Vilnius, Lithuania

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 11:55 pm

Isn't it where they make batteries for mobile phones?

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 8:42 pm

Which one of those buildings in Skopje does Trump own?

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:54 pm

It's a couple of weeks later than planned but here is my update!

Had a great time in Vilnius so thanks to all those who made suggestions. It was very cold with the lowest temperature being around -10 (with the apparent real feel being -15) which is much colder than I'm used to in Barcelona!

CarlesTheClaretPuyol - We did go to Bambalyne in the end and really enjoyed it. Great suggestion. Was very quiet when we went and we enjoyed the chilled atmosphere (and the beer!). We didn't go to Bistro 18 or the Meat Lover's Pub though they were high up on our list. We found both but just had so many other places we wanted to go as well

A few people mentioned the KGB museum which we went to on our last full day. A very interesting yet haunting experience and a place where we could have easily spent the whole day if we'd had more time.

Some highlights included exploring the Christmas market, going up the icy path to Gediminas Tower and visiting Trakai Castle outside of the city. We also went to a basketball match which was a great experience.

We were lucky to go to some really good restaurants and while we really enjoyed the local food, the highlight was going to Boom Burgers - highly recommended!

CarlesTheClaretPuyol · Post by **CarlesTheClaretPuyol** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:11 pm

IndigoLake wrote:It's a couple of weeks later than planned but here is my update!

Had a great time in Vilnius so thanks to all those who made suggestions. It was very cold with the lowest temperature being around -10 (with the apparent real feel being -15) which is much colder than I'm used to in Barcelona!

CarlesTheClaretPuyol - We did go to Bambalyne in the end and really enjoyed it. Great suggestion. Was very quiet when we went and we enjoyed the chilled atmosphere (and the beer!). We didn't go to Bistro 18 or the Meat Lover's Pub though they were high up on our list. We found both but just had so many other places we wanted to go as well

A few people mentioned the KGB museum which we went to on our last full day. A very interesting yet haunting experience and a place where we could have easily spent the whole day if we'd had more time.

Some highlights included exploring the Christmas market, going up the icy path to Gediminas Tower and visiting Trakai Castle outside of the city. We also went to a basketball match which was a great experience.

We were lucky to go to some really good restaurants and while we really enjoyed the local food, the highlight was going to Boom Burgers - highly recommended!

Really glad you enjoyed it, I've just come back from a weekend in Riga and really enjoyed it, however Vilnius edges it (it jogged my memory to check this thread and see if you'd posted anything about your trip!)

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:19 pm

CarlesTheClaretPuyol wrote:Really glad you enjoyed it, I've just come back from a weekend in Riga and really enjoyed it, however Vilnius edges it (it jogged my memory to check this thread and see if you'd posted anything about your trip!)

I am going in 4 weeks. This thread is what prompted me to book it at the time. Also going to Minsk and maybe Riga.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:32 pm

CarlesTheClaretPuyol wrote:Really glad you enjoyed it, I've just come back from a weekend in Riga and really enjoyed it, however Vilnius edges it (it jogged my memory to check this thread and see if you'd posted anything about your trip!)

Nice, we're planning on going to Riga and finally Tallinn at some point in the future!

Both look very nice and everyone has an opinion on which they prefer. Having looked at photos of the cities, Riga looks to be particularly pretty.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:32 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:I am going in 4 weeks. This thread is what prompted me to book it at the time. Also going to Minsk and maybe Riga.

Fully expect an update following your travels

CarlesTheClaretPuyol · Post by **CarlesTheClaretPuyol** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 3:57 pm

Riga is definitely pretty, and if you're a fan of ales and craft beer then the choice there was outstanding - check out Labietis beer. They have a stall in the central market, which is worth a visit, and they also have a brewery bar (bit out of town but worth the trip) with a mind boggling selection of ales, both standard and bizarre - juniper beer, wildflower infused beer and one that tasted like smoky bacon!

Vilnius edged it for me as it was a bit more refined, the architecture was better and the choice of restaurants was wider, however it's very close run.

Hopefully next for us is Romania, heard good reports about Cluj, Lviv in Ukraine or Debrecen in Hungary. Also as a final tip, I couldn't recommend Wizz (Hungarian) as a budget airline highly enough.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:02 pm

CarlesTheClaretPuyol wrote:Riga is definitely pretty, and if you're a fan of ales and craft beer then the choice there was outstanding - check out Labietis beer. They have a stall in the central market, which is worth a visit, and they also have a brewery bar (bit out of town but worth the trip) with a mind boggling selection of ales, both standard and bizarre - juniper beer, wildflower infused beer and one that tasted like smoky bacon!

Vilnius edged it for me as it was a bit more refined, the architecture was better and the choice of restaurants was wider, however it's very close run.

Hopefully next for us is Romania, heard good reports about Cluj, Lviv in Ukraine or Debrecen in Hungary. Also as a final tip, I couldn't recommend Wizz (Hungarian) as a budget airline highly enough.

wizz air is great. used it for ukraime italy and serbia doesnt feel like a budget airline

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:03 pm

IndigoLake wrote:Nice, we're planning on going to Riga and finally Tallinn at some point in the future! Both look very nice and everyone has an opinion on which they prefer. Having looked at photos of the cities, Riga looks to be particularly pretty.

Tallinn is very nice. Not as cheap as i expected nd far smaller. But its nice. Wrap up. Was freezing when we went which no doubt states the obvious.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:04 pm

IndigoLake wrote:Fully expect an update following your travels

Indeed

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 4:05 pm

CarlesTheClaretPuyol wrote:Riga is definitely pretty, and if you're a fan of ales and craft beer then the choice there was outstanding - check out Labietis beer. They have a stall in the central market, which is worth a visit, and they also have a brewery bar (bit out of town but worth the trip) with a mind boggling selection of ales, both standard and bizarre - juniper beer, wildflower infused beer and one that tasted like smoky bacon!

Vilnius edged it for me as it was a bit more refined, the architecture was better and the choice of restaurants was wider, however it's very close run.

Hopefully next for us is Romania, heard good reports about Cluj, Lviv in Ukraine or Debrecen in Hungary. Also as a final tip, I couldn't recommend Wizz (Hungarian) as a budget airline highly enough.

Going to romania in june to timosoara. My mum and sister went bucharest and loved it. Only part of the region ive not done.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 6:05 pm

Couple of weeks until this trip now. Visa process has changed for Belarus meaning free entry by air. But still need one for travelling by land and the embassy hasnt replied yet.

Anyone been to Grodno?

May just look to do Kaunas and Riga instead.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:16 pm

IndigoLake wrote:Fully expect an update following your travels

Well just back this weekend. Slightly later than expected - had a serious issue with the plane and just as it was about to reach V1 speed the engine cut out and we had to do an emergency abort -

Talk about squeaky bum time. Mrs is already a very nervous flier and refused to get back onboard. They ended up swapping the plane but the incident (and the info the crew gave us) prompted us to do in a spontaneous inter rail trip home

Anyway - the trip itself was amazing. Vilnius is a fantastic city. Even better than I was hoping. There was a food and craft festival on while we were on which added to it. Must have covered every inch of the city by foot.

We did much of what was on the above list and coincidentally also did the KGB museum on our last day too.

Went to Uzupis - a very bohemian vibe there. Really liked it there.
Great food, bars, restaurants all over the city - very cool place!
Got the bus to Riga for a few days. Nice there but preferred Vilnius to be honest. Both very nice and both unique too. I have been to many Eastern Bloc cities and these dont feel like any or indeed each other.

Some stunning churches and architecture.

Went to the National Opera theartre and even watched the Ballet there which was an experience

Trakai castle which was nice. Stayed there for a night.

Food was brilliant everywhere.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:17 pm

Few pictures here from both Lithunia and Latvia. Would highly recommend both to anyone thinking about it.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:17 pm

Few more

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:19 pm

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:20 pm

One last batch

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:23 pm

Lithuanian is a lot like Polish. They have a lot of very tall people there. I don't know why. I went to university with a bloke called Romus Blekaitus whose parents were Lithuanian. He was about 6' 4', but generally as dumb as a stump. He liked to play armyman, and was a member of the Canadian Forces reserves. Problem was, he kept assault rifles under his bed. When I think about it now, I just shake my head.

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:27 pm

That last picture, cricketfields, looks like somebody has taken inspiration from Sean Dyche's painting in Burnley. Not as inspirational, however.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:31 pm

ontario claret wrote:That last picture, cricketfields, looks like somebody has taken inspiration from Sean Dyche's painting in Burnley. Not as inspirational, however.

Plenty of it over there but none of the great man

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:55 am

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Well just back this weekend. Slightly later than expected - had a serious issue with the plane and just as it was about to reach V1 speed the engine cut out and we had to do an emergency abort - Talk about squeaky bum time. Mrs is already a very nervous flier and refused to get back onboard. They ended up swapping the plane but the incident (and the info the crew gave us) prompted us to do in a spontaneous inter rail trip home

Anyway - the trip itself was amazing. Vilnius is a fantastic city. Even better than I was hoping. There was a food and craft festival on while we were on which added to it. Must have covered every inch of the city by foot.

We did much of what was on the above list and coincidentally also did the KGB museum on our last day too.

Went to Uzupis - a very bohemian vibe there. Really liked it there.
Great food, bars, restaurants all over the city - very cool place!
Got the bus to Riga for a few days. Nice there but preferred Vilnius to be honest. Both very nice and both unique too. I have been to many Eastern Bloc cities and these dont feel like any or indeed each other.

Some stunning churches and architecture.

Went to the National Opera theartre and even watched the Ballet there which was an experience

Trakai castle which was nice. Stayed there for a night.

Food was brilliant everywhere.

Fantastic, thanks for the update! Sounds like you had quite the adventure getting back home! I think my Mrs would have been much the same had there been an issue with the plane.

Nice one for attaching so many photos - it's interesting to see Vilnius without all the snow. It's almost a completely different city! It was absolutely freezing when we went, particularly on the day we were to Trakai - crossing that bridge with icy winds is not something I'd like to repeat again, haha.

Good that you got to see and do so much. Was there a fairly old woman selling the tickets at the KGB museum? We found her to be really rude and upon checking TripAdvisor found we weren't the only ones! Anyway, we enjoyed the museum regardless. We'll be going to Riga next (of the 3 Baltic capitals).

Uzupis is indeed pretty cool. Although it was a ghost town when we went!

Edit - By the way, did you go to Minsk in the end?

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:03 am

IndigoLake wrote:Fantastic, thanks for the update! Sounds like you had quite the adventure getting back home! I think my Mrs would have been much the same had there been an issue with the plane.

Nice one for attaching so many photos - it's interesting to see Vilnius without all the snow. It's almost a completely different city! It was absolutely freezing when we went, particularly on the day we were to Trakai - crossing that bridge with icy winds is not something I'd like to repeat again, haha.

Good that you got to see and do so much. Was there a fairly old woman selling the tickets at the KGB museum? We found her to be really rude and upon checking TripAdvisor found we weren't the only ones! Anyway, we enjoyed the museum regardless. We'll be going to Riga next (of the 3 Baltic capitals).

Uzupis is indeed pretty cool. Although it was a ghost town when we went!

Edit - By the way, did you go to Minsk in the end?

Yes they old lady was there. I didnt think much of it at the time but I dod notice haha. In fairness her generation probably saw more than we would ever imagine and couple that with working in a place as grim as the museum with loads of nosy excited foreigners i forgive her haha

Didnt go to Minsk went to Riga instead. Though I really fancy Minsk I think Riga is probably a better option with the other half. So we did the opera theatre in Lithuania instead. Besides we got to see Warsaw, Berlin, Koln, Brussels, London and Liverpool on the way home.

It was cold and sometimes wet when we were there. Latvia was colder and snowier as you would expect. The drive through lithuania into Latvia is far more scenic than you may imagine albeit very flat. So if its cheaper to fly to Vilnius it might be worth looking at that and getting the lux bus. Can get for 5 euros if you book early, its a nice journey and the best buses ive ever been on. Very relaxing and comfortable, free tea and coffee, free wifi and built in ipads that we used to map out our plans in riga.

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