That's a very kind explanation, one I will grab. In 1986, we went to Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Berlin, Poland and Hungary, renting a car in Vienna. It was a difficult trip to put together due to visas, currency regulations, and some countries' requirements to spend a minimum amount per day. Parts of the trip were very bleak, but I am so glad we had the experience. We have great stories about food shortages, tough border crossings, going to the Warsaw Philharmonic for 12 cents, and more.

My parents were with us. My mother had a friend of a friend who lived in Prague. A friend of his gave us the top floor of his home, built as a flat for his son. We had to go to the police station to register. The same friend welcomed me back to Prague in 1993. I remember spending most of my time in the Old Town with not much change from our prior visit. I also remember the St Charles Bridge having multiple vendors, many selling very evocative photos of Prague. There were very few tourists and no new hotels.