I have really enjoyed my time In Lithuania; I began my visit on the Baltic Sea coast in the town of Klaipeda. Here I really saw the remains
of the last occupational forces in the country, huge concrete apartment blocks
rotting in the climate and in desperate need of repair. They have started to
renovate but for every one they have done there are dozens more in desperate
need of doing. I was able to go to the Curonian Spit national park for the weekend
along with thousands of locals! It is a lovely park some 50kms long by at most
3 kms wide. One side is on the Baltic the other on the Curonian Lagoon. I
managed to walk up to the top of the biggest sand dune, Parnidis Dune, some 52
metres high, for some spectacular views of the National park and into Russia
just 3kms away. Late on Sunday I visited the Hill of Crosses a somewhat thought
invoking monument dedicated to those killed over the years by oppression,
occupation and war! Vilnius is another lovely city where many of the Old
buildings have been restored and turned into touristy outlets. On my visit up
to the Castle View point I counted how many churches I could see, Back in
April, Lubeck claimed 7, here I counted over 20. Most of them having been fully
renovated since independence. The fact that so many survived the Russian
Occupation is a miracle. I was amused to have pointed out to me that Vilnuis make a claim for 2 things, 1 the biggest "I love You in the world"and 2 "To be the centre of Europe" I'll have something to say about that one later! There is also evidence of Russian Occupation in the statues around the city. Many of the other city properties look in a somewhat poor
condition again they await funding to renovate. I was impressed by the scale of
what has been done but it brings back to me the fact that this country still
has a long way to go! I don’t want to sound philosophical but having spoken to lots
of locals in the 3 Baltic states I can see why they want to better themselves
by working away from home, As the young girl who cut my hair in Tallin put it, “We
don’t want hand outs and charity, we want to work, get a fair wage and pay our
way.”She told me she works a 10hour day 6 days a week and has to pay nearly
half her wages to an absent landlord(She didn’t say but I got the distinct
impression he’s a Russian) who refuses to do any repairs to her apartment block.
Another young man told me he and his family want to leave as they feel that
another occupation by Russia could happen! I wonder what I would do in their
position! Coming soon- Poland and
Warsaw!
