＜布達佩斯記行Budapest 2005＞遊客服務中心 Visitor Information Center

到一個新地方旅行，遊客服務中心往往是蒐集資料的寶地，從吃喝拉撒睡的大小事，到哪裡好玩、有什麼特別活動等，一般都可以在這裡找到資料。因此，我們抵達布達佩斯以後，也希望在第一時間內到遊客服務中心看看。
When visiting a new place, the visitor information center is one of the most important places to collect up-to-date information, from where to eat or where the public toilet is, to recommended places to visits or special events. It’s the most convenient place to tourists. Therefore, when we arrived Budapest, we hoped to find one as soon as possible.

抵達機場的當時，因為時間已晚，而且忙著尋找小巴載我們到市區，從出關到上小巴沒有花太多時間，當下也就沒有想到這檔子事。
When we arrived the airport, it’s already late in the evening. Not only because we’re busy looking for minibus and arranging the trip to city center, but also because it didn’t take too long from passport control to getting the bus, we didn’t think of checking the information center in the airport (if there’s any).

真的想到時，已經是第二天早上採買完畢以後的事了。離公寓不遠的地鐵站算是大站，也有市內主要的火車站，不過不管是地鐵站內或是火車站內，走來走去就是找不到一個長得很像遊客服務中心的地方，我們只好靠著旅遊書和地鐵站的資料，決定每個人各買一張一周乘車卷，一個星期以內無限次自由搭乘市內所有大眾運輸工具（不過不包括登山纜車），要價三千弗林（約莫12歐元），方便地很！之所以捨棄專為遊客設計的布達佩斯卡，實在是因為效期最長的三天票一張將近五千弗林，雖然將所有重要景點與博物館一網打盡，也有大眾運輸無限搭乘的設計，不過算來算去不一定划得來，更不想因此算計起來，想要在有效期內將所有能看的地方都走完，落入「到此一遊」窘境，加上國際博物館協會會員在許多國立博物館都可以享有折扣或免費入場的優惠，所以我們才決定捨棄方便的布達佩斯卡。
When I thought of finding an information center, it’s already the second day after we finished the grocery shopping in the morning. The metro stop close to our apartment is one of the major stops, and we’re not far from the main train station either. However, we didn’t find anything that looks like an information center in metro or train station, and we could only rely on our pocket guide and the information we got in the metro station to decide one of the most important issue, the transportation. We eventually got a weekly travel card that can allow unlimited travel in metro, bus and tram. The funicular that takes people up and down the Buda hill is not included. The travel card costs around 3,000 Hungarian Forint (around 12 Euro) and is quite convenient. We gave up the Budapest card, which is designed specifically for tourists. Even though it allows one to visit most tourist attractions in a fixed price (around 5,000 Forint) and transportation is included, there’re only one-day or three-day options and we would have to get two cards for each person. It’s not necessarily costing less! Also, I don’t want to fall into the “trap” that makes me want to visit as many places in the list as possible, just to accomplish a “visit list”… With ICOM membership I also get discounts or free admission. So we decided to take our chance.

我們找到的第一個遊客服務中心，是在布達丘上馬提亞斯教堂的對面。我走進去以後的第一件事，就是到處搜括各種傳單手冊，不過當我定下神一看，角落有個掛滿小卡片的旋轉架，好奇的我走了過去，簡直是如獲至寶！小小的架子上，粗估約有五十多種不同的卡片，供遊客隨意索取，卡片上有許多觀光景點、商店或餐廳等的基本資料，拿著卡片消費可以享受折扣或免費贈品，卡片的質感非常好，非常容易引起人們的收藏慾望，我站在架子前挑選了二十多張，入神到連旁邊有人照相都不知道~~~
The first visitor information center we found is situated on top of the Buda Hill, right across the Matthias Church. The first thing I did when I entered the center was picking up as many brochures as possible. When I “calmed down” and looked around, I found a small stand at the corner. I went to take a look, and found the most impressive treasure I’ve ever seen in a tourist information center. On this small stand there’re more than fifty kinds of small cards for tourists to collect at their will. On the card there’s the basic information of an attraction, a shop or a restaurant. If one goes to these places with the card he will be able to enjoy a discount or free gift. The quality of the card is superb and can easily raise one’s attention and interests. I stood in front of the stand collecting the cards. I was so concentrated that I didn’t even notice that someone’s taking picture of me.

我的旅遊書上寫著，我們在布達佩斯的那個星期剛好碰上慶祝蘇聯自匈牙利撤軍的布克蘇慶典（Bucsu Festival），書上寫的時間是我們抵達的第二天和第三天，地點在著名的鍊橋上，不過我們在鍊橋兩岸看了一下，並沒有什麼慶典的跡象…服務人員笑笑地拿了一份傳單給我們，表示慶典在週末舉行，詳細資料可以看一下傳單，這下子可真讓我們歡喜，慶幸自己的好運氣，怎麼這樣子誤打誤撞地剛好選到有節慶活動的時候跑來布達佩斯玩耍！
According to my pocket guide, we happened to arrive Budapest during the Bucsu Festival, which are celebrations to commemorate the departure of Soviet soldiers from Hungary. On the guide it’s written “22 and 23”, the third and the forth day of our arrival and there’re special events around the Chain Bridge. However, we looked around the Chain Bridge and found nothing… The lady in the center smilingly handed us a brochure and told us that the festival will be held in the weekend. We can check the brochure for detailed information. We felt so happy that we happened to choose the right time to be in the right place. There’s nothing better than participating the city festival during a trip.

然而，遊客服務中心給我們的好印象也到此為止而已…順手問了一下等一會兒想去參觀的國家美術館、布達佩斯市立歷史博物館和另一間位於布達丘上的美術館分別在哪裡，服務人員雖然沒有忘了多拿一份旅遊資料給我們，不過中心手上的資料過時，連美術館遷館好幾個月的消息都不知道，而位於城堡裡的歷史博物館因為慶典的準備工作而閉館一天，我們都是在隔兩天再次上到布達丘，發現自己不得其門而入的時候才發現的，更好玩的是，因為慶典的關係，星期六晚上大多數博物館會開放到隔天清晨的消息，還是後來透過友人知道的，而之後電詢所謂的二十四小時遊客服務所得到的資訊又錯誤百出，種種層出不窮的荒謬，總讓我們對該市遊客服務的滿意度大打折扣。
However, that’s the end of the good impression we have towards the service… We asked the exact locations of the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the other art gallery. Though she didn’t forget to provide us with brochure and explained where they are, the information is not updated and she didn’t even know that the art gallery was relocated to another place some months ago. Also, the history museum that lies in the castle will be closed for the preparation of the festival… We didn’t know it until we went to the Buda hill again two days later specifically to visit these two places. The more funny thing is about a special initiative that various museums organized for the festival. Many museums were open on Saturday night until the next morning during the festival time. We didn’t know it until a friend mentioned it to us. And when we tried to call the so-called 24-hour tourist service hotline, the information given was wrong again!!! Obviously, we weren’t too happy with the services that were provided by the information center.

儘管如此，我還是無法否定遊客中心的便利性，只是現在回想起來，如果能有一些意見調查或遊客反應，我大概會好好的數落一番…在「沒有」跟「資訊錯誤百出」兩者之間，到底誰強過誰呢？
Even though, I still cannot deny the conveniences of such service. Now that I can think back, if there’s any place that I could provide feedback, I would probably write a long letter to complain… Between “nothing provided” and “wrong information given”, which is better anyway?