Usually I like to do an interesting intro to these MyTakes, but I feel this one is pretty self explanatory. I will just say, I know there is disagreement as to exactly what is and isn't Eastern Europe. And I know that Eastern Europe can be further divided into more sub-regions, therefor I've decided to base my definition off culture and politics, rather than geography. And since this is a only a matter of East vs. West, I feel other regions of Europe are irrelevant. So for the purposes of this MyTake, MY definition of Eastern Europe is the former Yugoslavia, and former Soviet and Communist Republics, including East Germany. I've excluded Georgia and Armenia, since they are geographically part of Western Asia. I did my best to represent all sub-regions in this MyTake. by the way, I don't mean to put down any Western Europeans, well except maybe with number 9, so don't get all hot headed.
That being said, here 9 reasons why I like Eastern Europe better.
Reason Number 1
It's Still Largely Untouched By Tourism
This is probably the biggest reason I prefer Eastern Europe over Western Europe. Due to its Communist history, language barrier, poor infrastructure, poverty and just overall bad reputation, Eastern Europe has managed to deter the hoards of annoying tourists that are plaguing Western Europe. The only tourists who flock to Eastern Europe are sex tourists, and other Eastern Europeans, and even so, virtually all of them prefer to spend their holiday on the coast, which means the rest of the sites are virtually deserted, even during the summer months. The only places in Eastern Europe that Americans actually want to visit are Prague and Russia, and one of them requires a visa and has strict travel restrictions. A lot of Eastern European countries also maintain a "Tourists Go Home" mentality. This doesn't give them points for hospitality, but it certainly gives them points in the "authentic experience" category, as it means you can have its spectacular castles, monasteries, ruins and mountains all to yourself. If this Roman theater was located in Western Europe, it would be swarming with annoying tourists with selfie sticks, but because it's in Bulgaria, it's completely deserted, aside from the person who snapped this photo. This is MY kind of travel.
Reason Number 2
It Still Feels Very Traditional
There are few places in Eastern Europe which fall under the category of "Overpriced Tourist Traps". And the phenomena known as, "Mock Authenticity", which basically means, "Fake Culture", isn't as much of an issue here as it is in Western Europe. The lack of tourism in the region means it has had very little foreign influence. Although several countries in the region have progressed significantly within the last decade, much of the rural regions have preserved their traditional charm. Many inhabitants of the rural areas, especially those of the Gypsy community, continue to live as they did before the creation of the EU. Some of my favorite are the small backyard cook offs or local weddings, as well as the little horse drawn carts shuttling local kids down the street. Sadly, this "traditionality" also includes backwards practices like blood feuds, and the occasional run in with the village drunks. But hey, this only adds to the authentic charm. That being said, there are rural areas of Eastern Europe that have started to loose their traditions and authentic charm. This is becoming a major problem in Poland, where many ethnic groups are swapping their traditional culture for a more modern one. But in the former Soviet and Balkan nations, one can still experience traditional village life, which has all but vanished from Western Europe.
Reason Number 3
Unspoiled Wilderness
As I mentioned before, the majority of tourists traveling to Eastern Europe prefer to spend their holiday on the coast. It's a bit sad that they are missing out on so many beautiful wonders, but at the same times, this is a good thing as it means the wilderness of Eastern Europe is more pristine then that of Western Europe. In fact, there isn't much pristine wilderness left in Western Europe, apart from Iceland. What little there is has been built up with towns, ski resorts and hiking shelters. In contrast to Eastern Europe, who's natural wonders are practically untouched by humans.
Reason Number 4
More Diversity
Don't get me wrong, Western Europe has some INCREDIBLE cities and attractions, the only problem is, they all start to blend together after a while. Too many Western European countries have been influenced by their neighbors. For example, you got Germans in parts of France, Dutch and French in Belgium, Italians, Germans and French in Switzerland. Add to the fact that there are really only two dominant religions in Western Europe, Catholicism and Protestant Christianity. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, except after a while you start to see a lot of the same architecture. There are only so many half timbered homes and Gothic cathedrals you can look at, before it starts to get boring. I know someone will say, "but there are Muslims and Sikhs in Western Europe too." True, but those are recent immigrants. No one flies half way around the world to look at a 30 year old mosque. With Spain and Malta being the only exceptions, Western Europe for the most part lacks diversity. In Eastern Europe on the other hand, you can be looking at a centuries old mosque in one country, then be looking at an Orthodox Monastery in another country. Many more cultures have passed through Eastern Europe and have left their mark, then have done so in Western Europe. Most importantly, these cultures have continued to thrive. Even in regions with similar culture, the architecture of the cities, churches and monasteries varies from country to country, even from region to region, so you'll never end up looking at the same thing twice. The Orthodox churches are also far more ornate then the Catholic and Protestant ones, and the lack of commercial tourism means they actually feel like monasteries and not like tourist traps. Oh, and did I mention that Eastern Europe is home to both the largest castle by volume, and the largest castle by area. That should be saying enough.
In addition to attractions, the region's linguistics are also more diverse. Western Europe has too many languages that are too similar to each other, and the Latin alphabet is the only alphabet used. It makes things more convenient, but also boring. There is far more language diversity in Eastern Europe. Aside from the fact that many countries still use the Cyrillic alphabet, even the languages that are from the same family and sound similar to each other are unique in some way. Even the Cyrillic script varies from country to country, creating an exotic feel. Then you have languages like Hungarian and Albanian that sound like nothing else in Europe, which truly makes it an interesting place for linguists.
Reason Number 5
They Have Cooler Traditions
Don't get me wrong, Western Europe has some pretty cool traditions, but the ones in Eastern Europe are far more elaborate, and the stories behind them are much more interesting. This once again has to do with "tradition" and "diversity". Despite being predominately Christian, Eastern Europeans still honor their Pagan ancestry, much more than Western Europeans. In fact, Lithuania has the highest population of Neo-Pagans on the planet, and I think they might even outnumber Christians in Lithuania. Either way, Eastern Europe has traditions that are downright "bizarre", but in a good way. One of my favorite are the Kukerki, Pagan figures used to scare off evil spirits during Christmas and Easter. The tradition is common in Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav republics. Speaking of Christmas and Easter, the Orthodox Christmas, is held in early January, not on December 25. I personally think it would be cool to switch it up every year. Eastern European Easter is also more spectacular then Western Easter. Here, it's still common for kids to decorate eggs with natural dyes, then go to church to have them blessed. And the day after Eastern Sunday, Eastern Europeans spray each other with water, even when it's 30 degrees outside. In addition, many traditions like blood feuds and Gypsie bride markets and sworn virgins, are still practiced in parts of Eastern Europe. Although many of these traditions are seen as very backwards and outdated, from a cultural perspective, it's really interesting that such age old traditions are still practiced. A little less backwards but equally fascinating are the ornate weddings held each winter by Bulgarian's Muslim Gypsies. This is something you simply will not see in Western Europe.
Reason Number 6
They Throw Better Parties
You haven't really partied until you've partied with some Eastern Europeans. When these people party, they party HARD, especially when they are celebrating an important occasion like a wedding or Communion. In those cases, parties can last up to three days. I'm talking music, delicious food, dancing, and lots and lots of alcohol. You haven't really partied until you're puking your guts out from too much alcohol, which I have done. I can speak from experience. When I was in Poland during my birthday, my dad's family made sure to put on a party I'd never forget. We prepped the yard that evening, and before I knew it, people I didn't even know were showing up at my aunt's house, to join in on the festivities. They were singing "Happy Birthday" like I've never heard sung before, and before I knew it, my cousin was launching fireworks into the air and I was puking my guts out from too much homemade "Kawowka"! If you're a traveling college student, this is an experience you definitely do not want to miss out on.
Reason Number 7
Better Folk Music & Dancers
Okay, we all know when it comes to Rock n Roll, no one does it better then the Brits! However, when it comes to folk music and dances, the Eastern Europeans win out. Although Western Europe has some cool music and dances, there's just something about Eastern European folk music that's a lot more catchier. Their dances are also far more elaborate and complex, with guys holding girls and spinning them, and doing whatever the hell it is these Russian guys are doing. For real, that takes some serious talent, that Western Europeans simply do not posses. Even I tried dancing like that, and ended up hurting myself. You simply can't beat that.
Reason Number 8
Better Women
This one probably shouldn't come as a surprise. If there is ONE thing Eastern Europe has going for it, is it's the women. In fact, this is probably the only aspect of Eastern Europe that gets attention and praise from Americans, and the only reason most would even consider visiting. Although French, Dutch, German and Scandinavian gals often get praise as well, most Americans would probably choose an Eastern European gal. I don't know if this is 'cuz they truly consider them more attractive, or if they have this notion that they are easier to get in bed. Sex symbolism aside, I can't deny that Eastern European women are sexier and far more attractive than Western European women. From their looks, to their style and level of maturity, there is something more appealing about these women. Also, unlike Western European gals, Eastern European women still enjoy being treated like women. An Eastern European woman will rarely yell at you for holding the door for her, or giving her a compliment. And Eastern European women still appreciate a "real" man. Just make sure she actually loves you, and isn't just trying to marry you get a green card.
Reason Number 9
No Liberal Pussies
After lack of tourism, this is probably my second favorite thing about Eastern Europe. I honestly don't know how this happened, but as we know Western Europe has gone absolutely mad with this Liberalism and PC bullshit. I don't understand how anyone can think this a good thing. It seems like normal people have become a minority. Thankfully, Eastern Europe is still one of the last conservative strongholds on earth, opposing things like mass immigration and LGBT rights and supporting things like free speech and cultural preservation. Eastern Europeans still maintain a sense of national pride, which their counterparts in the West, seem to have forgotten. For the past few years, the region has resisted pressure from the EU to take large numbers of immigrants from Muslim countries. You can believe what you want, but the results speak for themselves. Aside from doing the logical things like taking care of THEIR OWN people first, Eastern Europe is one of the last regions on the continent that still feels like Europe. Most importantly terror attacks are almost unheard of in Eastern Europe, meaning you can actually have a relaxing holiday, without having to worry about dying or getting raped.
All that being said, no place is perfect, so I thought I would end this MyTake by listing some of the things I HATE about Eastern Europe, and some of the things that Western Europe does better. I won't make this one super fancy, as it's just a little extra tid bit.
Some things I HATE about Eastern Europe
Corruption, hypocrisy, street gangs, often rude, greedy, discriminatory and unwelcoming people, backwards Gypsy shit, the food, language barrier, gold diggers, sex slavery
Some things Western Europe does better
Food, wildlife, mountains, coastline, cities, islands, archaeological sites, infrastructure, public transport, tourist facilities, shopping, fashion, ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!
Thanks for reading. Let me know what you thought and which Europe YOU prefer.
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