Riga to Vilnius was just a quick 4 hour bus journey, landing us in Lithuania in time for lunch! Maybe it was just a nice day but the difference in temperature as we travelled south was noticeable, such that we arrived to blue skies and restaurants flowing out onto the streets as people dined in the sun!
The bus stopped at one side of the old town and our apartment was on the other, so we moseyed through the streets, stopping to sample some of Lithuania's classic dishes - Cepelinai (meat filled, zeppelin shaped dumplings) and Saltibarsciai - (cold beetroot soup)!
True to form we set out in search of sites and, as had become traditional, climbable towers or steeples that would reward us with a view over the city. Gediminas' Hill and Tower was an obvious first stop and just so happened to be free on a Sunday!
More (very dodgy looking) steps were then climbed but this time, up a church tower.
Vilnius is definitely the greenest of all the Baltic capitals, thanks to the lush park right by the Old Town and the river that runs through it. The Hill of Three Crosses, which commemorates (since the 17th century) the seven Franciscan Friars who were supposedly beheaded at the site, looms large over the park and is a wonderful oasis if you want a break from the cobbled streets! But beware: MORE stairs!!
Each night we were greeted with the most glorious sunset at the end of the long boulevard where we were staying - a personal daily highlight!
