Town squares attract tourists all over the world. Recently, in Prague, the Old Town Square was filled with tourists, locals, restaurants, and food stalls, surrounded by beautiful churches and museums. In Budapest, St. Stephen's Square was a hub of action, leading to many other pedestrian only squares and streets, a well laid out plan for locals and tourists alike. But the two big squares, in my opinion, not necessarily the best, but certainly among the brightest and most famous, are surprisingly Moscow's Red Square, and venerable New York City's Times Square. And they both seem an accurate reflection of the countries they represent. Red Square looks like downtown Disney now, with the lights of the GUM Department Store, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin (and Lenin's Tomb), and squared by the Kazan Cathedral. It is very difficult ... read more

Truth be known, I will spend the night here, that is all. I am tired, and it is time to go home. As Paul Simon once sang, Homeward Bound!! How many of you have changed planes in Frankfurt over the years? I have changed planes here at least half a dozen times, on the way to or from: Tripoli, Turmenistan, and Tabouli to name a few. Frankfurt Main Airport is one of the busiest international airports in the world, and of course, a hub for the state airline, Lufthansa. The airport is the biggest cargo airport in Europe. Over 342 trains daily arrive and depart for other parts of Germany, as well as Europe. But little do I know about this great German city. I recall from Uncle Murl's world history class as a sophomore in ... read more

Most of us think Munich means only the famous Oktoberfest whenever September rolls around. But this great German city, which I last visited in 1971, offers much more than just great beer. I spent the better part of a week here, but hardly recall much more than spending each day and evening at the enticing Oktoberfest grounds. So, here is quick shot at some Munich facts and figures, most of which you will either ignore or at a minimum, rolls your eyes into cabbage rolls. Munich is Germany's third largest city, after Berlin and Hamburg, with 1.3 million residents. Just so you know, the Oktoberfest started in 1812, and attracts over SIX million people in a three week period. That is more beer than Lake Tahoe (just kidding!). It is the biggest folk festival in the ... read more

From the time I first saw the Sound of Music, Austria has been a place I wanted to visit. I expect to hear the von Trapp family singing from the trees and lakes outside of Vienna. But what do we really know about Austria, other than perhaps, Germany's little sister? The Soviet collapse in 1991, and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1999 were landmark events. They are not members of NATO. Distancing themselves from Germany has been positive for this country. As a rule, it is difficult to categorize Austrians, as they do not stand out for any particular reason. They are moderate in their outlook and behavior. They are soft-spoken, well-mannered, family-oriented, and socially conservative. They do NOT like to be called German!!! As the 114th largest country in the world, their land ... read more

How many times have you been to the opera in Vienna? How many times have you had a Viennese coffee? How many times have you listened to Strauss and Haydn? For me, I am not sure of any count. Vienna is a mystery to me, perhaps back in the Seventies? The German name for Vienna is Wien, that means Austria's most famous dish, wiener schnitzel, translates to Viennese schnitzel. Fast forward to today, on the train from Budapest to the capital city of Vienna. This city of 1.7 million people actually produces wine within its city limits, to the tune of 1700 acres and 340 vintners. And can you believe four of the top ten classical composers in history worked in Vienna from 1750 to 1825? Better yet, Sigmund Freud lived and worked in Vienna for ... read more