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SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley Czechs Even a banker couldn't find a bad Czech these days, as those brave and sturdy people, international underdogs, are the cynosure of the world's admiration. It takes guts to shout insults at a man holding a gun on you. As in any other country, of course, there are bad Czechs as well as good ones. But good and bad, they have been giving Big Brother a hard time of it. Remembering Hungary, the Czechs had enough sense not to tackle the wolf with bare hands. For the same reason, they knew there would be no help from elsewhere, if they did. But they managed to make themselves as indigestible as possible for that same wolf. It's not the first time the country has been thrown to the wolf. In the late thirties, the British and French threw them to a German wolf, while the big Slavic brother to the east turned a blind eye. It must be a bitter thing to be a Czech. Here you are, a good, honest Bohemian. After World War I, you are thrown in with those lousy Slovaks and told you are now a citizen of a brand new country. So you work like a dog for fifteen years and turn your country into one of the finest examples of democracy in the world. Then you are betrayed. By whom? By the great democra- cies. Then you are bullied and tortured and starved for seven or eight years by the German invaders. The war ends and the Ger- mans leave. The _ Russians don't. When they finally get out, you try to put the pieces back together. It looks as though it might be possible. But you are on the wrong side of a certain curtain. So the Communists stage a coup and for the next decade or so you are a communist. But you have a love of freedom and independence and you chip away at the iron blanket until a crack of daylight ap- pears. And you are betrayed again. By whom? By the great communist powers. It's enough to make a saint cynical. And don't think the are tough Czechs aren't. But don't give up on them. They are tough, passionate and practical and some day they're going to come up smelling of roses. Tough? There's a Czech den- tist in Toronto who was tor- tured by the Gestapo, hung up on meathooks and has the scars to show it. He was going home for a visit this summer. I hope he didn't. Passionate? Put four Czechs together, start a political dis- cussion, and in five minutes you'd swear they were going to kill each other. I had some Czech friends in prison camp and they fought furiously, Czech against Slovak, commu- nist . against republican. But they turned a solid front to the rest of us, and to the Germans. Practical? One of these friends was Andros. His second name had no vowels. Some- thing like Mrckzy. When the Germans marched into Czecho- slovakia, he stole a plane and escaped. He fought with the R.A.F., was shot down and cap- tured. He expected to be shot any day. Did he sit around and brood? Not he. From empty powdered-milk cans, he manu- factured a magnificent still. And when the rest of the camp sat around on New Year's eve drinking their stink- ing prune wine, he and his friends sipped pure potato whiskey. I've always been glad I was one of his friends. It was like vodka. He was an avowed commu- nist then, but a good chap. He wasn't shot: Not then. Not by the Germans. They didn't get around to it. I wonder what he's doing these days? And I wonder about two oth- er friends of those days, Ros- tislay Kanovsky of Bucklovice 74, Morava, and Joe Zvolensky of Galanta. I just looked up their names in my tattered old P.O.W. diary, and said a little prayer for them. Freedom fighters of a generation ago. Perhaps their sons are shak- ing their fists at Russian tanks, or running an underground ra- dio. Let's say a little prayer for them. SPORTS 1 By Glen May Sailing at Acapulco Undoubtedly the highlight of the Olympic Games of 1968 will be a visit to Acapulco. This world famous resort city will house the sailing competi- tion on fabled Acapulco Bay. Acapulco is situated 240 miles from Mexico City on the Pacific Coast. I visited this picturesque re- sort last year, and even today, I can vividly recall much of its beauty and history. During the Spanish Period Acapulco was the point of de- parture for the Orient. The sto- ried "China Clippers" used to anchor. in the bay, heavy with expensive and beautiful goods from the East. These goods were shipped to Spain. The bay lies at the base of a mountain range and you can wonder at the numerous small bays and coves which are un- questionably breathtaking. One of the world's most eye- catching harbors is Puerto Marques, which, according to stories, was used by Sir Frances Drake to conceal his ships after attacking the Span- iards. Today this harbor is world famous for its lobster. Acapulco Bay itself has white sandy beach everywhere. The most popular beaches are La Condesa, Revoleadero, Pla- . ya Bruja and Hornos. I stayed at Hornos Beach, famous for its crashing surf and shallow water. A "must" in Acapulco is La Quebrada. It is here that teen- age divers plummet 100 feet into a shallow inlet which is set on fire at night. This is perhaps one of the most me- morable sights you will ever witness. The thrill of a lifetime awaits the tourist at Pie de la Cuesta. It is at this beach that the pounding surf creates an unbelievable natural spectacle. Although the law_ prohibits, you can flirt with death and attempt to swim in the high waves. I tried it -- once. The sunsets here are famous 'around the world. Each day WEAR A SEATBELT WHILE DRIVING hundreds of tourists arrive to watch the sun sink. This beach is "beauty unlimited." In Acapulco there are 270 hotels. The total capacity of the rooms number over 7,000 with rates ranging from $2 to $40 a day. Most have private swimming pools, but with the wonderful beaches, who cares? The outstanding hotels are the Acapulco Hilton, the Caleta, El Presidente, the Elcano, the Casablanca, Club de Pesca, the Ritz, the Majestic, the Brisas and Pierre Marques. The hotels have joined in the plans of the Organizing Committee of the Games and have turned over all their available space for the month of October to the Accommoda- tions Control Office of the Committee. The Committee will co-ordinate the work of hotels and travel agencies in order to serve tourists in every possible way. More than $800,000 have been invested in the Acapulco Yacht Club to make it ideal for the sailing competitions. About the only problem a tourist will encounter is lack of time. Acapulco offers such a wide variety of excitement and interest that it is virtually im- possible to accomplish every- thing you set out to do. Entertainment is superb each evening and offers some- thing for all ages. Acapulco's climate is almost ideal throughout the year. However, away from the beach you will find it quite hot in summer months, although the sea breezes help maintain tem- peratures which _are not un- bearable. The Olympic sailors will not encounter strong winds. Natur- ally, this will make for perfect racing. Mexico will offer. much for the visitor during the Games, but of all the Olympic sites this year, Acapulco. will defi- nitely be the most beautiful and offer the most to the spec- tators and athletes.