Hungary:
Before the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, Hungary was known as the most liberal of the republics. That gave it a jump start on the other eastern countries, and Hungary is now the most advanced in integrating with Europe and the EU. It is also very tourism oriented, and major investments in tourism have been paying off; in 1998, Hungary was in the top 20 of world tourist destinations. Lake Balaton, in the east of the country, is the most popular summer vacation spot, but most people head for Budapest, which is a picturesque city on the Danube River. The countryside of Hungary is very agricultural, with a few patches of forest. There are numerous spas where you can go and relax and be pampered. Hungarians enjoy a fairly high standard of living, although there is a severe housing shortage, and pollution problems are rife. And, for some reason, Hungary has the highest suicide rate in the world!