Long Way Round Europe 2010: Κυνηγώντας όνειρα σε 13 χώρες...

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Trakai

First stop abroad was in Lithuanian Trakai with colourful Karaitic houses.

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We went of course to see beautiful castle.



(Do you see padlocks on a bridge? There is a tradition that came from Latvia or Lithuania of putting padlocks on a bridge. You come with your love, write your names, lock padlock on a bridge and through the key out to a river. Love forever!
Here only few padlocks because the bridge is on a road, outside a city)

I can even prove that I was there






(I thought that princesses stay in castles and knights are away on battles! )

On exhibition inside the castle you can see Karaites (on the left) and Tatars (on the right) who were living in this area:

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Camping in Trakai was really nice. I could try finally the famous tent



We were not the only bikers there!



And from where was the oldie? From Poland!

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Vilnius was a big surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting so beautiful, modern city! I knew how it was 10 years ago and from this time it changed a lot! Whole center newly renovated, clean and in bright colours.

Vilnius by night:















Impressive, isn’t it?
And colours of the skyyyyy!

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Vilnius in a daylight:




Old and modern.


Town hall (something understandable! “ratusz” )


The Gate of Dawn – obligatory point in all Polish trips to Vilnius.

Just next to it something completely different:

What is it? You have written even in Polish Wax figures museum.

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Sometimes in foreign cities you have to be prepared for different traffic regulations and signs...

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Next point of our journey was The Hill of Crosses.
We started late, it was getting dark and Nikos was getting nervous that we will not arrive there in daylight. But I didn’t know where are we, where do we go and how far is it... So I was observing clouds...
Finally we managed to reach the hill:



The place made melancholy impression on me... (maybe it was especially after morning visit in KGB museum...)

Older part looked like old, neglected cemetery:





Top of the hill brought to my mind place of execution..





Althought it shouldn’t. Crosses don’t symbolize only death, they were signs of prayer, love, requests for blessing...
I saw a cross of newlyweds:



family:



from all over the world:


(do you recognize writing on the two crosses in the middle? )

Some crosses were really beautifully decorated:



And some scenes looked rather scary



You could find there not only crosses:



or...

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Languages

Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian are not understandable... Luckily we didn’t have to (try to) use it
But maybe you would like to try?
Instruction “How to wash hands” from toilet in petrol station (you can check if you do this correctly ):

First question – what language is that?
.
.
.
.
.
Lithuanian

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We change country.

Riga
Rain, rain, rain and too small umbrella ...

After whole day’s experiences we arrived to camping and didn’t even go to eat.
Hhrrrrrr.....
And... tap! tap! tap!


After complicated operation of assembling tent (in heavy rain) and packing (in heavy rain) next morning we went by taxi (in heavy rain) to see (in heavy rain) the city.
The city is probably much more beautiful when it’s not raining

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On one of the squares there was some funny monument with animals.
The Four Musicians of Bremen! (if you don’t know this Grimm’s fairy tale: The Four Musicians of Bremen )



I asked my Latvian student, (σ.σ.: η Alicja ειναι καθηγητρια πολωνικων) but he didn’t know what does it have to do with Riga..