MyWay Travel
lithuania
A country is more than just the capital
In October 2018 I went to the third of the baltic countries, Lithuania.Just a couple of days off work and you have the time to visit this neighbour, but don´t stop there. Extend the time and stay a couple of more days and the experience is gonna be even better.I started in the Capital and Vilnius has several interesting museums from the occupation WWII. There is also many religeous buildings as chatedrals and churches with beautiful architecture. The old town is the place to be and there is also the old castle with the iconic hilltop watchout as the main attraction.When enjoyed the city it is easy to find a good restaurant with tasty Lituanian food.I am a fast traveler so Vilnius is made within one day. But if you want to you can stay in the capital and make day tours to other places easily.
![IMG_3771[1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0d596_49d16d3d8dbf460a804d9aa41f980d36~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_398,h_398,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3771%5B1%5D_JPG.jpg)
![IMG_3830[1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0d596_ecf5be11b6d9425aad0f8767162c1dd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_277,h_278,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3830%5B1%5D_JPG.jpg)
If you like spa then go south from Vilnius to the Polish boarder and stay in a 5 star spa hotel. However that is not my kind of thing so I went east with the train to the small village of Trakai. In this beautiful surrounding there is one of the most famous castles in baltikum. Castle of Trakai! Seated in one of the Islands in the lake Galves. The castle museum is great and informative and well worth it. Take the train to Trakai end station and then a nice walk 4km through the town. Take a lunch at the authentic restaurant Senoji for a great local food experience.
​
Kaunas was protected by ten fortresses. In one of the fortresses the ninth, the Nazis started up another concentration camp where 50000 people were killed during WWII.
It´s the second camp I have visited and there is always a very intensive feeling to experience. However we should always be remembered of what happened so it´s important to keep the camps open for visiting.
The fortress is a 20 minute local busride and 1 km walk away.
​
![IMG_3907[1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0d596_8451d89b046b4804b48e4f557ce443df~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_430,h_314,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3907%5B1%5D_JPG.jpg)
The 9th fortress
The train access in Lituania is very good because of the Nazi occupation when they builded up the train network for their troops.
So I continued my journey to Kaunas. Unfortunately there was no game at my dates for Zalgiris Kaunas, one of Europes best basketball teams.
I stayed in one of the best hostels ever in Kaunas called The Monks Bunk. That´s my top pick of accomodation and outside its a great café called Green Café.
​
Keep enjoying Kaunas for a day with a walk and enjoy the local food.
![IMG_3927[1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0d596_5e8ce316c5dc46f49f926cfcfc914d65~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_278,h_370,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3927%5B1%5D_JPG.jpg)
In the north of Lituania there is a very strange place called Hills of crosses. Pilgrims walked to this place for ages and put a cross on the Hill. This was prohibited by law and the russian government. The russians made it punishable to put crosses there and also build a moat to prevent this action.
But this didn´t stop the pilgrims. More crosses were put there and the government took them away. Eventually the people and pilgrims won and today this is a holy place and free to visit...and also free to put your own cross there. Amazing place and well worth the visit. From Silauliai there is a 10 min bussride to the hill. From the city which is not any special there is easy to continue your journey to Latvia and Riga or go back to Vilnius.