Getting to Berlin for 50 euros

This spring I was invited on three-month internship in Berlin. The receiving party pays compensation for travel expenses of 500 euros, and the ticket to bring was not necessary. And so, to save on the road, ie, leave more money for travel within Germany and abroad, I decided to go from Moscow as cheap.
I had to choose between the recently published in the Russian market airline offering cheap enough flights , Travel by train or bus ride.
cheapest flight to Berlin and back was worth 220 euros. On the train ride was absolutely unprofitable. The fact that the train ticket discount if staying in Germany is less than a month. Otherwise - the price is comparable with the airline ticket.
Say what you like, and the cheapest means of transportation was the bus.
I started with the fact that climbed into the Internet and looked up what the company engaged in bus transportation in Germany. Their list was not very extensive - all pieces 5. After their brief outgoing calls on the phone was that the price of a ticket to the German capital varies about 5 euros. And if you take the ticket in both parties, almost all have a substantial discount. Term returns at the same time is limited, not months, as the train, and a year.
I chose the one firm that offered to travel from Moscow to Berlin and back for 110 euros.
I booked a ticket that had to buy three days before departure in cash. The cashier has written me a ticket, constantly distracted by phone conversations with customers and are in the way bus drivers. So I got three different colors kvitochka in the booklet. "When you come back, calling the telephone number in Dortmund, learn about the availability of flight" - instructed me to the cashier.
And then came the long-awaited day. I packed up and went to the bus terminal, from which was to begin my journey.
Many people think that traveling by bus - it's a subtle form of masochism: that of the continuous seat leg numb, so that almost fall off to sleep while sitting is impossible and so
I agree that the bus - not the most convenient means of transportation over long distances, especially if you go to Germany from Kazakhstan and the Volga region. However, half of the day - not too great a test for the organism, especially if he is accustomed to the inconvenience and quickly adapts to a lack of comfort.
Short stop to smoke, stretch their legs and go to the toilet followed every three to four hours. During their trip to their native roads bus shake slightly, but this shaking and can be adapted easily for her to fall asleep. Despite the damage to the eyes, too, can be read - not extreme shaking.
Turned out that the bus passengers - terrible film fans.
Inside, there was a TV, VCR and a solid selection of magazines. People with equal pleasure watching the Hollywood consumer goods, and Soviet classics interspersed with German films. All this continued non-stop until late at night.
On the way from Moscow to Germany on three borders.
Border with Belarus, we got through without even noticing it - after all the Union State, seems to exist not only in the mind of the Kremlin's former caretaker.
Is that at the entrance with Byelorussia we collected ecological fees - about 3 euro.
, already on his way back from one Belarusian, I learned that this statutory duty has long been abolished. Where to now go steal money from innocent travelers is unknown. But certainly not for the protection of the Bialowieza Forest - that's for sure.
Entry to Poland - the most responsible action throughout the trip. Say, a failed set of circumstances in the queue at the checkpoint can be stuck for eight hours edak. This is no laughing test for the nerves. While the driver was handing out customs declarations, the cabin rang everywhere polite question: "Excuse me, how much vodka you're taking? A cigarette?"
Across borders, as is known, can be carried per liter of alcohol and pack of cigarettes. Of course, not all of these standards.
Although, there are also some others who have no luck abroad harmful to health products. For this reason, their surpluses are distributed between those teetotalers and lady's finger.
Approximately half an hour before the Belarusian-Polish border, the driver asked the passengers to the proposal, allegedly emanating from them. Its essence is as follows:
if we do not want our bags were unloaded from the salon and searched, it is necessary to chip in for 5 euro customs.
; People heading to the rule of law, decided unanimously to encourage the Belarusian corruption and chipped in five. However, corruption at the border was not there. Customs officials caught a surprisingly honest. One even began to yell at the driver, threatening a criminal case. We had to unload the luggage and carry it to the customs terminal. Vereshchagin 'not particularly committed atrocities, were forced to unveil bags and interested in their content. Then, watching the reaction of people who passed them on.
Polish customs officers were, in contrast to the Belarusians, are corrupt, but not greedy.
drivers had the half the amount collected to our stuff was left alone. The rest is divided up as brothers.
In western Poland, near the border with Germany, has a cafe, a well-known to those who ride buses to the West. Beside him the drivers always make a stop and announce that now passengers waiting for lunch (breakfast and dinner) at the expense of the firm "(As if the cost of the meal was not included in the ticket price).
Passengers are offered to take a long table, designed specifically for them.
a free space at the other tables are not allowed to sit. The waitresses bring huge tureens with content, divorced from the pod, and "chemical" water type "Zuko." The second - chops or pieces of liver with a smooth puree and pitiful handful lettuce. If you have money, you can order something decently - prices, by the way is even divine. And accept all currencies: the Russian and Belarusian rubles, zlotys and, of course, the euro.
And finally - the border with Germany. German border guards check documents slowly.
No customs there - all the "dirty work" had to make Belarusians and Poles.
Few minutes after crossing the border stop on the "long-range" parking lot - go to the toilet and wash. Free toilets are surprisingly clean. Ah, yes, we're already in Germany! Soon their graffiti on the walls and people hurrying to work I was met by Berlin. The bus winds through the streets.
- In what wilderness we have delivered? - Outraged one of the passengers. - They promised the same to land at the central bus station!
- He's Just not That Into You! - Says another, more experienced. - Say thank you, that in general dovezli!