Travel with Rick Steves · Saturday, August 29, 2026
Jacob Miknowski describes the significant changes in former communist countries, noting that those joining the EU have experienced rapid progress, while others lag behind. He observes that the physical landscape has also transformed, with traditional villages being replaced by more modern cement structures.
“Very well in the bigger part of what used to be Eastern Europe, and not very well in parts of it.”
“The countries that are in the EU have had so much progress and it's been so fast.”
“Poland used to be full of these beautiful wooden villages, handmade houses, handmade everything. Going back 100 years... And in a year or two, all that vanished.”