vic.gedris.org

I mentioned before that Mosėdis, Lithuania is known for its rocks and beautiful landscaping. Everywhere you look, there rocks arranged various gardens and public spaces. Not really many sculptures or anything like that, but just big, heavy, interestingly-shaped rocks all over the place. Works very well with all the flowers and other natural landscaping.

I really enjoyed being there. I'd love to go back and walk or bike around while exploring the town.

One more photo from Vilnius, Lithuania last year. This is Gedimino Pilis (Gediminas Castle), part of the Vilnius Castle Complex.

I'm posting this today because it's March 11th, the 20th anniversary of Lithuanian Independence Day. In 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania voted unanimously to re-establish independence from the USSR, who had occupied Lithuania since 1940.

Jen and Saulius on a sidewalk in Mosėdis, Lithuania. This is probably the nicest sidewalk I've ever walked down, and the photo doesn't really show it off as well as I would like. It's actually at a lower grade than the road, and separated by huge rocks (some covered in moss) and all kinds of trees and flowers. Sort of like walking down a fairy-tale forest pathway.

I could just imagine having something as nice as this in our own 'hood.

Yellow house in Mosėdis, Lithuania. Another one to add to my yellow house obsession.

Another bike leaned up against the veterinary pharmacy in Mosėdis, Lithuania.

See also: Red Bike and Green Bike.

Another bike leaned up against the veterinary pharmacy in Mosėdis, Lithuania.

See also: Red Bike and Blue Bike.

I had never heard of the town of Mosėdis in northern Lithuania until the day that Eglė and Saulius took us there. It was a total surprise, off the beaten path, and absolutely gorgeous there. I'm so glad we had such excellent relatives / tour guides!

Mosėdis is basically a small town that is known for its rock collection, rock museum, rocks on display all over town, and umm...rocks rocks everywhere! More on that later.

This photo, however, doesn't really focus on rocks. As we walked past this building, a veterinary pharmacy, I spotted a bunch of bikes parked up against it. So of course I stopped to snap a few photos. Here's the red bike.

See also: Green Bike and Blue Bike.

Šv. Jurgio bažnyčia (St. George's church) in the old town of Kaunas, Lithuania.

This Bernardine monastary and church date back to 1468 when a wooden church was built here. In 1471, they started to build the brick version, which completed by sometime around 1503. In 1812 when Napoleon's army came through, they used the church for storing flour. The last major renovation happened in 1936 but then during the Soviet occupation it was again turned into a warehouse (for medical equipment, apparently) and ended up suffering major interior damage. In between it suffered several fires, wars, and various alterations and reconstructions, but it's still standing.

When we were there in July 2009, it was just starting to undergo some major renovations. It was open to the public, filled with temporary seating, and already being used for masses. The catacombs under the altar are all exposed, and much of the artwork and architectural details are still intact, although damaged. I could have easily spent many hours in there with a camera and tripod, but alas, I only ended up getting a few quick snapshots.

Further reading (Google-translated Lithuanian websites):

• History of the monastary and church
• Wikipedia article

I saw several of these signs around central Kaunas, Lithuania. The official black text says, "Don't honk your horn", and the unofficial addition says, "But I don't have a car."

Before going to Lithuania, I heard horror stories about the traffic and crazy drivers. But to be honest, it was actually pretty calm. Downtown Kaunas was great, but maybe we spent too much time in the pedestrian areas (Laisvės alėja, Vilniaus Gatvė) to notice. :-) And yes, the signs seemed to work as I don't recall hearing any horn-honking.

Kaunas, Lithuania. 2010-07-16.