Wrap-up - Day 48-60 - Central/Eastern Europe

After having spent time in Krakow, Ostrava, Budapest and Beograd, I'm thinking back on my time spent in this region and trying to make sense of my experience for future reference. Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here, although it's been something of a culture shock.

Practical and general observations
* In Eastern Europe, the euro is not widely recognised despite the fact three of the four cities I stayed in are members of the European Union.
* Food tends to be sold outdoor in small makeshift facilities, but is by and large really cheap. You can find modern supermarkets in all of the above cities without looking too hard.
* Contrasting Krakow and Budapest on one hand, and Ostrava and Beograd on the other,
the former two have a highly developed tourist infrastructure, while the latter two do not. As a tourist you can find information easily even so, but you just have to look harder for it.
* In Krakow and Budapest, English is limited. In Ostrava it is non-existent - get a good quality phrasebook (the Lonely Planet one was insufficient for my needs). In Beograd it is widely understood.
* The sort of people you'd expect to help you - bank staff, tourist advisers and the like - are the least friendly people you'll meet in this part of the world. Some have been downright rude to me. Yet the majority of the population is friendly and welcoming - even if they can't understand you. One interesting note - body language is a little (although not hugely) different here, and it's not customary to greet people you don't already know.
* Crime is a lot less of a problem than the international media makes out. I saw worse districts in Honolulu and parts of Canada than in general exist over here. I've been told Warszawa and Bucuresti are more of a problem in that regard, but I can't comment as I've yet to see them.
* Navigation is a bit of a problem as street signs are fixed onto buildings on that street rather than being pointer signs as one gets in Australia, New Zealand, the US or Canada. There'll often only be one sign (and sometimes none) and you just have to either go on faith or get used to missing streets, looking behind you to find the street sign, then finding ways around them.
* Traffic is by and large nuts, crossings are clearly marked everywhere but are not always observed by drivers. Budapest had the worst traffic of the cities I saw, although Beograd rates an honourable mention for being simply crazy. In Budapest and Beograd, stairway underpasses are often the only way to cross major streets.
* I had no problems taking photographs. Just be sensible and don't take photos of lots of police or of security buildings and you'll be fine. I was warned this would be a real problem in Eastern Europe and found it not to be, so thought I'd put it here. I have taken approximately 325 photos across the four cities.

Pointless observations
* Toilet bowls are really weird here - the hole is right at the front and you sit on this large basin. Public toilets are marked "WC" but often cost money to use - usually about 40-60c Australian. If you can't find the flush, look on the right hand side, there is usually either a pull-chain or lever.
* Shower-bath units are available, but the preference is clearly baths in this part of the world. The showers are a bit odd to work as there is only one set of taps and you have to turn the tap on then pull a lever up to get the water to come through the shower.
* Most of the younger generation here are ridiculously good-looking. Don't stare - it's rude. The septuagenarian generation, meanwhile, especially old ladies selling stuff, tend to look more like characters out of Monty Python.

Useful things to know - Language
* Hello is:
Dzien dobry (jen-DOH-bree) in Polish
Dobry den in Czech
Dobar dan in Serbian
Guten Tag or Hallo in German
(don't need it in Hungary, say "Hi" with an accent)

* Goodbye is:
Do vidzenia (do-vi-JEN-yah) in Polish
Na shledanou (nah-sCHleh-da-noh) in Czech (CH as in Scottish loch)
Do vid'enja (similar to Polish) in Serbian
Auf wiedersehen (ow-VEE-dehr-sayn) in German
Viszontlatasra (vi-sont-LAH-tosh-rah) in Hungarian

* Please is:
Prosze (praw-shah) in Polish
Prosim (praw-SEEM) in Czech (point at things and say this)
Bitte (bit-teh) in German

* Thank you is:
Dziekuje (je-KOO-yeh) in Polish (oo as in foot)
De'kuji (je-KOO-yee) in Czech
Hvala (huh-VAH-lah) in Serbian
Danke schön (Dank-eh shern) in German
Köszönöm (ker-ser-nerm) in Hungarian