Across the Iron Curtain in a yellow MG Midget sports car (317)

Cold War Conversations

Andrew McNeile decided to travel through Eastern Europe in a yellow MG Midget Sports car, a ​car ​that's ​going ​to ​stand ​out ​no ​matter ​where you are!

He recalls his adventures travelling through East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia

He talks about the warmth and friendliness of people, challenges with petrol quality, and an accidental visit to a nudist beach.

Peter Ryan is your host today and I’m delighted to welcome Andrew McNeile to our Cold War Conversation…

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Episode cover photo by kind permission of Oxyman https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MG_Midget_Orange_S.jpg

0:00 Introduction and overview of the episode's guest, Andrew Nielle

0:31 Andrew's journey through Eastern Europe in a yellow MG midget sports car

4:21 Reaction of Andrew's family and friends to his travel plans

7:13 Planned itinerary for the journey through Eastern Europe and Turkey

10:01 Describing the border crossing experience into the East Bloc from Germany

16:05 Reflections on the separation between East and West Germany and the construction of the Berlin Wall

24:25 Unexpected nudist beach experience in Romania

28:12 The challenges of travelling by car in Eastern Europe

32:19 Favourite country visited during the road trip: Czechoslovakia

35:57 Relief of returning to the West and impressions on Soviet rule

37:11 Closing remarks

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