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Welcome to episode nine of Cold War Conversations.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has posted such kind reviews.

I'm delighted that people seem to be liking the podcast

and I'd like to encourage others to do the same

so that we can grow the audience.

Also, if you haven't already joined,

there's a vibrant discussion group growing on Facebook.

Just search for Cold War Conversations.

Okay, let's get on to the subject of today's podcast.

Mark Baker is an independent journalist and travel writer who's lived in Central Europe for more than two decades.

I heartily recommend his travel website, Mark Baker, Prague.com,

which is an eclectic mix of stories about his adopted hometown of

Prague and stories from when Central Europe was the Eastern Bloc, and he was a full-time journalist

trying his best to cover it. Mark tells an intriguing and compelling story, and I do urge you to listen right to the end.

I hope you enjoy our chat and I welcome Mark Baker.

Hello Mark. How are you?

Oh, I'm good. I'm very good.

Fantastic. Fantastic. Thank you very much for coming on Cold War conversations.

Can you just tell us a little bit about yourself?

...