Open borders

It has been a while since I updated this blog as I had been traveling. We had a great opportunity to visit Vienna, Austria during the Easter holidays. We rented a car and drove down to Vienna. From Brno, it only takes about 2 hrs. Very easy drive I must say.

The great thing is that you don't need to show your passport when you cross the border between Czech Republic and Austria.  Thanks to the Schengen Agreement, which EU countries (except Ireland and UK) have adopted. Basically it is "open borders." You see a gate for the border, but no one is there or no gate is set up. You just drove by as if you were crossing the state borders in the US. But then, the difference is once you cross the border to Austria, language chages. You see German signs rather than Czech signs.  Open borders certainly benefits the travelers, but I also have to imagine it benefits illegal immigrants as well as criminals.