Whogoslavia Means Traveling with Kids

by Grant Martin on

How many folks have heard, “Travel now before you have kids?” When I didn’t have kids and I was traveling it was, “It is good you’re traveling now before you have kids” as if once I had kids, I’d park myself in a chair somewhere to do what, I don’t know. I always figured as soon as a kid is born one should hit the road to get him or her used to hitting the road. When we adopted our daughter from Vietnam when she was 3 1/2 years old we were living in Singapore. Two weeks later we moved back to the U.S. and a two-month-long journey that brought us from Hawaii to Ohio through California, New Mexico and New York, some of which was done in a U-Haul.

Writer Ayun Halliday has really hit the road with her husband and kids. They’re on a journey this month to various spots in the Balkans and she’s chronicling the trip on one of her websites, Whogoslavia. Halliday is one of those writers’ writers who discover a never-ending source of fodder in daily life because she gets out there and lives. For those of you who’ve thought about setting up your own travel website, hers is a clever example. For those of you who fancy traveling with kids, this might entice you to jump on in. I know it makes me think that we need to cash in our frequent flier miles soon and go somewhere further than where our car can take us.

[from ParentDish.com]

For the Perfect Pilsner, Try Plzen.

by Jamie Rhein on

Willy’s post about the best places to drink beer in Eastern Europe reminded me of my trip to Plzen (Pilsner) in what is current day The Czech Republic. This town is the reason why there is Pilsner beer. The name of the town is where Pilsner got its name and is still a fine place to partake in the good stuff. That’s why we went there.

The Brewery Museum is a place to learn about the town’s beer-making history. Like, back in 1307, every home owner brewed his own beer and the brewery, the Pilsner Urquell has been around since 1842. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a cold one in the original cellars.

Plzen’s website is neatly divided into sections where you can learn about the town’s history and what there is to do. Some of it is in Czech, though. Other sections are videos put to music. The brewery video is a quick way to see how the beer is made. If you hit the play button, the video will appear.

Hostel II: More Bad PR For Slovakia

by Neil Woodburn on

Movies, for the most part, are free publicity for the tourist board of any country featured on the big screen: People see the movie and want to visit the country.

But what happens when the plot of the movie involves backpackers who are kidnapped for the sport of torture, dismemberment and murder? This was the idea behind last summer’s horror flick, Hostel.

The unlucky country in which the story takes place is Slovakia. Obviously the depiction of tourists being brutally murdered for fun and profit in quaint little Slovakia didn’t sit well with local residents (even though the movie was filmed in neighboring Czech Republic).

Director Eli Roth received his share of hate mail over his slanderous depiction of a Slovakia far more screwed up than it actually is, populated by lunatic sadists, throngs of gypsy children, and bleak surroundings.

So, what is he doing now? Filming Hostel II, of course.

According to the Prague Post, Roth is back in the Czech Republic filming the sequel. I guess that means Slovakia can look forward to more negative press and another summer of college backpackers giving the country a very wide berth on the way through Europe.

Red Corner: Slovak Mountains

by Neil Woodburn on

I’ve often wondered if I’ve actually been to Slovakia. I visited the region while it was part of Czechoslovakia but haven’t had the chance to go back once it became its own country.

I did like what I saw when it was part of Czechoslovakia, however.

For example, Slovakia boasts the semi-majestic High Tatras. I never got too deep into these mountains but now wish I had after reading Nick Middleton’s recent account in The Sunday Times.

Middleton traveled to Slovakia’s famed mountain range for a week of trekking and discovered, what he claims, is “the wildest and oddest corner” of Europe. I’m not sure I entirely agree with him.

He was fascinated, for example, how the ugly socialist architecture in many small towns suddenly gave way to charming, medieval town centers. He ran across joggers in very cold weather, and some slightly different food. Oddest? I don’t think so. Wildest? Perhaps. Middleton writes fondly of the wild nature scattered throughout the Tatras, and the accompanying peace, punctuated occasionally by other hikers.

Given the option, I’d still choose California’s Sierras over the Tatras, but while in Europe, they sound like a rather special place.

Flights within Europe for $50

by Iva Skoch on

At one point, Europe had more than one hundred budget airlines. Not all of them made it through the turbulent few years, but those who remained (some fifty) are pretty solid. You know the spiel – you can book one-way tickets without penalty, there is no free food on board, usually no assigned seats, you are only allowed to carry on 1 bag and check 1 bag, otherwise you pay. That is after all, how they make their money. If your dates are flexible, the tickets are very cheap.

SkyEurope.com is one of those airlines. The biggest budget airline in Central Europe, headquartered in Slovakia, started a major promotion today to celebrate their 5-year anniversary. They fly to all major European destination and have new planes.

This week only, you can buy tickets anywhere they fly for FREE (you only pay taxes). I booked a round trip ticket from Prague to Rome for $50. Go snatch some!