Eastern Europe or Central Europe?

I'm not really sure what we're supposed to say now (where is Eastern Europe if Hungary is Central Europe?)...anyhow...

I'm just back from a road-trip holiday with my wife in Hungary and Croatia, and was really surprised at how like "Western" European cities the Eastern European cities like Budapest actually feel. Munich and Geneva don't feel too different, and it's not just the Art Nouveau architectural influence of the Austro-Hungarian empire either. It's made me come over all European at a time of increased euro-scepticism (anyone for referenda?). It probably sounds a bit dense to anyone who lives in one of the former Eastern Bloc countries, as I guess it must be about 15 years or so since most of the iron curtain finally rusted, but I was really surprised.