Day 32-36: Lithuania

We passed through Lithuania on our way to Riga and stopped at the Hill of Crosses. This is a famous pilgrimage site located in Northern Lithuania. A little bit of a tour, but out of nowhere, literally on a small hill is the site. Hundreds of people were there to add their crosses. Apparently there are over 100s of thousands of crosses of all shapes, sizes and designs. There is a walkway of steps over the hill through the centre of it and it was quite fascinating. It apparently began as a symbol of peaceful resistance of Lithuanian Catholicism to oppression from around the mid 1200s. It was pretty amazing.

After Riga we headed to Klapedia, which has the only port in Lithuania. By sheer chance we were there for the annual sea festival so the place was packed. Fortunately we had a lovely apartment close to the sites so we could park the car and leave it...a lot of streets closed because of the festival. It as quite hot, but we headed out. 500 metres and we in in the old town where all the action was. Streets and streets of markets, stalls, water activities, tall ships, yachts. Walked for a few hours catching some of the main tourist sites whilst enjoying the markets. The food stalls were amazing...and beer everywhere. BBQ meat and smoked fish were the foods of choice...of course with ice cream stalls every few steps. Stopped and shared a plate of BBQ meat...sorry vegos all carnivore here. I think it was pork...but it was really good. Followed down with a thirst quenching beer. Lol...interesting note. Beer is the same price as a soft drink. Usually around $3 for 500 ml. BR thinks he is in some kind of heaven. (Supermarket price is under $2.00).  A highlight was the parade.. a smaller version of Moomba.. And I was able to watch the parade from the window outside our apartment. Very cool.

Note: was pleased that BR noticed a small booth which looked to be a boot maker. Some over acting by me and we established he could fix my shoes. And he did thank goodness. Nodules are ready to roll again.

The last stop on the Lithuanian component was a few days in Vilnius, the capital. Again we had a lovely apartment...though no air conditioning...we struggled a bit...but right in the middle of the old town and a few hundred metres from the cathedral and square. We walked to the square, massive and so white, as was the cathedral and then headed to  Gediminas Tower...old castle ruins. Used the funicular to reach the top...cobblestones are the bane of my life atm. Nice views over the city and river. The next day, after a bit of retail therapy at H&M, while BR had a rest, we headed to the Frank Zappa sculpture and the Museum of Genocide Victims. This was a must see, even though very confronting. It detailed Lithuanian occupation and oppression by both the Russians and Germans and detailed the death and displacement of many thousands of people. Most haunting was the KGB prison cells and the execution room. I was surprised there was no warning for children because you walk into a series of dungeons and there on a screen of a prisoner being shot. Again viewed amazing churches and buildings. In fact I think the apartment block we were in was part of the palace at one point.
Next stop: Warsaw.