Lithuania Part 2, 2013

Trakai LT_July 18, 2013

Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. July 18, 2013

Trakai Castle, Lithuania. July 18, 2013

Sv Vieta cafe Sv Ignoto g. LT_July 18, 2013

Chickpea salad & baked cheese pasta/Sv Vieta cafe Vilnius LT_July 18, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 18 Thursday

Trakai  Castle LT_July 18, 2013

After a nice hotel breakfast and a warm day, we took local bus to the bus station and another to Trakai.   A busy open air-market  awaited us after the 30 mins ride.  Trakai is a nice getaway, calm, small town feel and lovely scenery with the Duke’s castle hugging the lake. We went to the castle, ate meat pasty by the lake, saw the cafe owner and his friend swam in the lake. Walking back to the station, campers and locals came out to enjoy the sun, The setting reminded me of the 60’s  Ended the day at a 60’s retro Sv. Vieta cafe. We ordered chickpeas salad and baked pasta cheese. R had a nice dessert in an old mason jar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literatu St. Vilnius Lt, July 19, 2013

Senamiescio Krautuve cafe, Literatu St. Vilnius LT_July 19, 2013

Halės Market Vilnius Lt, July 19, 2013

Gates of Dawn, Vilnius, Lt July 19, 2013

Subaciaus g Vilnius Lt July 19, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 19 Friday

Lot of tourists and sportsmen joined us at the hotel for breakfast.  The nice pickled herring and nut cake were snapped up fast. In the rain we went to get Riga -Parnu (Estonia) tickets at the bus station. Later we walked around Hales market, Gates of Dawn , up the Subaciaus st hill  for coffee and the food truck  restroom, bastion and Uzupis, Literatu st,  snacked at Senamiescio Krautuve homegrown traditional handmade cakes, coffee and tea ,met  tattoo Rocco. Got hotel sandwiches for dinner.

St Nicholas Orthodox Church & Lukiškės Prison Vilnius LT_July 20, 2013

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Vilnius Lt July 20,2013

Museum of Genocide Victims & ex- KGB building . Auku g Vilnius LT_July 20, 2013

The Parliament, Vilnius LT_July 20,2013

Kalvariju Market Raspberries, Vlnius LT_July 20,2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 20 Saturday

Took hotel breakfast. On a windy and rainy day we walked to the packed flea market at Kalvariju St. Plenty of old soviet relics, meat and fruits. Took home a pack of fresh raspberry.  Also for comparison we entered the modern clean sanitized market. Rested our tired feet.  While out and about an unexpected find, the Lukisklu g. jailhouse, the parliament surrounded by colorful flowers and a pyramid. Decided to get Gimme sandwich, a big disappointment, it was out of nowhere and closed. Not much choice we settled for Cili Pika on J. jasinskio st.for the dumplings and cold beet root soup, double black coffee and black currant cheese cake.  Hiked up to the Academy of  Music and Theater panoramic view of the city.  Down to KGB museum but I refused to go in . On the walk back we stopped on the white bridge  to watch the  Vilniusians playing volleyball, basketball, bike up and skateboarding up the ramp. R went out to get apple, juice, ramen at IKI on kalvariju st

Gediminas Tower/castles 14th -17th centuries Arsenalo g. 5,Vilnius Lt July 21, 2013

Gediminas Tower/castles 14th -17th centuries Arsenalo g. 5,Vilnius Lt July 21, 2013

Gediminas Tower&Castles 14th -17th centuries Vilnius LT_July 21, 2013

Gediminas Tower&Castles 14th -17th centuries Vilnius LT_July 21, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 21 Sunday 

It was raining here and slow breakfast at hotel.  Took a hike up the Gedimino castle and tower.  Great views even though it was raining. Spent a couple of hours there. And walked back to old city. Vilnius youngsters  were dancing and prancing on the street to loud music,  tennis playing for all.  Back to IKI to get coffee and cake. Sort out the pictures on the iPad. Skyped M. A short distance from our hotel we went to Tsarkov village on Seimyniskiu St. for Russian dumplings, fish trilogy and shrimps noodle, veg stew and red wine and sparkling water

Lithuania Part 1, 2013

Riga-Vilnius, wild flower  July 15, 2013

Town Hall Square, Vilnius Lt July 15, 2013

Pinavija Bakery Vilnius LT_July 15, 2013

Literatu St Vilnius LT_July 15 2013

St Anne’s Catholic Church  Vilnius LT_July 15, 2013

July 15 Monday

The breakfast routine began at Hanza hotel. A comfortable 8:30 am ride on Luxbus at Riga station transported us to Vilnius Lithuania.  The lands were flat, the bus was full.  The bus is equipped with WC,  phone charger and WIFI.  R got off for the 5 mins toilet and smoke break, he picked a blue wild flower growing by the roadside. Bus driver was entrusted to check passport at the Lithuania border. Then the sky decided to leak.  Arrived at 12:30, changed money. 1 litas =0.40 US.  We walked to the  old city, crossed the bridge to the hotel. In between we had delicious quiche and chicken pasty at at Piñavija Bakery.  Checked in Ecotel on Slucko st, Vilnius and checked out the  Basilica, St Anne church, Old city, Art and tattoo colony. Dined on ostrich meat, salad at Zoe’s Bar and Grill outside square. The evening breeze was cold. Time to get back inside.

July 16 Tuesday

Vinco Kudirkos Square Vilnius LT_July 16, 2013

Fish herrings were served at the hotel breakfast buffet.  Vilnius turned cloudy, windy and cold. People were wrapping up and the tree too. R used the hotel lobby wifi to book Daugavpils bus tickets. Arrived Arch Angel Raphael church and VCUP mall, Snipiskes  by foot. Lunched at Mano Guru, R ate cow tongue with beet raspberry sauce. I opted for mackerel salad and green drink called tacum, I guess.   Stopped at IKI store for pasty and snack, coffee and grapes.

Vlinius University Lt July 17,2013

Uzupis Vilnius Lt July 17,2013

Snipiskes Vilnius LT_ July 17, 2013

Uzupis Vilnius LT_July 17, 2013

St. John Church Vilnius LT_July 17, 2013

July 17 Wednesday.

After breakfast at hotel.  We walked to the kiosk to get tickets for 24 hour bus rides. Today was nicer and feeling hip we joined with the hippies at Uzupis.  The city began to wake up and health nuts were exercising on the main square. Saviciaus g. craft store  showcased  3- in- one Little Red Riding Hood. The vending machine at the Vilnius University served hot broth & coffee. At Balti Drambliai we had vegan Indian tofu and rice.  Let the bus rolled us to Lazydine.  Upon returning we visited the high end Europa shopping mall. It started to rain and retreated into the hotel.