I'll be touring Prague, Warsaw , Krakow, <BR>Budapest, Vienna, Berlin , Munich, Frankfurt, in last half of july 2000. I really got interest on buy some east block-curios. Like any kind of battle gears for the former comunist block. (Swords, battle knives, uniforms ,binoculars etc) <BR> <BR>I really need to know where I can find these kind of articles (Flea Markets, local stores, etc...) <BR>Please if you can tell me exact location and adresses I will really appreciate it a lot. <BR>

Jaime--- you better make sure you can take those items OUT of the country AND INTO the United States. You may be required documents, etc... <BR> <BR>I'll bet Mrs. Torres would love the bohemian crystal from Prague. Go to the Jewish neighborhood; outstanding cystal and garnets (looks like I am really trying to get you out of the weapons frame of mind.....).

Non-military Communist kitsch is or was sold at the eastern side of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, and In think in the shop of the museum at Checpoint Charlie. Also at a striking open-air museum of Communist monuments five miles south west of central Budapest, on the road towards Lake Balaton. <BR> <BR>If you go to Sopron in western Hungary, then take a bus to the Austrian border, you may still find a few hundred yards short of the border, amongst the trees, piles of rusted barbed wure. This wire is from the Iron Curtain. You may still see, also, the wooden towers from which border guards shot intending escapers. <BR> <BR>As has been said, I think that to carry swords and knives over a frontier is illegal, and they will show up at airport check-in. <BR> <BR>Benn Haines, London <BR>

In Poland you can buy this type of stuff at mostly all flea markets. If you are looking for something older like Swords, make sure it iis not dating before 1956 anything before 1956 in Poland is considered antique and you will need special permissions to take it out of the country. Warsaw is full of flea markets - there is even one close to Central Train Station. Krakow has also many flea markets, but not of this type. <BR>As for bringing stuff to US check with customs, but I think you should be ok bringing most (except guns), and swords/knives you will be asked to check in (or ask plane crew to bring it to plane lockers). Checking in usually means picking it up damaged at your destination. Stores carry only new equipment, and antique stores usually do not have former comunist block gear.

You can bring swords or knives from overseas - I did it (Sword) from Poland, but you have to check it in. I took it with me as carry-on and than I was asked to give it to a plane crew, since I expressed my concern that it may be damaged if I checked it in.