Prague/ Rick Steves Eastern Europe book

Also posted at ricksteves.com:
I just received a copy of Rick's new Eastern Europe book and would
like to comment on several things. There is a part about Prague
mentioning best views but leaves out one that has been frequently left
out of many guide books, namely the TV Tower.
http://www.tower.cz/english/
It has observation windows, small restaurant, and bathrooms. Closest
access by public transport tram stops are Lipanska or Olsanske nam. or
metro stop Jiriho Z Podebrad and then about a five block walk. The
two times I was there I found few tourists but spectacular views on a
clear day.
Also would like to share an experience with changing money. I cashed
$500 in travelers checks at American Express and not paying close
enough attention was given Czech money for $400. It turned out the
clerk chased after me and caught me on the street about a block away
and I returned to receive the balance.
Finally, I was happy to see the recommendation for Sara (Sarka)
Pelantova as a private guide in Prague. As I have mentioned in
previous posts under Eastern Europe I was very impressed with her and
frankly have been recommending her services. My wife and I will be
seeing her again in May. Some pics of her are at:
http://www.geocities.com/b_hall29/sarka.htm with pic of Sarka on left
and my wife on far right (also contact info).
http://www.geocities.com/b_hall29/ricksarka.htm with pic of Sarka
dining with Rick.

I was somewhat disappointed with Rick's 2004 Eastern Europe book on some
counts:

1) He seems to have few "one-page" towns listed in Poland, Czech Republic
and Hungary. A "one-page" town is a place might be small but has something
worth seeing and his books would have the town info, rail or bus
connections, hotels and more in one or two (more likely 3 pages. He has 40
pages on Krakow. Was that much necessary? Were there no other places other
than Krakow (Auschwitz) and Warsaw in Poland worth seeing? Nothing in
Gdansk, Posnan, Wroclaw or any where else?

2) Because of the distances in some of the cities, a recommended stopover
(between Budapest and Krakow,; between Prague and Krakow) would have helped
(see #1 above).

3) Was there nothing in the Slovak Republic? Not one place worth even a few
hours?

4) He lists "gateways" Berlin, Dresden, Vienna but does little to connect
them to the recommended cities. There are no alternate recommendations of
places given that one has already been to or is not planning to go to
Slovenia or south.

John


"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Also posted at ricksteves.com:
I just received a copy of Rick's new Eastern Europe book and would
like to comment on several things. There is a part about Prague
..

"John Pezzano" wrote in message ...
I was somewhat disappointed with Rick's 2004 Eastern Europe book on some
counts:

1) He seems to have few "one-page" towns listed in Poland, Czech Republic
and Hungary. A "one-page" town is a place might be small but has something
worth seeing and his books would have the town info, rail or bus
connections, hotels and more in one or two (more likely 3 pages. He has 40
pages on Krakow. Was that much necessary? Were there no other places other
than Krakow (Auschwitz) and Warsaw in Poland worth seeing? Nothing in
Gdansk, Posnan, Wroclaw or any where else?

2) Because of the distances in some of the cities, a recommended stopover
(between Budapest and Krakow,; between Prague and Krakow) would have helped
(see #1 above).

3) Was there nothing in the Slovak Republic? Not one place worth even a few
hours?

4) He lists "gateways" Berlin, Dresden, Vienna but does little to connect
them to the recommended cities. There are no alternate recommendations of
places given that one has already been to or is not planning to go to
Slovenia or south.

John


"Bob" wrote in message
om...
Also posted at ricksteves.com:
I just received a copy of Rick's new Eastern Europe book and would
like to comment on several things. There is a part about Prague
.

I too was surprised that Slovakia was not included. I would have
preferred more on "Eastern Europe" and less info on "gateway cities",
since that info is available in so many other books. Also, I would
like to see more on "new stuff"
not just old stuff. The modern shopping malls in Bratislava,
Budapest, and Andel area of Prague I think deserve a mention.