Ever been in jail?

(in case you're wondering why I have time to blog, it's because I'm searching for a last-minute flight from Prague to Budapest, and since I'm online anyways, might as well vent to you all)

So at 4am last night on my night train from prague to budapest, I got woken up by the border guards to check our passports - this is routine for international night trains. What followed afterwards, was anything but, unfortunately.

After two burly men inspected my passport for a while and conversed rapidly in Slovakian, the younger one beckons me outside the cabin with a very stern look.

guard: There is problem. You no have Slovak republic visa
me (still groggy after being woken up): Yes, I understand. I'm just passing through the Slovak republic on route to Budapest from Prague. See, here's my Czech visa, and here's my Hungarian visa
guard: Not possible. We send you back Czech republic
me (now starting to wake up): Whoa wait, please I'm not stopping in Slovak republic at all, I'm just passing through, I'll be in Hungary in one or two hours, I'm a US permanent resident...
guard: Not possible. Get luggage now. Get out.

Shit, I thought. At this point it was very clear the discussion was over. He was also looking at me very menacingly. What followed after was quite bewildering: I quickly gathered my bags and got off the train. Then more armed guards joined us and escorted me to a police station by the train station. I ask the guy where they're taking me but the only reply I got was, "we send you back czech republic." Then they proceeded to lock me in a room inside their jail with barred doors and windows, and only exit was to a nearby toilet. I had to wait inside the room without any explanation or how long I'll be held. So I had plenty of time to kick myself for choosing train instead of air travel, whether I could have argued more effectively, and mulled over my life in general ad infinitum. I was able to transit through Denmark w/o a denmark visa, so I thought it should be ok transiting on the way to Hungary; apparently not. I've never been behind bars, I guess now I know what that feels like...not fun at all.

After what seem like an infinite length of time, they finally unlocked the door. Then 5 armed guards "escorted" me onto a train into a special back compartment (ever wonder what goes on in the last locked compartment of the train? now you know), where I noticed someone else being "escorted" as well. So we rode the train back into Czech republic, where they finally released me and I fondly bid them adieu. Then I had to catch another train back to Prague at 7:20am

So here I am, back in Prague now, 13 hrs after I had left. Exhausted, hungry, and bewildered. It was pretty stupid for me not to check w/ the Hungarian consulate, but then I had pissed them off and they barely gave me my visa into Hungary in the first place, so not sure how helpful they would've been. Plus I was running so short on time before I left, hardly had time to plan at all...argh, anyways. Now I'm about to spend $$$$ buying a last minute ticket to fly from Prague to Budapest tonight, I don't even want to think about it...sigh.

Lesson learned: Must. Get. American. Passport. Next. Time.