Throughout the years, Russia has undergone political and economical change. However, one thing that many can rely on is traditional Russian foods. A trip to this Eastern European country would not be complete without sampling some of the foods that have come to define Russian cuisine.

First, when many people think of Russian food, they tend to think of soup. Various soups, both hot and cold have been associated with Russian cuisine for centuries. The most popular traditional Russian cold soups include:

• Okroshka- this is a cold soup that is comprised of small chopped pieces. It is usually made with various vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and ham. Typically, Okroshka is served with Kvass. Kvass is a drink that is made from black or Rye bread.
• Borscht or Borsch- this cold Russian soup is made primarily from beet roots; this is how it derives its characteristic red color. Sometimes Borscht is served hot, but typically it is served as a cold soup. Borscht typically contains many ingredients such as vegetables, potatoes, and meat.
• Botvin ‘ya- this cold soup is served with Kvass. It is comprised of the soup itself, red meat that has been boiled and served in addition to the soup, and a separate plate with crushed ice.
• Teur- is another cold soup that is similar to Okroshka. The main difference between Teur and Okroshka is that Teur uses bread instead of vegetables.

Along with cold soups, hot soups are also a staple in Russian cuisine. The most popular hot soups are as follows:

• Shchi- this soup is served hot and is one of the main staples in Russian cuisine. The basic ingredient in Shchi is cabbage although sometimes sauerkraut is substituted, though this tends to give a sour flavor to the soup.
• Stews- in Russian cuisine the stew is served as the first course and is a light soup. Unlike in Western countries, where stews are typically thick and hearty. Stews in Russian cuisine are generally very strong vegetable broths usually comprised of onions, rutabagas, and lentils.
• Ukha- this hot soup is comprised of a broth made from fish. Ukha is typically served as a companion to fish pies.
• Rassolnik- served hot, Rassolnik is derived from a base of cucumbers. Rassol is the Russian word for brine, and this soup has a salty flavor.
• Solyanka- this soup is very thick and is a combination of both Shchi and Rassolnik. Therefore the soup combines that cabbage base with the salty cucumber brine. Typically, it is thicker than other Russian soups and consists of one of the following: meat, fish, or vegetables.

Meat dishes are very important to Russian cuisine. They are usually served either in soup, as an additional course to a traditional Russian meal, or even served later as snack foods.

• Studen- this type of meat is jellied and consists of using various herbs and spices with chopped meat. Typically the meat being used is pork or veal, and the meat is boiled and cooled, until it becomes a gel.
• Katlyeti- these are meat cakes that are formed by pan-frying meat. The meat patty is coated in milk and onions and formed into a patty, then fried.
• Pelmeni- this is meat filling made with minced pork, beef, and lamb. The meat is then mixed with vegetables and spices. The filling is then wrapped in a thin layer of dough. The Pelmeni are then boiled and served with sour cream, butter, or any preferred condiments.

Eastern Europe is a wonderful place for travelers. There are countless activities, cultural excursions, and the sight seeing is incredible. In fact, this is why so many people, from students to the elderly, decide to take time off from their lives to enjoy the wonders and beauty of Eastern Europe.

In the past, Eastern Europe hostels were only for the student traveler who was committed and dedicated to hostelling. Today, the hosteller isn’t necessarily a student who has recently taken two years from studies to explore Eastern Europe, but many other people are enjoying hostelling as well. For this reason, you will find that not all Eastern Europe hostels are the same. When choosing an Eastern Europe hostel, it is a good idea to call ahead of your visit and ask any questions that you may have.

Hostellers are geared towards traveling inexpensively. They may choose to backpack, hike, or bike through various countryside and terrain as opposed to seeing the sites on a scheduled tour. Many hostels are arranged so that they have a communal sense or feel. You will find that you will participate in-group activities, such as cooking, cleaning, sleeping arrangements, as opposed to simply staying in a luxury hotel with all of its accommodations. However, there are many new and modern hostels that have the air of a budget hotel, as opposed to the traditional community based hostel environment.

There are numerous Eastern Europe hostels and for the adventurous traveler who embraces the very spirit of hostelling, you will be pleased to know that you can stay in hostels throughout all of Eastern Europe.

It’s also important to realize that hostels are based upon three premises: that they provide shelter, showers, and security. Since they are geared towards providing a secure environment, hostels do enforce several rules. Many hostels have a dormitory feel and will have a set curfew.

Hostels have changed, just as much as tourism changes as a whole. To accommodate different needs, different hostels will have their own set of rules. Some hostels are children friendly, and are very small, almost designed like apartments. However, rest assured that the original purpose of hostelling (to provide safety for student travelers who desire to see the world) is still in tact. There are many hostels that cater solely to the young student traveler and ensure that they can see and experience the world with the basic necessities of shelter, shower, and security. Whether you are backpacking, camping, or traveling by car you can find a hostel that will accommodate your particular needs.

The best feature about staying in Eastern European hostels is that they allow the traveler to enjoy their vacation while spending a minimal amount of their budget for rooming expenses. Many hostels are located in areas that are in close proximity to a city’s best sites, as well as close to water, and natural parks. By carefully researching the hostel that you would like to stay in before your visit, you can ensure that your hostel stay will be pleasant, delightful, as well as secure.

One of the most alluring features about Eastern Europe is the fact that they have so many castles and palaces. In fact, it seems that every country in Eastern Europe’s backdrop features one castle or another overlooking the main cities. No doubt, these castles make for an exciting East Europe vacation, but also they can add a touch of romance, class, and luxury as well.

Many of East Europe’s castles and palaces have been converted into hotels. Now, not only can you add some of the world’s most famous castles, palaces, and cathedrals to your site seeing list, you can also enjoy the grandeur of staying in one.

By staying in a castle hotel, you can enjoy all of the mystery and romance commonly attributed to castles through various folklore and legend. Many of the castle hotels of Eastern Europe enjoy the reputation of being haunted, a haven for supernatural activities, or are filled with legends of romance, mystery, and love.

Belarus is home to the Mir Castle, which is currently undergoing renovations and will be featuring a luxury hotel experience. Bulgaria has several castles, however none of these have been converted into hotels, however they are wonderful for sightseeing. If you will be staying in Bulgaria and would prefer a castle like experience, then you may want to consider the opulent Castle Hotel Hrankov, located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Though it isn’t a genuine castle, it does exude the wealth and elegance of royal living.

The Czech Republic has many ancient castles that are modern day hotels. These hotels are increasingly popular with tourists since they bring a level of elegance and splendor to any vacation. The first castle hotel of mention is the Chateau Hotel Ruze. This is a five star hotel located in Cesky Krumlov.

Located in Prague is the world renown, Štekl Chateau. Built in the 13^th century, the Štekl Chateau provides the highest level of elegance encompassing chateau furniture and Thai massage. Another fabulous castle hotel in Prague is the Štirín Castle. This castle was refurbished from 1985-1994 and was the first hotel in Czech to be admitted in the Association of European Castle Hotels & Restaurants.

In Hungary, you will enjoy staying at the Apponyi Castle. This Baroque style castle was built in the early 1700’s and has become a very popular castle hotel in Hungary. There are 31 rooms and amenities include thermal baths, saunas, indoor swimming pool, and even a safe deposit box.

When visiting Poland, you will find that the Dwor Oliwski offers the finest luxurious experience. To begin with, the Dwor Oliwski is located near the National Landscape Park, and this location makes your experience at the hotel superb. The hotel features forty rooms, indoor swimming pool, spa, sauna, and a fitness center.

The Paszkowka Palace is another amazing castle hotel located in Poland. The hotel offers fifteen palace chambers, and the rooms are graced with period style furniture. The chamber rooms also features jacuzzis, indoor as well as outdoor swimming pools, and authentic gourmet Polish cuisine. The next time you plan your Europe vacation, why not consider staying in one of these marvelous castle hotels.

Throughout Eastern Europe, there is no place where music is so intertwined with the cultural atmosphere than it is in the Czech Republic. From Bohemian style to Opera, the music of the Czech Republic continues to delight tourists and residents generation after generation.

The traditional music composed by Czech artists consists of Moravian operas such as the Sinfonietta composed by Leoš Janáček. Janáček continues to be revered as one of Czech’s most well known composers. Some other notable traditional composers that have helped shape Czech’s reputation include Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, and Bohuslav Martinů.

However, although the Czech Republic has undoubtedly some of the most beautiful operas in all of Europe, they are widely revered for their folk music. From Polka to Cimbalom, tourists love to hear authentic Eastern European Czech music.

One of the highlights for those visiting Prague is the Prague Spring Music Festival. Here, both the traditional songs of the Czech Republic, as well as the folk music styles, are featured. Symphonies and orchestras take center stage as the songs of history fill the air. Music lovers unite and the Spring Music Festival is one of the most popular attractions throughout all of the Czech Republic. The Prague Spring Music Festival has been an annual event since 1946.

As you can imagine, a country that is revered for its exquisite music holds more than just one festival. Prague is also well known for its Autumn music festival as well. The Prague Autumn festival is a smaller form of the Prague Spring and is becoming quite popular as well. Tourists are just as excited to attend the Autumn festival as well as the Spring festival. Both festivals are known for attracting many famous musicians and there is plenty of fun filled activities for all to enjoy.

Czech music is much more than Opera and Polka. In fact, many tourists are surprised to learn how greatly western cultures have influenced the amount of music. Pop music can be heard in clubs, on the radio, and in outdoor festivals. Jazz, Bluegrass, Rock and Roll, and Rap can all be found throughout the Czech republic.

In addition, there are numerous nightclubs that feature Western style music as well. These clubs hold great appeal for those who are looking for exciting nighttime entertainment. For nightlife, you can enjoy the Prague Jazz Club, AghaRTA Jazz Centrum. The club serves drinks and has a coffee house.

Bugsy’s Bar is also a very popular Jazz club situated in Prague. They are known for their great live music as well as their popular choice of Cocktalicious drinks. If you are looking for a great nightclub, then you will want to visit Club Ujezd Prague. Club Ujezd is Prague’s very first night club and has become a very popular feature of Prague nightlife.

Club Mecca is your spot in Prague for fans of Techno music. Club Mecca is one of the most visited dance clubs and has all of the amenities that every dance club should feature. No matter what your favorite music genre is, you are sure to find a festival, club, or lounge that will satisfy your musical needs.