Vilnius (Lithuania)
12 August - 14 August 2016
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
12 August - 14 August 2016
Quite often I'll ask Inga the hypothetical question of what she thinks her reaction would be if someone handed her a photo taken now, in the moment but had handed it to her say a day after we originally met. Basically its a request to ask yourself to gauge your reaction if your current self was able to connect with your past self, and additionally, figure out from the photo a realistic path from then to know.
On the way back from Vilnius Inga asked me the same question. There I was sitting drivers seat, on the 'wrong side of the vehicle', driving Inga, her brother and father part of the way back to Latvia from Vilnius. OK Henry, 'If the day after you met me I handed you this photo what would you think?'.
My response, 'That I suddenly developed an insatiable appetite for piragi and your family were actually on the way to a piragi convention the next day and thankfully you invited me?'....
About as close to the truth we got during our visit to Vilnius was sharing a home grown plate of cepelinai. Unfortunately not piragi and more disappointing still, nowhere near as garsigi as piragi, but hey, I digress onto next observation.
Vilnius - Lithuania
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Vilnius - Lithuania
I've found in my experience that of the three Baltic states people tend to remember the name Lithuania, so much more so than Latvia or even Estonia. Why the hell is that? Of all three countries the name is much harder to read, pronounce and remember, but stuff me if Lithuania doesn't become an interchangeable word for all those Baltic countries up there. How hard is it to remember the name Latvia? Really? Not difficult at all.
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Anyway, our trip to Vilnius wasn't really for sightseeing purposes, although now that I write that it couldn't do more justice and be more adequate a description as to why we were there. My 'brother-in-law' in waiting was actually going to Vilnius to have laser surgery on both eyes in order to bring back clarity of vision. It's a procedure that Inga had done previously and recommended it to her brother for what it gave back to her. Considering the reasoning then sight seeing is exactly what we were there for.
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius has elements of Riga and Tallinn in the old town. Meaning that there's cobble stoned streets & weather worn period buildings act as perfect facades to much cooler things hiding inside, like secret underground bars and restaurants, boutique clothing stores, nightclubs and other establishments of intrigue. Its cool. From my high rise Australian perspective I find places like this intriguing, and on a lovely Summer's Day you could do no worse than climb to the top of Gediminas Castle Tower, a 15th century tower block, and allow yourself to take in the views of this city.
Vilnius - Lithuania
Vilnius - Lithuania
Just like the rest of the Baltics the town, and the country has an over abundance of green. You see it everywhere. So the perception of vast industrial wastelands are a long way from reality. It's nice. Nice enough to visit and maybe stay a day or two.
