Alcala, Spain Fall 2007: Kaunas, Lithuania

9 November & 12 November 2007

PART I: Thursday 9 Nov.

I flew from Madrid to Frankfurt-Hahn, and then from Frankfurt-Hahn to Kaunas, Lithuania on the 9th (Friday). When i landed I found a taxi and gave the driver the address to my hostel (Lithinterp Hostel), and I took the 40 minute drive listening to cheesy-English love songs (that I had never heard before).

The place I stayed at was wonderful! Almost like a little dorm room and the lady who owned it even supplied me with a picnic-basket breakfast for the next morning. After some reading I went to bed to get an early start the next morning.

I was out to explore by 8am, although nothing was really open. Still, the charming emptiness of the streets allowed me to take in the city without distractions. I didn't have any real sight-seeing plans, so I just aimed to walk the entire length of the two main streets "Laisves" and "Lilnius" to see what I could see. Some of the things along my way included: Town Square Hall, several churches, cathedrals, Kaunas Castle/fort, and some sort of monument to soldiers/war heroes (an eternal flame, see below). There were tons of monuments and statues to various important figures in Lithuanian history, but as I cannot read Lithuanian I could not really determine who any of them were ;) Still, I don't think I have ever seen a European city with quite so many statues/monuments to significant individuals, and Kaunas is actually quite small!

Despite it being cold there in the Baltics, I was really enjoying being all bundled up and strolling along in such a historically preserved city. On my way back to my hotel I bought this pastry that I had seen in many shops/bakeries/grocery stores I had peaked in a long the way. Since it appeared so popular I figured that it was 1. very good and 2. probably something typical of Lithuania, hence I had to try it. I am not sure exactly what it is (and I lacked the language skills to ask), but it was VERY good and VERY addicting ;) There is a picture of it below.

I headed to the bus station to catch my Euroline bus to Riga, Latvia.

PART II: Monday 12 Nov.

The four hour ride back to Kaunas from Riga showed a completely different view of the country side then I had seen on the way from Kaunas to Riga because now everything was covered in Snow!

Once back in Kaunas I had about 3hrs until i had to catch a local bus to get to the airport for m 2210 RyanAir flight to Frankfurt-Hahn. So I did a little shopping down the main streets. I landed about 2400 in Frankfurt-Hahn and went to my hotel (literally right across the street from the terminal).

HIGH LIGHT OF KAUNAS: Getting a picnic-basket breakfast at my hostel and having my first taste of Eastern Europe and loving it!

1. Kaunas Churches and Cathedrals