November 14, 2002 - Page 2

We kicked off the Eastern Bloc tour with a stop in Vienna, which has returned to its favorite occupations—music and food—now that there is no Iron Curtain for it to straddle. Upon arrival in the town square, our change in location was quickly evident: the cathedral actually looked unique and it was very, very cold. The one-day stop in Austria was highlighted by the beautiful Hofburg Palaces, a downtown tour courtesy of the #2 tram, and a gluttonous three-hour feast at T.G.I. Friday’s. The damage done to this transplanted American eatery should serve as a warning to mothers and Cowan chefs alike; there is no match for a hungry expatriate stomach when steak and potatoes are in sight.

Prague, or “Russia” as Breck Dorton dubbed it, can be a very frustrating place if travelers fail to stay flexible and industrious. Although many people speak English, signs are unintelligible, public transportation is unorthodox, and efficiency levels are not on par with Western standards. Furthermore, the city is still digging out after terrible flooding ravaged the city center this summer, destroying buildings and leaving much of the subway still inoperable.

But in spite (or because?) of all this, Prague quickly became one of our favorite European cities. Inexpensive prices and unique craftsmanship make its shopping the best in Europe, and cold squares that once hosted Communist rallies now bustle with vendors and tourists. The architecture is amazing throughout the old part of town, as Prague was the only major city on the continent to avoid twentieth century bombs. The Czechs don’t like to admit the reason for this—they never really fought back when greedy neighbors came knocking at the borders—but today’s freedom allows us all to enjoy the end result.