Program 410: Marrying An American; Flatlands; Sightseeing Communist History

Guides from Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic tell us about some of the sites you can visit to get a feel for the Communist era in central and eastern Europe. We'll also explore the allure of a road trip in flatlands, where the unobstructed view makes the sky seem closer. And hear what kind of cross-cultural issues emerge when Europeans marry Americans.

• David Tordi, tour guide and musician, based in Orvieto, Italy
• Roy Nicholls, tour guide and historian, based in the Dorset region of southern England
• Travel writer Robert Reid
• George Farkas, Katerina Svobodová, and Beata McCommas, tour guides raised in former Warsaw Pact communist countries of eastern central Europe

• David Tordi points out that Aiken, South Carolina, is one of Orvieto, Italy's sister, or "twin" cities.
• Robert Reid wrote "How to Fall in Love with Flatlands" for Transitions Abroad.
• Robert Reid's website includes his recommendations for five great American road trip books, which includes Ian Frazier's "Great Plains." Robert also notes the literary value of John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley," and William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways."
• Robert suggests hugging the contours of the earth along U.S. Route 14, and in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
• Memento Park (also known as Statue Park), near Budapest, shows the large Soviet style statues daily from 10am to dusk.
• In Prague, the Memorial to the victims of Communism is a series of statues of "disappearing men."
• The Museum of Communism is open daily in Prague.
• Wenceslas Square in Prague has hosted many important events in the history of the Czech Republic.
• The European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, Poland comes highly rated on Trip Advisor.