Red Corner: Propaganda Exhibit in Bucharest

by Neil Woodburn on

Exhibitions on fascist and communist propaganda are nothing new in Europe. Nearly every former communist country has exhibited various archives from this dark period. The Romanians, however, have added a very unique twist to their current offering which just opened at the National Archives in Bucharest.

“Fascism and Communism – Ideology and Propaganda in Romania 1938-1989,” is enhanced by a series of comments written not by experts on the topic of propaganda, but by local school children. Pairing the innocent minds of children with the evil science of propaganda is a brilliant concept as can be seen by the following student comment offered up in the press release; “Children in our country are not allowed to play on the grass in the parks, while elsewhere, children play especially on grass in the park, because for other people children are more important than grass.”

Wow. Spoken with the true clarity only a child can possess.

Red Corner: Hiking in Georgia

by Neil Woodburn on

The former Soviet Republic of Georgia is the type of place that is so mesmerizing and so enrapturing that it is actually difficult to communicate its true essence to those who have never been-especially to those who can’t seem to get past the fact that there is actually a country named Georgia, not just a state.

A recent article in The Observer does a great job of capturing all that this country has to offer. Journalist Joanne O’Connor joined a nine-day guided tour through the wilds of Georgia that focused upon the great outdoors. Although I’m not a big fan of guided tours, I personally found travel through Georgia a little bit of a challenge when visiting last summer. A guided tour will help ease these challenges and, as was the case with O’Connor, get you to places that would be difficult to find on your own.

O’Connor did the obligatory stop in Tbilisi (where she discovered the joys of Georgian food) before heading out of town to hike the beautiful Caucasus. Her descriptions are evocative and inspiring. Even though I had done some of the same hikes, the others she mentions leave me with that painful sense of disappointment that hits when one leaves a wonderful place only to discover there was so much more it had to offer.

Red Corner: Buying your Vacation Home in Eastern Europe

by Neil Woodburn on

Looking for a cheap vacation home to buy abroad but France and England are a bit out of your price range? Well, look no further than Eastern Europe, deep Eastern Europe. Real estate in Prague and Budapest are already out of many peoples’ price range, but lesser visited towns in Bulgaria and Romania are not. In fact, experts predict that both of these countries are prime real estate investment opportunities. And, if I might add, beautiful countries in which to have a second home.

According to an article in The Observer, Romanian real estate is expected to offer returns of over 400% in the next ten years-due to a combination of current low values and the anticipation of the country entering the European Union in 2007. Although 50 years of communism has left many buildings in sorry shape, there seems to be plenty of quaint ones to choose from on this British-based real estate site. And why Romania you ask? Well, the mountains of Transylvania, for example, are stunning. There is the Black Sea cost (not as stunning), and the capital, Bucharest-known a century ago as the Paris of the East.

Another article, this one in The Christian Science Monitor, discusses the benefits of buying vacation homes in Bulgaria-site of fine ski resorts and warm summers. After the fall of communism, many Bulgarians moved to the cities to look for work, leaving their country homes empty and awaiting foreign buyers. The article chronicles the adventures of a couple in search of a $20,000 vacation home in the countryside. They eventually find one nestled amongst a fairytale “Lord of the Rings” setting. It has mountain views and fruit trees, but no bathroom or plumbing. I’m curious to hear what the $5,000 houses also on the market have to offer.

Red Corner: Hanoi Culinary Tours

by Neil Woodburn on

Vietnam is the only country I’ve visited under communist rule (or the first few years of post-communist rule, for that matter) that had good food. Even China was disappointing. But Vietnam, with its French influence had wonderful food even 15 years ago when I was amongst the first Americans allowed back into the country after visas regulations were lifted.

At the time, I was quite surprised to see the streets of Hanoi filled, Parisian-style, with baguette-toting pedestrians, colorful markets bursting with fresh produce and street food wafting delicious smells into the air. This was simply not what I had come to expect from communism.

The culinary arts have done nothing but improve since then.

Telegraph Journalist Francisca Kellet takes us on a culinary tour of Hanoi that begins in one of the city’s amazing outdoor markets where, amongst the hundreds of strange items, she was able to only identify basil, dill, a few varieties of fish, and skinned dog carcasses. Mmmmm….

Kellet’s tour, booked through British-based Travel Indochina was an 11-day “Culinary Discovery Tour” through the markets and kitchens of Hanoi and Saigon. She includes a few restaurant recommendations as well as a couple of local cooking classes that are offered. No mention on whether “sweet and sour canine” is included in any of the lessons.

Red Corner: North Korea Travel Opens Up

by Neil Woodburn on

We’ve lamented a couple of times on previous posts about the near impossibility of getting into North Korea. Well, it looks like the regime is finally cracking open the door a little bit. The government has announced that they are allowing a small number of Americans to travel to the Hermit Kingdom in celebration of the country’s Mass Games – a wild celebration of all things communist that features 100,000 performers genuflecting in an enormous stadium.

The tour will be tightly chaperoned. Visitors can expect their activities to be monitored and their every step accompanied by tour guides. They will not have the opportunity to wander off and hang with the locals or venture out on their own. Even cell phones might be confiscated. Oh, and they can expect to present flowers and perhaps even bow in front of Pyongyang’s massive Kim Il Sung statue.

Prices are not cheap. If you’re lucky enough to get one of the few hundred visas available, expect to pay more than $3,400 for the privilege, airfare not included. There are only a couple of American travel agencies who have access to the visas, such as Universal Travel System and Geographic Expeditions.

According to Geographic Expeditions, this is only the second time in 50 years Americans have been allowed into the country (and before that, we had to invade). So, if you’re interested, act now; you may never have the chance again.