived at Szolnok station at around 16:40 on 31 August, an hour later than planned.

The arrival
We were picked up at Szolnok railway station by Roland and Steffan. They belong to the youth centre where I am doing my voluntary service.

First they showed me my flat, where I will be staying, then they showed me the Interspar, one of the local supermarkets. And finally we had dinner at the youth centre. Which was prepared by Steffan’s wife.