VILNIUS...a mix of Nature, Traditions and Abandon(PART 1); Old Town Square tour

Tripoto
7th Sep 2018

It all began with a wedding invite to Vilnius in Lithuania. We wove around it an European vacation covering 8 coveted bucketlist countries (Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Rep, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France)...for a person who had never stepped outside India. Initiated by a few inputs from a travel agency, it took me 6 months of extensive study and planning to create a 20 day itinerary which included touristy stuff as well as local experiences. Now I am back with an even bigger list of Do's and Don'ts. But the experience was worth all the Don'ts ..for sure...One life is all we have!

Gaiety, complete abandon...limits are only self imposed....warm hospitality, rich pagan traditions....music and rhythm...that was the Vilnius I experienced...

Day 1
Photo of Vilnius International Airport (VNO), Rodūnios kelias, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

The first sight of Vilnius from the skies..

Photo of Vilnius International Airport (VNO), Rodūnios kelias, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...we land at the Vilnius airport...after flying from Arlanda by Norwegian Flight..

Photo of Vilnius International Airport (VNO), Rodūnios kelias, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...the small yet well kept, beautiful airport...

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...we move to the Old Town Square...

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

..........dancing and music in the square...intrinsic part of their lives.

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

........sit down for a meal, and ironically order swedish specialities, which we missed at Stockholm: meatballs and lingon berries...

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

....lunch environs...

Photo of Cathedral Clock Tower, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

....spot the 18th century Cathedral and the bell tower...the cathedral being dressed up for the Popes visit...

Photo of Bell Tower of Vilnius Cathedral, Cathedral Clock Tower, Šventaragio gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...the bell tower beckons..

Photo of Bell Tower of Vilnius Cathedral, Šventaragio gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...the bravehearted attempt the 300 odd steps....

Photo of Bell Tower of Vilnius Cathedral, Šventaragio gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...while the rest wait....

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...fortlike....remnants of the Royal Castle...hilltop gediminas towers, symbolises the heart of the city....and offers...

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

.....panoramic views of the new city ...as well as..

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

....the old town...

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...the history of the Old Royal Castle...

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

.....the men climb up and wave from the top....which is going to be made accessible...a new lift in the offing....

Photo of Gediminas Castle Tower, Arsenalo gatvė, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

....while we are like two dots in the shade of the building below....

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

.....the mood of the town square....cycling, skate boarding, walking....relaxing, jogging...

Photo of Cathedral Clock Tower, Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

...as clouds gather, we leave old town and move towards a tiny village near Vilnius...

Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar
Photo of Vilnius, Lithuania by Soma Majumdar

We reach our destination for the day....lovely cottages of our friends son's fiancee.