Kicked off the day with a walking tour of Vilnius. Weather update: 20 degrees and snowing this morning. 
I’m wearing all the layers. Let’s go walking! Our guide, Jelena, was an absolute joy. Such an enthusiastic ambassador for Lithuania.
Unlike Estonia (mostly secular), and Latvia (Lutheran), Lithuania is a deeply Catholic country. Churches everywhere. The biggest minority group in Lithuania are Polish people – almost all signage is in both Lithuanian and Polish.
Fun with Flags
The initial design of the Lithuanian flag was just two horizontal stripes – green and red. It was deemed “too boring”, so they went completely crazy and added a third stripe: yellow. 
Walked by the Presidential Palace. Just as in Estonia and Latvia, the Lithuanians are very strong supporters of Ukraine. 
Jelena suggested a stop at the Church of St. Peter and Paul. Didn’t look like much from the outside, but the inside was spectacular. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a church with such an intricate interior – all white stucco, with over 2,000 white stucco sculptures. Incredible.
Stairs to a super creepy crypt were open, and Jelena said we could walk down if we ducked our foreheads. Did not bump my head, and it did not disappoint on the creepiness scale. Would not want to be down there during a power outage.
Sidebar: Vilnius is only about 50 kilometers from the Belarus border. Normally, I would suggest an adventure across the border to collect another country, but I know better than to go to Belarus right now. I don’t want to be a segment on 60-Minutes.
Ended our walking tour of Vilnius feeling like a popsicle. I’m hoping my toes thaw out by dinner. Stopped at a bakery for a hot beverage and a pastry. This salted caramel situation was incredible.
Time for Lithuanian siesta. 
Cheers! (Until I learn how to say cheers in Lithuanian. )
Travel date: April 11, 2025
What the hell….I thought you came from cold weather people. At what point did it leave the bloodline? Silly question – with you!
😂 Haven’t you heard me complain about the heat?? Honestly, it’s not a blog post from me if I’m not complaining about the temperature. And now I get to add menopause hot flashes to the equation. Ken says I have a temperature comfort zone between 65 and 72. Pretty accurate.
Ohh, that church! Gorgeous.
Right? I have never seen anything like it. Just stunning.
What a charming city. Lithuania is on our list, possibly next year.
I do hope you get to visit!
Thank you for the present-day photos – have never been to Lithuania myself. Yes, it is quite incredible the many differences the three countries have – Catholicism being perchance the main one twixt us in Estonia. Estonia used to be well over 90% Lutheran when I was born, but it was always a ‘courtesy matter’. Actually, the people have a strong affinity with nature and ‘Taara usk’ – the religion of Taara or nature, is these days quietly celebrated by over 70% of people I believe. Here, just south of Sydney, I actually live in ‘Taara Gardens’ which most here do not relate to matters religious 🙂 ! It does lead to a respect of the powers of nature and logic such that abortion, for instance, is used in up to 60% of pregnancies which money- and timewise may simply not be convenient . In many other quite practical ways I’ll omit, so as not to offend anyone, life is lived by logic and not by religious ‘rules’ . . . but look at the achievements in education et al you did not have a chance to experience during your brief stay.
Will have to Google Taara usk!
Vilnius is a city best explored on foot, even if it’s snowy, as when we were there. Actually I quite enjoyed the cold there, at least it was a fresh dry cold, not the damp drizzly stuff of home.
It was quite beautiful in the snow, for sure.