I love the discussions that usually get going on fodors. I would hope that no matter how much I research or look at others' photos, that I always bring my own eye and see something perhaps a little different. I have been delinquent in posting recent trip photos to phase.com (Guatemala and SE Asia not up yet) but here is a sampling of what I tend to take. http://www.pbase.com/pattyroth
BTW, IMDonehere, I do love your photos at this link!

Thank you Patty Roth, and I like your work and what you do is bring yourself to the photo.

I particularly liked the Orthodox Jew with the colorful paper in his pocket. Besides the contract in color and the inference of the contrast in his life, there is a sense of solitude, if not loneliness. You caught a lot in one shot. Brava.

We combined the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia (ending in Venice) in 2008. Here is my report with photos…hopefully it will give you some ideas. One of our all-time favorite trips.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/Tom_...nice_2008.html

Wow thanks maitaitom! What a trip you had! I'm beginning to realize two weeks will only give us a taste. Need to decide between Croatia-Slovenia and Prague- Budapest- Krakow or some weird combo. Lots to read about this weekend.

The problem is--we want to go to too many places. Right now I am thinking--and it all depends on the tickets we can get--Prague--Krakow--Budapest--Zagreb and the rest of Croatia--meaning of course a few places. We could rent a car and drive around for several days. That would mean an overnight train and buses or trains until we reached Croatia. I think we could stretch our 2 weeks to 17 days.

And should we stop briefly in Slovakia along the way?

I enjoyed hiking in the Tatras and staying in Levoce, but I really don't think you have time. Less is more, especially if you want to take lots of photos.

Thanks thursdaysd, After sleeping on my last post, I realized we were being a bit too optimistic about the amount of time it would take to do all of that. Must revise.

How about Austria too, since it lies between Czech and Croatia.
The scenery's beautiful, wherever you go, the higher Alps, the Lower alps are even prettier.
The Wachau valley near Vienna has great photo-ops.
So does Prague, you can have a look at my page : http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...ia-and-prague/ for some ideas regarding destinations, especially in Austria.
PRague is ofcourse awesome. And worry about the weather, rainy weather can bring some dreamy light too.

Thanks ashwinb. We have loved Austria in the past and have seen a lot there. Absolutely LOVE your photos and will show them to my DH. Prague is still in the running.

Thanks. However, I have a feeling 2 weeks should keep you well occupied in Slovenia and Croatia, considering there are so many places to see.
I would combine PRague with Budapest and Krakow and Poland maybe.

And Jeremy, I forgot to say how much I liked seeing your photos also! Esp Telc and Tabor.

And Julie, I like your husband's street photography--esp the Zagreb train station and the train station conversation!

Ukraine. Get some good photos from the civil unrest going on there right now.

Oh my goodness, sparkchaser. Seems like your name really fits! We'll probably let that one go. And we have been to the Ukraine. If only we could photograph without getting in trouble. My heart goes out to the Ukrainians.

<i>If only we could photograph without getting in trouble.</i>

Photojournalists get away with it. Try wearing a BBC News or Nat geo hat.

Thanks Patty... I'll let him know. Zagreb is one of the few stations in Central Europe that opens into a lovely part of town...

"The problem is--we want to go to too many places. Right now I am thinking--and it all depends on the tickets we can get--Prague--Krakow--Budapest--Zagreb and the rest of Croatia--meaning of course a few places. We could rent a car and drive around for several days. That would mean an overnight train and buses or trains until we reached Croatia. I think we could stretch our 2 weeks to 17 days."

For perspective, I spent an all-too-rushed 11 days or so in Prague, Krakow, and Budapest and, on a separate trip, 3 weeks in Croatia. If you can stretch your time to 17 days and cut your destinations in half, I think you'll have a great trip!

Thanks kja. I think we will try to do that as I realize we can't get everywhere this trip. I think we'll let the tickets decide for us. We are hoping to get economy going over and business class returning and we are open to where we land and where we depart. It we land in Prague, then it's open for Budapest and Krakow. Or a separate idea is to see Prague and Cesky Krumlov and then go to Croatia and drive around. I'm waiting for a few more thousand miles to post to our award miles account. Or Slovenia and Croatia. We'll see.

"Or Slovenia and Croatia."

FWIW, I didn't count my all-too-few 3.5 days in Slovenia in my above mention of 3-weeks in Croatia.

Planning around your flights makes sense. Let us know when you have a bit better sense of your options.