stupid Slovakia

Getting to Budapest was rough.
First, just before I got on my train, I realized that I left my rings in the hostel in Prague. One was a Russian Orthodox ring I bought in Tallinn on my mission. Technically replaceable, though I was disappointed. But the other one was the ring that Larissa and Alexander gave me when I was transferred out of Daugavpils. That is irreplaceable. I have emailed the hostel to try to arrange something, but I haven't heard back.
Then, while I was on the train, they checked my ticket and informed me that, while my Euro-rail pass was valid in the country of origin and the country of the destination, they wanted 18 euros for the privilege of passing through Slovakia. Stupid Slovakia. It was lucky that I had euros to pay them too, since the Czech Republic and Hungary don't use them.
Then, when I got off the train...I don't know, I just didn't like the feel of this place. I didn't like the way people looked at me, I didn't like the construction, and I REALLY didn't like the way people looked at me. In Prague, I felt perfectly safe, maybe in part because I felt invisible; here I will be sure to be in the hostel early. Also, I feel like I have a good "I know exactly where I am going and exactly how to get there. If you so much as look at me for another second, I'll bust your face" look. I've seen plenty of people much tougher than me cower in fear under that look when given unconsciously, so I'll just keep that face on for the duration of my stay here.
Then, even though I knew my hostel was just across the street from the train station, I didn't know across which street. After circumambulating the train station twice, I was hungry and frustrated and didn't like the look of the place, so I paid what I knew to be highway robbery for a map that turned out to be not helpful. Luckily a nearby taxi driver was helpful and pointed me in the right direction. Stupid construction had obstructed my view, the hostel was right there. The entry to it, though, was super ghetto. I knew I wasn't staying at the Ritz or anything, but even I have my limits. "What have I gotten myself into now?"
Luckily, this is where things started to look up. The ghetto entrance opened onto a quaint, shady courtyard with flowers on the balconies of every level. My hostel's owner, Josef, is the sweetest old man ever. I have the hostel practically all to myself. I went out again to familiarize myself with the immediate surroundings, and get a gyro.
"With everything on it?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Spicy..." he warned.
I wanted to say, "Finally!"
I wanted to say, "I dare you!"
But I just smiled and nodded.
Then I located the nearest grocery store. With a gyro and a chocolate bar in my stomach, a quaint, quiet hostel (unlike my other loud hostels), my laundry finally being done, I feel much better. Now I'm going to plan my next couple of days and try to figure out how to get the most out of Budapest while trying to undo the damage done to my budget today what with stupid Slovakia and that highway robbery. But no worries, I have a feeling it's going to be great.