ordeal on the bus

for trips to the CIS, as well as trips to neighboring European countries, many of the now "to register" for permanent residence in Germany are choosing bus as the most affordable in financial terms. Dozens of two-story, very comfortable with the sight of buses travel about on the roads of Germany, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan ... In every ship two or three drivers, replacing each other behind the wheel to drive without stopping.

Promises
Like all starts nice. A gentle female voice on the phone Reiseburo (travel agency) to quickly and easily accepts the order and then sends an invoice for payment. The girl will cope on your age and if you turn with the help of God for 65 years, will offer 10% discount. One day prior to departure you kindly call and notify the bus number and driver's mobile phone number. Promises of audio and video systems, complimentary hot drinks, use of mobile phones, air conditioning, of course, a toilet, at least at borders, full insurance for each passenger throughout the journey. How not to be tempted by such a service? Tickets bought up like hot cakes for the month ahead.

Reality
on the bus, in which we are booted, monitor did not work in the lower saloon, a toilet with the very first hour was scored, and exuded such odors that did not even want gratis hot drinks. In another bus after Lviv was not working for tracking the temperature of the upper compartment, and because the air conditioner was controlled voice communications for passengers with drivers. In each bus, as it turned out, be sure that something did not work so the passengers are vividly discussed: that, no wonder the owners, you probably are not buying new and used cars, descended from the German lines. On the way back our bus was stopped three times because of breakdowns. Well, that Russian drivers are - masters of all trades and did without service to call for help. But still ran up a total of more than four hours late, and on the way back, we arrived in Frankfurt about zero hours. Certainly now, as you want to get someone must.
But that's not all "charm". A gentle female voice on the phone promised us thro 'a direct flight to, say, of Odessa. On this and tuned passengers, almost all pulling with a huge bales and bags of junk (usually recruited for the Red Cross free of charge) to their relatives and friends, neighbors and relatives, neighbors. Downloading at the landing area, these impossibly trunks, everyone thinks he can forget about them to their destination. Not so fast! In close Lviv yard leased by carriers, converged 6 large terrestrial ships arriving from different parts of Germany. They do not turn off their diesel engines are powerful, because without them no longer work with air conditioning, and gradually the yard was covered with a blue haze. It is here that passengers "cheered" the news that all will change.

And now everything is on the way out!
THIS transplantation in Lviv remembered as a nightmare. All things are unloaded onto the asphalt, everyone pulls her into a separate pile and looking for, where did he change now and again to load things. Nearly four hours we waited for the drivers argued, where one of them will go and what kind of car.
Then six buses, with difficulty being selected from a narrow courtyard, one after the other scattered on different roads. When we passed the Ternopil and found that instead of 5:00 am on schedule we arrived at 7, I decided to use the promised free service and calling from a mobile phone drivers son - to warn that he could sleep an extra two hours. I've had demanded 1.5 euros. Dashing!
And all are silent ...

Approaching the Ukrainian border, drivers are on speakerphone offered to collect for 5 euros in favor of ... customs. This, they say, will ensure a quick and, most importantly, without "Shmona" Moving the border. On the way back the same thing happened in the same sequence. And at the entrance to Lyudvigsdorfu drivers asked the passengers if necessary, to confirm that they sat behind the wheel just before the Polish border, and not in Lviv, as it was in reality. And before them were some bus and Ivan Bogdan. Surely this was a secret meaning, but think about it had no strength.

PS Recently, German police raided the offices of the tourist bureau of Mannheim. All four were arrested by the owner, came from the CIS. They are accused of that also hired illegal immigrants and not paying social security contributions of several million euros. And that before the bus company deceived consumers - passengers, so there are passengers themselves must assert their rights. But ask anyone - get the answer: "Well, can not go with them!" Why, indeed?

Felix Zinko