From Riga to Vilnius

A last stop before the border between Latvia and Lithuania, at the Pilsrundale castle, the "Latvian Versailles". Usually, I am not really interested in this kind of visit, but to be honest this one is rather interesting the building and the park are nice, and the furniture has been gathered all around Europe, to fit with the context.



In Vilnius, some of the streets are lined with churches and amber shops. Between 2 churches, one or several amber shops, and between 2 amber shops, one or several churches...

Below, a picture of St Anne. Napoleon said that he would have liked to take it in his hand and bring it back to France.



Below, the Cathedral, St Casimir, St Francis and Bernardine, St John (in the middle of one of the courtyards of the university), St Nicolas, Sts Peter and Paul's churches. No, it is not becoming an obsession, but the 32 churches of the old town district is a very important part of what is interesting to be seen...





Some of them are really surprising, inside



Talking about surprise, did you know that you can drink amber alcohol ? Not kidding ! You can put small pieces of amber into your favorite alcohol, wait a few weeks until it starts melting, then drink it ! It is supposed to give you strength and energy...



Just a word about a restaurant in the historical Jewish part of the city, Bistro 18, which is absolutely amazing : gorgeous food, a pleasant room and very friendly staff (including a French girl, who has come to Lithuania to follow her boyfriend). I can hardly remember the last time I ate so well !!!

On the other side of the river Vilnia, what the Lithuanian call the twin sister of Montmartre, Uzupis, full of artists studios. On the 2 bridges which lead there, the married couples hand a padlock, on the day of their wedding, and throw the key in the river.



Now it is basket ball time : it is the national sport here, and tonight is the 1st match of the European championship, Lithuania is currently playing against Turkey. Vilnius is completely empty, everybody is at home or in the pubs (where it is very hard to get a drink, all the waiters are also watching the match ;).
It is going to be hot tonight !!!!!

(ooops, I almost forgot : "hello" is "laba diena" in Lithuanian)