From: lhughes@b11.b11.ingr.com (Lawrence Hughes)
Subject: Re: Request for Info on Eastern Europe
Summary: info
Keywords: Czechoslovakia Hungary Bulgaria
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 14:50:18 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.164418.7297@bnr.ca>, rcborcic@bgtys23.bnr.ca (Rob Borcic) writes:
> I will be spending about a week in each of these cities:
> 
> Prague, Czechoslovakia
> Budapest, Hungary
> Sofia, Bulgaria

Good choices, although Sofia is not in the same league as the first two. I
love to travel in EE - you should really enjoy it, if you've never been before.
On one trip I did Vienna-Prague-Budapest-Vienna on rail (recommended, and 
quite reasonable price/safety/comfort), on another I did Berlin/Sofia on a
"package deal" (flight/room in Sofia). There is little English spoken in some
places, but many folks speak German as a second language. High school or
college level German will go a long way (it helped greatly for me). Forget
trying to learn the local tongues unless you are a language nut, or have a
good background in Slavic languages (and that won't help in Hungary!)

> I have guide books to each of the cities, and have some idea of things to
> see and do, but could anyone tell me:
> 
> -  What, in your opinion, is the best thing to see and do in each city?
>    How about day trips to places not too far away? What are the "must-see"s?

Prague - be sure to catch a play/"black theatre" or whatever is on at "the
albatross" (ask at your hotel). Also, keep eyes open for concerts in Prague
Castle (Hradczany ?). The underground is excellent, well marked and clean as
a whistle. The Charles Bridge area is memorable and you can find some great
jewelery (e.g. handworked gold/garnet) for very low prices from independent
vendors there. Also souvenier stuff from the Red Army, if you're into that
kind of thing. This is the place to buy GREAT crystal, dirt cheap. Only problem
is getting it all home intact. Try finding U-flek-U and U-kalicha for eating
and the best beer you've ever had. The restaurant Vikarska in Prague Castle
is excellent. You can find excellent prices and selection of classical CD's
here (look for Supraphon label).

Budapest - walk around the Chain bridge/Elizabet Bridge loop, check out the
shopping district across the Danube (Danau?) from Buda Castle. I wanted to
get a spa bath, but didn't get around to it. Sounded like a real hedonist way
to spend an afternoon, though. I stayed at a little hotel called the Orion
(OH-ree-ohn) at one end of Buda Hill - delightful! Just up the hill was a
fine little restaurant with good local food (forget the name - sorry). Again
pretty good deals and wonderful music on classical CD's (Hungarton label).

Sofia - try the restaurant at the top of the Grand Hotel Sofia - even with
piano bar, white table cloths, wine, and an entire glass wall overlooking
downtown Sofia at night, it was still rediculously cheap ($5 for two...)
Convert currency at hotel (but not much at a time - $50 US might wipe 'em
out, and you will have trouble finding a place to put the 3/4 inch stack of
bills). Buy some of the "rose attar" in little wooden painted bottles. Bring
back a bunch of them as gifts.

> -  Can you suggest some good restaurants in any of the cities? I prefer
>    vegetarian food, but don't expect to find too many veg restaurants
>    in eastern Europe. I'd be happy with a clean, not-too-expensive
>    place with good food. I expected the food to be acceptable to my
>    western palate, but my phrase books include items as "pig lungs
>    in cream sauce". Yuck! Where can I get food that I can actually eat?

Most dishes are pork or chicken based, but you should be able to find some
pretty reasonable fare - I had no trouble finding excellent fare, the entire
time. For specific restaurants, see above.

> -  As a lover of wine, I was hoping to taste the wines of eastern Europe.
>    I know that Hungary produces quite a variety of wines (Tokay, and some
>    of the more common varietals) as does Bulgaria (Cabernet Sauvignon
>    and Chardonnay). Does Czechoslovakia produce any wine, or should I just
>    stick to the beer? Are there any especially good wines I should look
>    out for?

The wines and beers were excellent all over that area - especially the dark
beers made by the brew-pubs - otherwise most beer is Pilsner (after all, Pilsn
is in Czechoslovakia, and they INVENTED Budvar...)

> -  Are there any places I should avoid? Tourist traps, rip-offs, lousy
>    restaurants, etc.

Don't change money with hucksters on the street in any of these countries.
Cabbies will rip you off just on general principle - take you on long detours,
"sorry - broken meter", etc. Insist on meter, or negotiate price before getting
into cab. Avoid any cabaret shows - high priced and not very interesting - if
you are interested in good erotic fare, go to Amsterdam for the real thing.

> -  Where should I exchange currency? I've been advised to carry local
>    currency, as shops and restaurants will rip you off on the exchange
>    rate, but where should I exchange the money? Banks?

Banks or hotels are ok in most of these countries. Look for CAMBIO, WECHSEL
or other tipoff word, usualy with many flags on windows, for other places
to change. Sometimes, hard currency will get you better prices (take a bunch
of $1 US bills for tips, etc.)

> Thanks for your help!
>  -Rob
> 
> --
> Rob Borcic      | Bell-Northern Research      | Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
> rcborcic@bnr.ca | Software Engineering Centre |


Larry "envy, envy, envy - wish I was going back" Hughes