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Published: October 1st 2016
We left right after work on Friday and drove over 4 hours to the Belarus-Lithuania border north of Grodna, Belarus.
The sun was in and out of the clouds. We drove through forest and fields and small villages.
Roads were freeway near Minsk and Grodna, giving way to two-way roads in poor condition.
They were expanding the road to 1 1/2 lanes each way.
We experienced this type of road in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia earlier this year on our Baltic road trip.
Drivers are expected to drive on the wide shoulder as faster cars pass by.
You are rewarded with two flashes of caution lights from the passing car as a thank you.
Darkness slowly enveloped us as we passed through Grodna.
We were stopped briefly at a police checkpoint in the middle of a forest. They checked our registration and waved us on.
The border crossing was relatively quick. We were the only car there.
It would have been quicker, but we did not have our green insurance card to travel into the European Union.
For some reason, Belarus makes sure you have this insurance.
Fortunately, they
sell it in a booth nearby - 30 euro for 15 days.
The trunk was checked no fewer than three times as we passed several Belarus crossing points.
Then through the Lithuania crossing point and only 8 km to Druskininkai.
Spa Weekend
Our great navigation system took us right to our hotel, where we checked in and settled down for a late dinner in the bar.
People were wandering around the hotel in their bathrobes in between massages.
We anticipated our first massages the next day. We had two scheduled for Saturday and one on Sunday.
They were delightful, but the highlight was the Sweedish back massage.
Buffet breakfast and dinner the next day. Chilly morning walks around the quaint town of Druskininkai.
Trails took us along small lakes, the river, and through a beautiful park.
We saw the pop music synchronized water fountain - beautifully lit by night.
And even tried the public toilet - squat toilets only! 40 euro cents. Thank you.
In the afternoon we drove 8 km to the nearby Grutas Park...
Grutas Park
Home to Soviet sculpture
from around Lithuania. Ripped down after Lithuanian independence.
Stalin and Lenin and their local ilk are now surrounded by a moat and guard towers.
The guard towers had eerie Soviet anthems coming from loud speakers.
You can pay to visit them. We hope they never get out.
In addition to sculptures of these "leaders" there were some good examples of soviet realism.
Many statues had pictures of their original location in city and town squares throughout Lithuania.
Home
We departed Sunday afternoon.
Uneventful and super quick border crossing.
A wrong turn in Grodna led us to a beautiful Soviet mural. Then the 4 hour journey home.
Ahhh! Ready for another week of school.
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Jurate
non-member comment
Good Blog
It makes me miss my home Lithuania