Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania. A bit of a drizzle this morning but we started our sightseeing at the church of St. Peter and St. Paul. You wouldn’t know it from the look of the exterior but the interior is like a spectacular basilica. The pure white walls are crowded with over two thousand baroque mouldings of biblical, historical, allegorical and mythological figures, ghoulish and demonic gargoyles, plague, flora and beasts. Walls are adorned with gilded icons, paintings and statues. A glittering chandelier, made from brass and crystal glass beads, in the shape of a ship hangs from the soaring domed ceiling. A delightful surprise.

We joined our guide Emelia for a walking tour of the Old Town. We saw the Jesuit University, the Gates of Dawn, the last of nine gates from medieval times, and the old market square with sellers hawking ‘suvenrais’ (souvenirs) and handmade crafts.

Jerry and Ron

We toured the Museum of Genocide Victims, a former Soviet KGB headquarters now a collection of historical memorabilia of grim and painful events during the Cold War. The holding cells for prisoners, interrogation and eavesdropping rooms, solitary confinement, soundproof padded cell with straitjacket, small exercise yard, torture chambers, execution chamber and the site of a mass grave in the basement. Chilling.

Holding cells

In the afternoon, we took a short drive out to the reconstructed 14^th century Trakai Castle situated on an island on Lake Galve. A wonderfully restored fortress complete with a drawbridge in a picturesque setting on a beautiful lake. Not far from the castle was a treasure trough of market stalls for shopping for amber and handmade gifts.

Trakai Castle

Jerry on the drawbridge

Arthur and Lancelot

In the evening, we enjoyed an authentic Lithuanian dinner of local specialities at a restaurant in a cellar of Old Town. Musicians and singers in traditional costumes entertained us and drink flowed freely.

Linda and Skaudvilas on the Squeezebox

 Linda and Diane on percussion