Program 297: Open Phones: Ask Rick; Francis Tapon Explores Eastern Europe

Francis Tapon describes his three-year excursion into every country in the eastern half of Europe. He shares how the Balkans and the former Soviet states are the next travel frontier, where tourists don't outnumber the locals. Also, listeners check in with Rick for help in finalizing their vacation plans.

• Francis Tapon, author of "The Hidden Europe:  What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us"  (Wander Learn Series) 

• Francis Tapon's book is called "The Hidden Europe:  What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us"
• The largest wine cellar in the world is at Milestii Mici in Moldova.
• Wikipedia has information and links to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia in Riga, and to the Great Patriotic War Museum in Minsk, Belarus.
• Information and photos of Momento Park in Budapest, where Soviet-era statues has been preserved. 
• Francis cites Transparency International as an agency which keeps tabs on international corruption. 
• Wikipedia includes information about day-tours in its entry about the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
• The New York Times published an article in 2005 describing tourism visits to the area around Chernobyl.
• Wikipedia also has an extensive entry about the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.
• Francis used couchsurfing.org as a way to meet the locals and find free accommodations on his long-term trip across eastern Europe.

Program 297: "Oklahoma haiku"

Fields, farmers, clean air.
In the middle of nowhere.
Natural beauty.
— Denise Sharitt, Bartlesville OK

Tree casts its shadow
cattle escape from the heat
prairie oasis
— Katie Arroyo, Stillwater OK

Tornados ripping trees.
Landscape changed forever. 
We survive.
— Barbara Smallwood, Grand Lake O' The Cherokees OK