Lithuania was one place that was a gamble. We had no idea about Lithuania, no idea of the place or what it had to offer people from the other side of the world. The only image I had was of an old place.
What a lovely place! The first impression was of lovely farms and fields, all tended lovingly. Rural places say much about a country and its peoples.
Vilnius has an old town nestled within a huge modern city. We stayed in the old town and walked many miles around the city, around cobbled alleyways, along busy highways, through huge art parks and along a river in the forest.
The people are nice, the dogs are gorgeous and extremely well behaved, the teenagers sit by the banks of the river and hang around the square and read books and are not particularly anything but blended in, the children are happy and do not need to tantrum and scream, buskers sing and add quality to the experience, and little stalls are set up everywhere with people plying their trade (gently) all through the very long day.
We went to Eropas Parkas - 55 hectares of wooded wonderment, where we wandered through tall trees and glades that have been made a microcosm of Europe. Vilnius is the centre of Europe and the vision was to create statues that reflect the nature of each country and dot them around the park in some sort of geographical proximity to the real place.
No less than four people helped us on the bus when we had to ask for a particular stop, they looked out for us and let us know when it was coming, reassuring us when the bus seemed to be heading way off course. Poland - not helpful and rude to boot. Lithuania - a four person help place.
The day ended with a long walk along the river savouring the late night light, listening to the babbling water, enjoying the quiet civility of the place and marvelling at how no one here has to stand out. There is no loud and brash anything. No squealing kids, no branded t shirts, no earphones and head sets, no yelling. Even the child in the park having its nappy changed just snuggled in to his fathers neck while mum cleaned him.
Lithuania - top on the list so far.
What a lovely place! The first impression was of lovely farms and fields, all tended lovingly. Rural places say much about a country and its peoples.
Vilnius has an old town nestled within a huge modern city. We stayed in the old town and walked many miles around the city, around cobbled alleyways, along busy highways, through huge art parks and along a river in the forest.
The people are nice, the dogs are gorgeous and extremely well behaved, the teenagers sit by the banks of the river and hang around the square and read books and are not particularly anything but blended in, the children are happy and do not need to tantrum and scream, buskers sing and add quality to the experience, and little stalls are set up everywhere with people plying their trade (gently) all through the very long day.
We went to Eropas Parkas - 55 hectares of wooded wonderment, where we wandered through tall trees and glades that have been made a microcosm of Europe. Vilnius is the centre of Europe and the vision was to create statues that reflect the nature of each country and dot them around the park in some sort of geographical proximity to the real place.
No less than four people helped us on the bus when we had to ask for a particular stop, they looked out for us and let us know when it was coming, reassuring us when the bus seemed to be heading way off course. Poland - not helpful and rude to boot. Lithuania - a four person help place.
The day ended with a long walk along the river savouring the late night light, listening to the babbling water, enjoying the quiet civility of the place and marvelling at how no one here has to stand out. There is no loud and brash anything. No squealing kids, no branded t shirts, no earphones and head sets, no yelling. Even the child in the park having its nappy changed just snuggled in to his fathers neck while mum cleaned him.
Lithuania - top on the list so far.
This sounds like a lovely, peaceful place :)
ReplyDeleteit is beautiful :)
ReplyDelete