I failed to mention that since we were served really slowly at the Hungarian restaurant, and since we were already running late, we left the restaurant at 9:15 (with his show starting most probably around 9). I was stressed out the whole time, with the only part of my body enjoying itself being my mouth and stomach. Adam could tell I was on edge (it wasn't hard to see), so we said a quick goodbye to Roby and ran outside to get going. We got a cab, who got us there by 9:25, which was not so late into the concert.
Here's where I'm an idiot. You don't have to tell me, because I know. When I bought the tickets online, I didn't print them out (lack of printer) but wrote down the confirmation number. I was under the impression that the ticket office would be near the entrance, open and ready to confirm my number and let me in. Wrong. The entrance to the stadium was a bunch of big, Hungarian men who didn't give a crap that I had a number: they wanted tickets. I panicked slightly as we went in search for an open office, which obviously didn't exist. We finally asked some cops for an internet cafe with a printer, and they pointed us in the direction of a roof, which I think was meant to be a joke, which I obviously didn't find funny. At this point, Adam and I had been RUNNING around for probably a kilometre or two, looking sweaty and dishevelled. We ran into the first sign of life we saw, which was some fancy hotel. Surprisingly enough, the concierge escorted us to a private room, gave us printer paper and we got our tickets.
Close to ten, we finally ran back to the ticket entrance and got in! Robbie was still going full force, and by some magical luck, started playing all my favourite songs right then and there. I was lulled by his fantabulous voice, good looks and ability to make any girls he wanted flash him on camera. My hero! In all seriousness, it was the best concert I have ever been to - just the experience of being in Budapest, with 70, 000 other people and it being our last night on the trip.
The way back was another story - completely unable to walk in my heels, we followed the thousands of people to a main intersection. The subway was, of course, closed, and we had no idea how to get back. Every bus and tram stop was packed to the brim. We started walking off in search of an ATM for cash for a taxi, and found neither. We finally walked so far that we were off the map - bad for directions, but good for getting on a bus. We got on one that came 1/2 hour later, and drove a few stops down where we were crushed like sardines in a can. I was at the back of the bus, facing outside in the heat and painful, painful shoes. Stopping and going, up and down, heat coming from everywhere and lack of air can make you very cranky (which I am sure is on Adam's list of "What Makes Monika Very Bitchy"). We didn't even know if we were on the right bus, but a few stops later, we got off, and managed to grab a cab back to the hostel. We were supposed to be going for beers after the concert, but what with the experience thus far and the fact that I didn't meet Robbie, I was not in the mood.
The next morning, our roomies were even worse off than we were - completely sunburnt and dehydrated from standing in line for 12 hours, they were exhausted, but managed to get 4th row standing and amazing pictures. They promised to send them to me, and after talking about it, I realized how great of a story we all had - I will never forget that night (my feet won't either I'm sure). It was the perfect end to a fantabulous 9 days of traveling with Adam! Our flight back was a measly 1 hour, and we rejoined our grandparents for the final days in Poland.
We ate a huge meal and took a nap first of course...
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