There are many gigantic cruise ships docked along the Danube. They start leaving Budapest around 8:00 pm. after either a day trip, or multi-day stay in Budapest. They’re most likely headed for Bratislava in Slovakia, or Vienna in Austria.
Today, we were walking along the promenade when I saw an older couple with big suitcases get out of a taxi. Just steps from them is the gangway leading to a big cruise ship named Amaviola. I told Kenric, “They must be starting their cruise from here.”
They Must be Americans
“SEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS?!!” the man screamed at the taxi driver. I looked over, and saw him holding a big wad of US dollars.
“Seven thousand nine hundred and eighty Forint.”
“What?” The man has no idea what Forint, the Hungarian currency, is.
“Sir, not US dollars”, said a man in cruise ship uniform, “it’s in Forint, Hungarian Forint.” The man seemed to trust the cruise ship employee, definitely more than the taxi driver.
“How much is that in dollars?”
Do the Math
I did the calculation in my head; divide by 1000 and multiply by four; around USD $32. Both the cruise ship employee and the cab driver were fumbling trying to convert the amount. I wanted to shout “thirty-two dollars” but didn’t. If he didn’t trust the cab driver, he sure wasn’t going to trust a passerby.
We were maybe five steps passed them, and Kenric double checked my math using the calculator on his phone. As we turned around to show them the phone, the cab driver was running to his cab, presumably to get his phone to do the math. We were certain the couple was in good hands especially with the cruise ship employee being there.
We started walking, and laughed at his having no idea what the local currency is, and joked that we should have told him that things here are just that expensive. But seriously, Budapest is expensive. I told Kenric I’m glad I didn’t have to shout out my answer because I didn’t want to perpetuate the stereotype that Asians are good at Math. I looked back, they were almost at the end of the gangway, ready to board the gigantic cruise ship where his wad of American Dollars is king, along with the Euro and credit cards.
Forint is King Here
Later, we got two Doner Kebabs (something like a Chicken Shawarma) for dinner at a Turkish place. I went to find a table outside as Kenric waited for the food. The food looked really good. My photo doesn’t do it justice.
“She had to tell me fifteen hundred Forint twice.”
Fifteen hundred Forint. Divide by 1000, multiply by four.
“These two are six bucks only?
“That’s why she had to tell me twice!” In San Francisco, each of these would cost around $9.00 plus tax.
So, two Forint couples had two very different experiences with the local currency tonight. By the way, the Doner Kebabs were really good, but too bad we leave in the morning because we are Hungary for more.
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