18.5.2000 Another day at the baths.

Sean, Annie and I were meeting up to take the train to Munich together so there was little time to do anything else. At the baths, I played the tourist by bringing my camera and getting some shots of the pools.

There’s the whisper of the Legend of Viva at the hostel.

The story goes: a group of people at the hostel were feeling hungry late one night. So they decide to venture into town, knowing full well in Europe no stores are open at night.

Going against their natural survival instinct, they climb up over the train tracks next to the hostel and when they reach the other side, there is a beacon of light. Running towards it, dodging traffic, risking their very lives, hope filling their hearts, they find Viva!

A convenience store open 0-24.

That’s Open 24 Hours in American.

This is the Holy Grail of European travel.

I follow the vague directions, passed on through oral tradition, and dodge trains and traffic, risking my very life to find my way.

Viva!

It is more magnificent than you can possibly imagine. You’ll stumble across a St. Stephen’s Cathedral in every city in Europe, but you are extremely lucky to ever find one Viva!

I spend 1000 forints on two szendvics (sandwiches) and some O.J.

Sean, Annie and I cram into a non-sleeper car and spend a painful, sleepless night riding towards Munich.