We bid goodbye to David #1 today and hopped on our first bus to Rumburk. Gathering everyone and their packs was an adventure as always – but thanks to some honest facial expressions – and comical episodes of nearly tucking/rolling and getting stuck in our seats – we had fellow Czech passengers smiling and laughing. From here we hopped on a mini-quick bus to Prague – and arrived at our favorite, memory making subway station (this is where we were homeless for a night) – Holesovice. Boarding this lovely subway one final time, we made it to the train station smoothly and efficiently.
Much to our surprise – we met a friend Reya in the station – who just so happened to show up there to see us off. We worked with her during NO COMMENT in Varnsdorf – and because she studies at university in Prague, she was able to join us.
Boarding train #1 en route to Budapest, Hungary – for the first little while there was “standing room” only — and even that’s a little debatable. People were crammed into this train like sardines in a tin can. Gradually our team was able to shed packs and sit down together…we were very thankful for this and not having to stand for a 7 hour train ride.
Around 10:45 pm we were rolling into the Budapest station – and my favorite part of the day’s adventure began…I met and made friends with a couple (Mary + Isaac) originally from Russia – near Poland – who have lived in the USA for 21 years. They’ve been married for 37 years and reside in Brooklyn. It was refreshing to meet people who live semi-close to home, yet are from abroad. They are in their 60’s, are world travelers and I loved hearing about the places they have visited around the world together. Hearing about their adventures inspired me and I hope to someday travel like that with my husband – throughout the nations. The sweet part was when I said “I think I’ll write a story about you both on my blog.” They inquired about the web address – and offered to e-mail me their phone number – so if I’m ever in Brooklyn, I can visit.
Arriving at the station – we set out in search for food. Our findings for the next day’s travels = a box of pretzels (a delicious breakfast/lunch). Kayla and I ran because it got us where we needed to go faster, and was way more fun – especially having Lucas run behind us in his travel day outfit – camera in tow. I’m sure at 11:00 pm – in a sleepy train station, we were all quite a site.
Day 2: Budapest, Hungary Bucharest, Romania.
11:15pm – depart station
12:00am – feedback begins
1:00 am – mystery stop in the middle of no where, lights on the car have gone out
1:30 am – feedback ends + team wrestling begins
2:00 am – passport stop #1
2:30 am – passport stop #2
2:45 am – some sleep and others watch a movie
3:00 am – Random passengers pile onto dark train and wake up sleepy teammates. Lucas signals people with flashlight to empty seats – but no one moves. Kayla, Aubrie + Jeremy change seats. Lights come on the train, and passengers who have squeezed into 8 seats – laugh and spread out.
5:30 am – Man with 12 suitcases and random hunks of metal protruding from them loads onto the train from the empty end — walks ALL the way up the aisle to where people are sitting/sleeping – piles his suitcases around them and sits down. It was rather comical in the wee hours of the morning.
6:00 am – sun is starting to rise + it’s bedtime
12:00pm – wake up
3:30pm – depart train
3:45pm – taxi man argues about his prices vs. metro. The metro is chosen – it’s WAY cheaper.
Pile into random van + drive 10 minutes outside of town to a small village and get dropped off in the middle of a street. A couple hundred feet away we see a glorious sing – “P-SQUAD…knock and the door shall be answered.” We drop our gear – greet our lovely squad leaders + head out for supper. Semi-exhausted from a few days of go, go, going – we try to catch a bus/van back to the house after dinner – this turns into a 1.5 hour extravaganza of waiting, flagging down vans + taxi men – and getting no where until we inquire of some locals who acquire two taxis for us…
I love travel days…(insert smile and much laughter here)…they’re always full of surprises!
