The Orangeway Bus From Prague To Budapest

If you are thinking of a cheaper option to travel in Europe, take the bus. They can take you anywhere for much less than the train, comfort may be a bit behind, but value for money this is not a bad choice. For this leg I purchased the ticket on line and had it printed from the web site. Orangeway is a small coach company running bus services from and to Hungary serving the neighboring countries. The biggest company is the Eurolines which run busses throughout all the countries in Europe. In fact you can buy a pass from them and travel to as many countries you like in a certain specific period.

We found our way to the bus terminal in Prague after a change of weather from the rainy cold to the sunny warm day. The terminal was modern but very friendly, due to its small size, was not intimidating. It was around 3 pm when we boarded the bus and were surprised to be charged extra for the luggage with us, more like checking in a budget airline, but a bus? I think it is unjustified as we are on the ground and I don't think the fuel cost would be a big difference to the operator.

On the bus we were greeted by a Hungarian attendant who when making an announcement caused me to titter in amusement. Ladies and gentleman, the toilet on this bus is only to be used for number 1, if you use it for number 2, you will be fine.... Fine, so why must it be announced ? Only much later did it catch me that 'fine' was actually a lazy pronouncement of 'fined', and only then it made sense !

The bus made its way through the Czech Republic, through Slovakia where we had a short stop at the capital Bratislava. There were no border checks when we crossed the lines of Czech and Slovakia, though passports were required before boarding the bus as it is an international journey. Architecture wise both the republic still retained the ugly box shaped flats that were built during the communist time for the city people to live in. These flats are still inhabited and the scenery would very much remind a visitor this was once a country hidden behind the iron curtain. 

We always arrive early when  preparing for long journey. This is the bus terminal at Prague waiting for the Orangeway bus to Budapest

The lady who is fine with number 2

Leaving Prague and an eye catching billboard

Inside the bus.

On the motorway after getting out of Prague

When we arrived in Budapest it was already late in the evening. While on the bus I was frantically exchanging text messages with the proprietor of the apartment we had booked pleading for the waiving of the late arrival fees which she was going to impose if we checked in after 8.00 pm. It was already 10.00 when we managed to locate her apartment and there she was waiting looking quite displeased. To make up I promised to clean the flat before we leave.

We arrive Budapest after sun set and map reading skill to locate the apartment is put to extreme test

Fooling around with WW2 gas mark in the street market

And a Jap kamikaze pilot's head gear

Inside the much hyped market, selling ordinary item in a famous building

I took the opportunity in Budapest to visit a synagogue.  I felt quite thrilled to be inside a Jewish holy house for the first time in my life especially after being brought up on a diet of constant Jew bashing, to the extreme that a good Jew is a dead Jew as the Jews are the cause of all the calamity in this world. While sitting in the pew I seek forgiveness for the hatred and venom that had been spewed unfairly on these people. No nation is superior to another and no group of people is better than another, my creed is equality amongst the humanity. Let all live in peace and harmony, love your fellow being as you would love yourself. 

My first time in a synagogue, complete with the yarmulke.

Bill boards showing summer is around

Hungarian parliament from the cruise boat.

Lady of Liberty, a statue from the communist era, ironically named.

What a prize for the man hole thief from Malaysia

A pose with a bearded lass