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Published: August 3rd 2014
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Vilnius is an easy place to like the city is compact so I have walked everywhere today, visiting a chilling museum in the old KGB building first, that describes the history of Lithuania in the 20th century, the cells and execution room in the basement were shocking.
Next I continued along the main shopping street stopping briefly to eat before continuing on to Cathedral Square, the church is lovely, but the highlight is the stunning royal palace. It has been beautifully modernised/restored and explains the history of Lithuania during thre two or three centuries when the Duchy of Litnuania was the power in central europe. I was very impressed with the way information was presented, particularly as every exhibit was in English.
I then went to the national museum which was average then climbed the hill to see what was left of the high castle, the views of the city from there where impressive. I then plunged into the pretty old town wandering the streets for some hours before stopping in one cobbled street to people watch while having a bite to eat. Late in the day I wandered back to my hotel satisfied I had seen everthing I
wanted to here.
The next morning I travelled out into the attractive Lithuanian countryside to visit Kaverne a Unesco world heritage site, the museum was modern and interesting if small and the mounds where the hill forts were located were easy to distinguish. I had to get a taxi because no buses were going out there, the driver offered to hang around to take me back, then suggested a trip to Trakai which has a lovely island castle. Unfortunately being a hot summers day the place was crawling with people swimming and boating, there is no doubt I should have visited during the week. I caught a bus back to Vilinius bus station where I purchased a ticket for tomorrow morning to the city of Saiuliai (pronounced Cholley).
The bus trip to Saiuliai took about three hours through forests and fields, I say a number of stork nests along the way, the city was once home to a massive airbase in Soviet times and features a large number of ugly apartment blocks but is pleasant enough despite these. My purpose for coming here however is 10km outside of town and is a famous pilgrimage site called the hill
of crosses, so immediately after check in that is were I went. It was strangely interesting although the choral music blaring from concealed speakers was a bit annoying, there were literally tens of thousands of crosses on and around the hill. Some were made of wood, stone and metal others of glass, clay, wool and what looked like porcelain. Unfortunately none were made of cheese cause I was hungry.
I am now siting in my room in a big soviet era hotel with tennis court on the roof relaxing, I have my bus ticket and accomodation booked in Riga and will be entering my sixth country at about 10am tomorrow morning.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Indeed
It would be strange to see this as you come up the road.