Our bus duly arrived, late , why could not the previous bus we missed been late. Timetable said we would arrive 22.30 so we settled down for a 3 hour trip, much to our delight we suddenly realised that there was a time difference we hadn't factored in, fantastic only 2 hours on bus. Finally got to hotel at 11pm crawled into a very comfortable bed, bliss.
Woke to heavy mist which fortunately cleared by mid morning. Do off to explore.
Lithuanian national flag. 65,200 sq km, population almost 3 million ,average age 43, capital Vilnius. Member of the EU since 2004 . People have inhabited this land since at least before 9000BC , big traders in Amber for past 6000 years. Had been a powerful country , peak being from 14th to 16th century, sort of disappeared for a few centuries reappeared briefly between Ww1 & WW2 then under Soviet rule until 1991.The Lithuanians fought against this rule well into the 50's with the Forest Brothers, a partisan movement, a staggering 250,000 Lithuanians were killed. Lets not forget the Jews too who were almost wiped out, of the 200,000 90% were killed in WW2.
Kaunas , 100km from Vilnius, on the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas Rivers. Believed to date back to 13th century, during the inter war period it was the capital because Vilnius was in Polish hands. Has always been in a strategic position which would explain why it was destroyed 13 times before WW2
local market day
trolly buses
a city of contrasts, from broken footpaths , general feeling of decay to smart shops and well cared for areas
Kaunas Castle, now partially rebuilt
Kaunas Town Hall
met a facinating Kiwi woman, Susan, she is a pilgrim, has been walking for many years thinks she would have walked over 18,000 km by now, extraordinary to imagine, I feel tired and we have only done about 50km in the past 5 days! Spent a great hour having lunch and talking.
Woke to heavy mist which fortunately cleared by mid morning. Do off to explore.
Lithuanian national flag. 65,200 sq km, population almost 3 million ,average age 43, capital Vilnius. Member of the EU since 2004 . People have inhabited this land since at least before 9000BC , big traders in Amber for past 6000 years. Had been a powerful country , peak being from 14th to 16th century, sort of disappeared for a few centuries reappeared briefly between Ww1 & WW2 then under Soviet rule until 1991.The Lithuanians fought against this rule well into the 50's with the Forest Brothers, a partisan movement, a staggering 250,000 Lithuanians were killed. Lets not forget the Jews too who were almost wiped out, of the 200,000 90% were killed in WW2.Kaunas , 100km from Vilnius, on the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas Rivers. Believed to date back to 13th century, during the inter war period it was the capital because Vilnius was in Polish hands. Has always been in a strategic position which would explain why it was destroyed 13 times before WW2
local market daytrolly buses a city of contrasts, from broken footpaths , general feeling of decay to smart shops and well cared for areas Kaunas Castle, now partially rebuilt Kaunas Town Hall met a facinating Kiwi woman, Susan, she is a pilgrim, has been walking for many years thinks she would have walked over 18,000 km by now, extraordinary to imagine, I feel tired and we have only done about 50km in the past 5 days! Spent a great hour having lunch and talking.
