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May Term 2010

I’m in Lvov Lvov

May 29, 2010 Professor Pana was right.  I was in love with Romania. But that was yesterday’s news.  And today I’m in Lvov, Ukraine (not the Ukraine), and I’m in Lvov with a new city. Part of my joy comes from just being allowed in the country.  With some free time in the airport in … Continue reading »

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In the Timisoara airport

If I could not use “rain” to describe the weather, I probably would have been at a loss for words on most of this trip.  Once again, rain descended, but at least this time it was after a partly sunny morning.  And if I could not use “cute” to describe my latest flirtation with an … Continue reading »

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My latest Romanian temptress

Sibiu — I sent my blogs from Romania to my colleague, Professor Pana, who commented, “I think you are falling in love with Romania.”  She might well be right, as you’ll see when I tell you about my latest encounter with a temptress, the city of Sibiu, or, to give it its German name, Hermannstadt. … Continue reading »

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Forts, Castles and Museums–what could make me happier?

Sibiu, Romania — Anyone who knows my fascination with forts, old Cathedrals, and museums (that is, anyone who has ever traveled with me), can well imagine the joy-filled day I’m about to share that consisted of forts, old Cathedrals (sometimes one with the forts), and museums–along with the beautiful scenery of the Transylvania countryside.  That … Continue reading »

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Baia Mare made simple

It occurred to me yesterday, as I walked through the park near our hotel, waiting for my transfer to the airport, where European history and American history diverge, particularly in the 20th century.  In the park, there was an American aviator monument.  Curious, I sought it out.  It praised the 378 American airmen who lost … Continue reading »

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Bucharest

Yesterday was unusual for this trip–in that we had nice weather, warm and sunny, for the first time in two weeks, and a free day till 6 p.m., for the first time on the trip.  My understanding is that students spent it a variety of ways: visiting the nearby museums, one documenting the terror of … Continue reading »

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The Other Twin Cities

The past few days have been spent at the border between the Roman and barbarian worlds–along the Danube.  While it’s not blue, it is an enjoyable river for cruising, as we discovered yesterday on our relaxing journey from Vienna to the once twin cities of Buda and Pest, which are today, and have been for … Continue reading »

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Vienna is not Vyeenna

Greetings from Vienna–and I don’t mean Illinois. We’re finally in “central” as opposed to Eastern Europe, and as far west as we’re going to be. And Vienna certainly provides contrasts to the medieval or Russian cities we’ve visited–ironically, it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which at one time or another included all the … Continue reading »

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Prague

I was wrong about the weather.  Today was cool, as it has been, and for much of the day, rained on and off. I was right about Prague; its tourist attractions are not a well-kept secret, and the city had more tourists than we’ve seen since St. Petersburg.  I was even able to talk Chinese … Continue reading »

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Krakow: All it’s cracked up to be

The benchmark for the old towns in the cities we’ve visited is either Prague or Krakow, which are not reconstructed medieval cities, but survived the World Wars (and their many predecessors in Europe) intact. If we could have chosen any day to spend on a bus, yesterday might have been a candidate for the eight-hour … Continue reading »

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