Visiting the Hungarian National Gallery, noting down the details of various paintings into my phone as I went, I kept attracting the attention of various guards. See, making calls on phones was banned – but I wasn’t doing that. And so was taking photographs without a permit – of which crime I was also innocent.
But what of a girl – on a school trip, perhaps – who did decided to surreptitiously snap photos without having paid the 500 forint fee? An attendant would spot her, of course, and would warn her. The incident would be recorded on CCTV. And so, when she did it again later on the tour, more serious action would be called for.
She’d be led off, roughly, protesting and demanding that the guards let go of their tight grip. They’d lead her through a door marked ‘private’, and down a long, gloomy corridor. They’d knock on the final door, which displayed a sign: “Head of Security”. And, despite her protests, they’d strip her and hold her down over his desk, whilst he caned her severely for breaking the rules. (“Legally, it constitutes theft. But the charter of the Gallery allows us to deal with matters ourselves, rather than calling in the police. And we find this to be the most effective way.”)
Once they’d finished – once she was suitably chastened, suitably contrite – they’d release her and let her dress. And then they’d escort her from the premises, as other visitors looked on, and leave her outside to await the others in her group and their inevitable prying questions.
Poor girl would that be! 😀 I did that in Budapest. And in Greece in various museums. I took pictures without paying. How would they know who payed and who didn’t. They wouldn’t and didn’t know. I got away with it. 😀
Where is the dark story?
See, in a group of students, and a very big group of students it was, they really couldn’t see everything. 😉
Oh Abel don’t act so innocent we all know you were taking the pictures!
So, Alias, not only taking photographs illegally – but also impatience. Report to my study immediately. (The dark little story I mentioned on Twitter the other morning will be up some time early next week).
Macy: I am such an innocent… Honest. But genuinely so in this case!
Heloooo, statute of limitations! :p
If I didn’t have stories to read, I’d throw a tantrum for having to wait for next week! (and, yes, grammar in this sentence is terribly wrong, but can’t think about it now).
I’m going to the National gallery in London next month.Do you think I would be punished if I misbehave?
Cherry – LOL you have me tempted to go patrolling the National Gallery just in case…
I take pictures in almost every museum I go to. Didn’t know I’m not allowed to. Honest!
Oh and I do that in shops too. But there I know it’s forbidden. 😉
Dang, it’s forbidden?!
Luckily, Abel does it too! 😀
Alias. Yes! Lol