We got a taxi from the station opposite the apartment block to the bus station, and were there in plenty of time for the 10:15 departure. When we booked the tickets yesterday, Ludmilla said it would be a coach, not a little local bus or hyped up kombi. It was a bit of a squeeze between seats, but we managed. After 45mins of city outskirts and forests, we hit the border.
Guards came and went, we crawled from one boom gate to the next, our passports went, we got out and got in 3 times, but finally after about 75mins we were off again. 'What is the purpose of all this?' we wonder. Keeping people employed, and having power over tourists and the poor truckies who queue for hours. I'm sure they never find contraband. At the last stop - the check into Lithuania, all the bags had to come out. The bus had pulled up next to a post, and the bin containing our bags couldn't be opened. The driver's assistant indicated that we should just show the contents of our hand luggage, and that would be OK. So we did, and 3 suitcases full of drugs and alcohol sailed through.
First stop in Lithuania was the town of Druskininkai, which apparently is a spa and water sports resort centre. It has many fancy buildings, incl this one which we both saw through the trees.
Lots of forest in Lithuania, with some interesting totem pole type carvings beside the road. Most were not Christian for my distance, and google said they are part of pagan history.
We reached Vilnius at about 14:30. Another taxi ride to the cathedral square at the centre of the city, and we were home. This bnb is massive - would be very comfortable for 5 or 6. We went for a walk to the cathedral and up the tourist plaza road looking for shops. I have some special orders to try to fill while here. We found some more churches, but it rained, so we came home and got some plastic bags for the superm.
The cathedral looks more like a museum or law courts.
A very fancy chapel under one of the domes.
Lots of forest in Lithuania, with some interesting totem pole type carvings beside the road. Most were not Christian for my distance, and google said they are part of pagan history.
We reached Vilnius at about 14:30. Another taxi ride to the cathedral square at the centre of the city, and we were home. This bnb is massive - would be very comfortable for 5 or 6. We went for a walk to the cathedral and up the tourist plaza road looking for shops. I have some special orders to try to fill while here. We found some more churches, but it rained, so we came home and got some plastic bags for the superm.
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