Lithuania, the name means Rain.... and rain it does...

Hi All

Well it has done nothing but rain for the last three days. It is cold and wet and all I had was sandals... I had gotten rid of my enclosed shoes in Greece, my feet were boiling, now they are freezing!!! After our 2 tours today I walked to the nearest shopping centre, it wasn't very big but has a large supermarket, a bit like an Aldi or Tesco. On the way there I walked through the longest puddle you have ever seen and drenched my last pair of shoes. I was looking for another umbrella (mine died today, the first time I have used it, I brought it in Copenhagen to replace the one I broke in Greece when I fell over, crappy piece of trash it was), and a pair of enclosed shoes. I found the umbrella okay, but the shoes were another matter. All the store had was sandals, why I do not know they get rain 200 days of the year... Anyway then I spotted some gumboots, long and short. The short ones had flowers or red tartan, yep hard decision... I went with the red tartan, so Sheonagh will have to forgive me, as I am sure I will be wearing the wrong tartan for my clan, but my feet are dry for the first time in 3 days. They are the ugliest shoes I have ever seen, I mean they are really bad, but my feet are toasty warm. On the way back from the supermarket I saw a girl just getting out of the enormous puddle and stamping her feet to get the water out of her shoes, as I passed her she looked down at my feet and I smiled to myself. I thought "Yep love, they are dead ugly, but my feet are warm and dry." I then proceeded to stomp happily through the puddle, it was brilliant, dry feet.


Lithuanian countryside

Lithuania is quite pretty, it has some okay old buildings and it is lovely and green. We saw more churches today and a castle on an island, I wasn't that fussed and left early to do some souvenir shopping, but couldn't find anything. I am very doubtful I will find a charm for my bracelet here, bugger!!!


Inside on of the churches. They saved the churches from Stalin by filling them with paintings etc and using them as museums. They weren't in time to save them all, but have saved many. The communists only allowed a few churches to remain open to fool the foreign dignitaries that travelled through the country, the rest they destroyed


One of the altars


The castle on the island, I can't remember it's name!! Yeah it made a huge impression on me...


Within the castle walls..

Johanna was rather quiet today, I escaped her at breakfast again, 3 other people took a turn at her table, it was bliss. On the bus she only talked about a quarter of what she normally does, it was a good day. I think she was tired on the bus on the way home and tonight she has gone to the dinner and I have not, a quiet night, bliss....

I don't have many pictures to share with you as the rain is rather a nuisance when trying to take pictures, especially with the high wind, I don't want to risk getting water on the lens, it is Learra's camera, not mine.... I would be shot!!


One of the streets in the old town.

Tomorrow we head to Latvia so another long bus trip, it is about 300 klms, but the roads are not highways so the bus does not travel fast.

Today I called home, I set up the Skype last night so I can call home phones or mobiles very cheaply. I talked to Learra for 11 minutes and it was 47 cents Australian. Not bad. I then called Kearie on her mobile and my Mum in Australia. I tried to call my sister Narelle, but she was out to dinner, but I got to speak to her son Dalton, so that was good. It was great to hear their voices, the lines were really good, quite clear and no rush as I knew it wasn't costing me a fortune. So great day all round.

I have no more news so until later

Lones