Our European Quest
Day 1: In search of a stamp
By CNN's Richard Quest
 |  The prize: Proof of a visit to Hungary |
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SOPRON, Hungary (CNN) -- Our trip started in Hungary, but we flew to the Austrian capital Vienna and drove across the border because it was a lot easier than flying anywhere else.
We are not exactly traveling indiscreetly. Rather, we have 16 flight cases, three laptops, three digital cameras and a television camera.
No effort has been spared to bring this journey to you on television and the Web.
Our driver who met us at Vienna looked rather horrified at the amount of luggage we had -- although the airline representative at check-in seemed delighted as she added up our excess baggage charges.
Our producer just looked horrified at the bill.
A two-hour drive followed our arrival in Vienna as we crossed the border from the old European Union to the new -- and prepared to visit Sopron and its multitude of dentists. (Full story)
That, as they say, is when I should have kept my mouth shut. But I wanted the stamp.
There would not be many more opportunities to get a Hungarian moniker in my passport. I did not realize it would be so difficult.
Even though sizeable borders still exist between countries like Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, for EU citizens they are a mere formality.
So as we entered Hungary I asked in halting German if the border guard would stamp my passport. You'd have thought I'd asked him to cut agricultural subsidies to Hungarian farmers.
There was much huffing and puffing and a lot of arm waving.
The guard said he wanted to give me my stamp. He just wasn't allowed to do it.
So telephone calls were made. I had nasty visions of creating an international incident. Could this derail Hungary's accession to the EU?
After a good 15 minutes of this -- I wanted to leave, but the guard now had the bit between the teeth and was determined to get permission -- he answered the phone and smiled broadly.
Then he took out a big wooden box, put my passport on top, and with a satisfying clunk gave me a Hungarian stamp in my passport.
Ironically I had to say no to the Austrian guard, who also wanted to get in on the act.
After all, Austrian stamps I can get anytime.
I dare not ask again.
