2 Travel adventures Lithuania

To the Far North of Europe

1 juli 2017 -26 juli 2017 (26 days)

When we wake up, the sun is already shining through the small skylight. A good start to the day. Breakfast is served in the hotel’s basement, where we can still see the vaulted ceilings of the old building. Shortly after nine, we leave the hotel and head into the morning rush hour of Vilnius. Just outside the city lies Trakai Island Castle. This castle was built in the 14th century to defend the then-capital. It’s located on an island and accessible via a wooden bridge. As we park the car, we can already see the castle on the other side of the water. Over the centuries, the fort has sustained damage multiple times, but it has now been completely restored. We enter the castle, where various rooms display artifacts from ancient times. We also visit the rooms built against the outer walls. We end the tour with a walk around the castle.

Photos Travelogue Route

Lithuania

Castle Access

The bridge gives access to the water castle of Trakai

Town Hall Square Kaunas

The town hall and Franciscan Church at the central square in Kaunas

Vilnius Fort

The fort of Vilnius rises above the city

Interior St Teresa Church

The beautiful Baroque interior of St Teresa Church in Vilnius

Baltic States

24 juli - 7 augustus 2010 (15 days)

Just outside Siauliai lies the Hill of Crosses. The first cross was placed here in 1847. Today, hundreds of thousands of crosses stand here together. During the Russian occupation, the hill became a symbol of protest. Several times, the Russians removed the crosses, but each time more appeared. I walk through the crosses in amazement. Paths have been kept clear between the memorial crosses. As far as I can see, there are crosses. Large ones several meters tall, and thousands of tiny ones filling the gaps. The main path leads to the top of the hill. From the summit, I truly see the enormous number of crosses placed here. It’s remarkable and bizarre at the same time.

Photos Video Travelogue