I am leaving for Poland in July and would love to hear more about Warsaw. Your comments and observations are welcomed. Thanks.

Thanks for the report. As to the "are they better off?" question here's one for YOU: would you rather have visited them when they were behind the Iron Curtain?????? Believe me, I was in both prague and Budapest when this was the case and they weren't nearly as nice to visit as they are now.

Are they "better off?" Yes, because now they get OUR tourist (well-spent) money for one thing.

here is a link to Part 1 of this report

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34641519

Are they better off? Well, that depends on who "they" are? From my limited experience (lived one year in Slovakia three years ago) it looks like the poorer people (often in the villages) feel they are not better off, because the "safety net" is not as supportive. The city folk and the young people growing up appear to feel very much better off -- with great opportunities to do well, prosper, and also to travel! Some of the young people worry that there are no "guaranteed" jobs (as in the old days) but most seem willing and eager to take their chances on making their own way. Hopefully, their optimism and courage will be rewarded. JMHO

"Are they really better off" sounds like one of those rhetorical questions based on the assumption there's something good to say about everything, including murder, fascism, pillaging, addictions, totalitarianism, bullying, and oh yes, communism.

First, thanks to elaine and others for tips. So much to see in Central Europe cities and so little time!

As for my "are Hungary and the Czech Republic really better off" question, yes, it was meant to provoke some thinking. Yes, also meant as a rhetorical question because most of us would abhore the Communist era.

But Kristinelaine has it about right. It is a fact that many rural folks and older citizens are suffering. These countries (Poland, Czech Rep. Hungary) along with Austria are today thriving free market economies. For example, one couple who once did very well in Poland are now struggling to get by. Independent farmers once among the prosperous due to state support are now struggling to get by, threatened by pressures of corporate farming and other business developments

Each country is somewhat different. No question but that many people are prospering...some at the expense of others. Not everyone has benefited which explains why there has been some nostalgic tendancy expressed vocally and politically. One may forget the bad things and remember the "good old days" with little street crime, secure pensions, state health care coverage, full unemployment, etc. Of course, during Communist days people put up with propaganda, restricted expression or travel, drab housing apartments lacking services, etc. A company needing 2,000 might employ 5,000 (which is why these nations were on the verge of bankruptcy).

Great changes have taken place as in 1989 with the Velvet Revolution propelling many Eastern Bloc nations forward and there is no reversing that. But can we reflect on how well the U. S. or any government favors at the expense of the less privileged? Not everyone is so fortunate to travel...they are scraping by with enough money for food and medical bills.

Glad for further dialogue.
Ozarks Bill
walongman@yahoo.com