Czechoslovakia 1985

(Except Prague)

Prior to our first visit in 1985, people who had crossed the border into Czechoslovakia, told us about the problems, the treatment, and the delay they faced at the border. We decided not to use the main border crossing near Vienna, and crossed from Gmund, Austria, to Ceské-Vele. At the border two gun-toting uniformed men opened a steel gate, a tall young man who spoke English greeted us, and there was a pleasant older man who was in charge. After 20 minutes of filling out forms etc., the gate opened, we were on our way. They were friendly, and treated us nicely. No problems of any kind.

When we approached the first railroad crossing, we saw a man come out of the small house and manually crank down the gates, then we sat there for 10 minutes or so before the train arrived. In the little towns we drove through, there were red and green flags, and we saw the hammer and sickle on posters.

In Ceské Badejovice, we saw an Agricultural Exposition. Thousands of people were walking, after parking a long distance away. We drove near the Exposition and were told we could not park near there. We wish we had found a parking place, and visited the fair. But hate to park the RV too far away.

Under the city of Tabor there are 27 miles of tunnels, on three levels, dug maybe in the 1400’s. We were told the tunnels were dug by a religious group as a defensive position, at other times were used to store food, and one time, after the town burned down, people lived in the tunnels while rebuilding their homes. Both times we visited, we joined a tour group, and walked for quite a distance through the tunnels. We didn’t learn much, the tour leader spoke Czech, but it was interesting.

We walked around Tabor a while, and found a couple of large, heavy cups, just perfect for My breakfast Ovaltine. At first we misunderstood the price tag, but they cost only $2 each.

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As we left Prague, heading toward Poland, we saw many apartment buildings being built on the edge of the city. We followed signs directing us to Hradec Kralove, and on toward the Polish border. We were on a new “almost” freeway, a good road, but on both sides there were 20 feet high mounds of dirt, as if to make sure no one can see anything in the area. Occasionally there was a break in the mounds, but we could see nothing but flat land. Can’t imagine what they were “hiding.”