Communism - what you think about it?

[GalomyOak]

For the record....as an American

When I went to Poland and the Czech Rep. back in 2009, I 100% fell in love. With the people, the land, history, THE DOGS, food...everything. It was beautiful...exquisite. I had read (and heard warnings from other Europeans) about the condition of Polish roads...and found them to be in much better condition than the roads where I live (to be sure, I am waiting on my neighbor with a tractor to help fix the huge holes in my dirt road right now). I've traveled to Romania several times throughout the years too (my sister was adopted from there in 1991, and I also did work with NGO) - I found things to be the same there - awesome! Quite honestly, if I thought I had the tiniest chance of mastering the language to get a job, I think I would pack my bags and move to central Europe. Or at least visit a lot more. But I have many mouths to feed and no increase in my salary in 4 years. I can't afford it. I am cash strapped. My state and town are too cash strapped to pay me or fix my roads...at least I still have a job (teaching). And I promise to breed no mixes.

Whatever the case with DDR dogs, if they mixed or not, I honestly have no ideas or proof about it, it's really like comparing apples and oranges. Whatever happened back then, government breeding is done with working purpose, with a lot of sacrifice of dogs back in the early days, and with a high selection. You see many Mal/Dutch and Mal/Shepherd (and even lately have seen some Rottweiler/Mal crosses!) being trained here with the police depts. and military - I have a higher opinion for this kind of mixed breeding than "designer dog" breeding - and I'd hardly say it's because our military is cash strapped. They probably pay $20000+ for these dogs. Not the same as people who breed mixes to sell more puppies and make money, or to try to give an "edge" for their dogs in the show ring. It's a totally different spectrum in many ways.

[Rona]

Originally Posted by GalomyOak

When I went to Poland and the Czech Rep. back in 2009, I 100% fell in love. With the people, the land, history, THE DOGS, food...everything. It was beautiful...exquisite.

It's very sweet what you write Marcy, thanks. Your visit to us, just like Paula's and Jing's, was like of a close relative

[yukidomari]

Originally Posted by GalomyOak

For the record....as an American
...
My state and town are too cash strapped

Well, California is officially bankrupt ..

So, we are cash strapped too. The roads in Poland were much nicer, with better drivers, too. And the cities, at least Krakow, aren't a commercial wasteland like Los Angeles is. It actually has art, city planning, and history.. .. oh, and it's beautiful.

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Silvester

Yes, Yuki- I agree to you ! Krakow - just like the inner old city of Warszawa also - was reconstructed and rebuilded after war in a really exemplarily way ... It´s simply beautiful, just like you tell !

(And I think I´m able to talk about that because I´m Dipl.-Ing. for architecture by profession.)

I only know one city in Germany which can be compared - this is Dresden.

Let me correct you Krakow wasn't destroyed during WWII - the buildings are old and original. They 'decayed' during the communism era, but now they have been refurbished, at least most of them. There are still some places - relicts of the old epoch, but gradually, also with the help of EU funds, they're regaining their original shapes, colours and beauty.

Collegium Maius is the same building where Copernicus studied, and when you visit St Mary's Church you see figures carved by Veit Stoss himself.

[Silvester]

Hi Rona !

I did not tell that Krakow was destroyed in WWII. I know it wasn´t.

I only said that it was reconstructed - you told refurbished - like Warszawa in a really exemplarily way. And that´s true.

Let´s agree all together that these both towns are among the most beautiful in whole europe, ok?

Best greetings to Poland !

Silvester

[Rona]

Originally Posted by Silvester

Let´s agree all together that these both towns are among the most beautiful in whole europe, ok?

Let's agree there are lots of beautiful cities all round Europe + in the UK, naturally

[Vaiva]

Originally Posted by Rona

Let's agree there are lots of beautiful cities all round Europe + in the UK, naturally

We should ask to change the name of the topic Krakow is amazingly beautiful, but my bigest love is anyway Prague (except of Vilnius, of course )

[Morian]

Originally Posted by draggar

they were under Soviet occupation so most of the money went to the Soviets

occupier is wondering - how can you know this? from tv?

[GalomyOak]

It's really interesting, the conversation between Rona and Morian. I always try to see things for how they really are (and were), but in the US, we are also heavily influenced by our media - and our education (which sadly isn't often too different from the media). I guess I am from the "newer" generation, but I know in my parent's and grandparents generation, and maybe even the generation just before mine, there was the "anti-communist rhetoric" - and still the notion of "cash-strapped" countries persists, even though we know most of what we were told back then was all foolish propoganda... I also know from traveling, and living overseas and talking that "romantic" visions of the US exist too in other countries (I have neither hardcore gangster criminals nor dude ranches anywhere close to where I live. Nor are there huge Hollywood mansions - there are people living nearby who have neither electricity or running water). I guess the beauty of the internet is now we have access beyond the T.V, news, and textbooks - to real people. I cherish the sharing and stories that come from an international community! And I wish I hadn't needed an entry visa (which I didn't have) to enter Russia when I was right at the border a couple of years ago!