Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Introducing Eastern Europe
I
f you talk with anyone living in one of the countries included in this guide and refer
to his or her homeland's location as Eastern European, you'll quickly be corrected. It's
in
central
Europe, you'll be told, whether you are referring to Croatia, Romania, or
sometimes even Russia. So why the semantic dispute about geography? Perhaps it's an
attempt to shake off the association with persistent suspicions that Eastern Europe is
still in the thrall of Soviet socialism. Or perhaps it's just the desire to be accepted with-
out having to deal with the past's unpleasant baggage. Whatever the reason, there is
no doubt that this diverse, politically complicated region is coming into its own and
creating a new identity.
1 The Region Today
Eastern Europe's many differences trans-
late to a long list of options for vacationers.
With so many choices, how can you see
everything in a single trip or even decide
which is the most worthwhile itinerary?
In this chapter, we provide an overall view
of the region and explain some of the spe-
cial features and unique attractions of
each country to help you decide what you
want to see most. In subsequent chapters,
we'll help you plan your trip.
Geographically, the countries of East-
ern Europe are diverse and blessed with
breathtaking scenery and deep-seated his-
tory. Croatia's crystal-blue Adriatic sea-
coast, Romania's sparkling snowcapped
Carpathian peaks, and Poland's lush
forests and golden farmland are just three
examples of the countless treasures found
there. Add Roman ruins, sophisticated
metropolitan areas, medieval castles, and
Kremlin-era architecture and you have a
recipe for a singular adventure.
Culturally Eastern Europe is a cross
section of influences from Turkey, Italy,
Germany, and other European nations.
Many Westerners routinely lump Eastern
European nations under a single umbrella
and assume they are interchangeable vari-
ations on one depressing theme. Nothing
could be further from the truth. If any-
thing, the countries that lie roughly
between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black
seas are a remarkably diverse bunch with
intersecting but distinct cultures, compli-
cated histories, lusty political traditions,
and a list of attractions that run the
gamut from religious shrines to opulent
palaces to Soviet-era monuments.
But there are similarities among these
countries, too. Each has rejected Soviet-
style ideology, each is in a different stage
of recovery from years of oppression, and
each is on a trajectory to become a full
member of the global community.
The dilemma lies in the realization
that the fate of the Balkan nations
depends on the ability of the divergent
people who share its history to coexist
peacefully. The burden is on each group
in the region being strong enough in its
own identity and tolerant enough of dif-
ferences to not feel threatened by any of
the other groups.
