Siaulai to Palanga

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28 April 2007: Siauliai to Palanga. The drive to the Baltic Coast was a combination of newly constructed two lane highway and under construction road, so it took probably twice as long as needed but the arrival in Palanga made it all worth while.

We walked the main Palanga promenade to lunch in very blustery but sunny weather. The fishing pier at the end of the promenade sticks about a quarter mile out into the Baltic, but few people other than the fishermen made it all the way out. The beach sand is probably the finest (smallest grains) I’ve ever felt. If I were in the business of making hour glasses, I would definitely want to use Palanga sand.

We strolled through the Palanga Botanical Gardens which runs for 1.5 km along the beach front. The land was donated by Count F. Tyszkiewicz and the park designed by French landscape architect E.F. André at the end of the 19th century. The largest sand dune in the center of the park now has a small chapel on top, but was apparently a favored pagan ritual spot from the 4th through 13th centuries.

Count Tyszkiewicz’s mansion hosted no fewer than 5 wedding parties this Saturday, everyone trying against the odds to stay warm and well coiffed in the gusty conditions!

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