Martialis Vilnius

... getting out of the tour commentary.<br><br>Most of the touristy things were still setting up, as it was barely 10am and all self respecting stag parties had only just gone to bed. Mel had been on about finding an amber elephant since Trakai, so we inspected several shops, looking for one that didn't cost the earth. Eventually, he found an elephant striding across a bed of amber chippings, which made him happy.<br><br>Job done, we headed for Poland.<br><br><br>

We arrived into Lithuania after an all nighter on the bus as predicted. We did manage to sleep a bit, as Warsaw wore us out nicely. It's a large flat city, and we walked the lot. I don't know how many miles, but all day on our feet. Most of the city is garish and modern, apart from the Old town which is also modern, but reconstructed as it was before the German's bombed the hell out of it. We learnt all about it in the Poland rising museum which proudly tells the grim ...

... I have the city map, so there shouldn't be any problems." Of course there shouldn't. And I knew there wouldn't be, either. But it was no reason for the two of us not to most seriously start debating things which were otherwise so simple that they hardly merited such a waste of words. However, we had to talk about something. Or did we? And if so, then why? I was not sure. Not any more. But we did. While we talked like that, in essence about nothing in particular, a French couple came ...

... horror of Latvia's past in the hands of the Nazi's and Soviets ** Partying with the sister of an Australian Olympic swimmer ** The apple pie shooters at La Belle Époque - vodka, apple juice and cinnamon, mmm-mmm :-) ** The Eat Riga walking tour, 3 hours walking in the rain no less Last but not least was the city of Vilnius, in Lithuania, another 4 hours away by bus. This time we found the bus had wi-fi internet access so that ...

... hadn't even dipped my toes in the water properly there, as it were, and sitting and waiting to order myself a pizza in this certain "Da Antonio Restoranas" was probably the first big thing I was doing in Vinius. So the exploration of the city had yet to begin. But judging by this first brief look, I liked it. As the capitals go, Vilnius is a midget. Even my country's capital is a bit bigger and beats it in a contest of midgets. But Vilnius is nevertheless the biggest Lithuanian city ...

... amazing wooden sculpture trail through its forest called 'Witches Hill'. The trail had over 70 folk legend themed sculptures, so we spent a good part of the afternoon walking the trail admiring the witches and devil like creatures carved out of the forest trees. It was fantastic! A little out of Joudkrante there were massive colonies of cormorants and heron colonies, so looking up into the treetops they were just everywhere, circling around there huge nests high in the tree's. Mileage - 403

The bus from Riga takes 5 hours to reach Vilnius. We drove over a very flat landscape, with lots of forest. Soon after crossing into Lithuania the bus stops at Birzai National Park, where the driver has a quick lunch. The area sits on very porous rock and there are underground rivers and caves, and over 90,000 sinkholes. There is a warning sign: "Remember that sinkholes are open and new sinkholes appear every year. So watch your step - especially if you have already visited the ...

... swapping stories. Near to midnight the decision is made to sample the nightlife. We walk about 20 yards from the hostel, to a night club, when we have to pay 4GBP to get in I'm petrified that my budget will be in serious jeopardy but once inside unlike English clubs the drinks are the normal rate 1GBP. End up dancing to a strange mix of local, Russian and 80's music until 3 before calling it a night. Day 6 Vilnius Wake up at midday feeling a ...

... we cross into Poland and this evening we have a great hotel by the side of a lake complex outside Vilnius. We have managed to extend our lead over the third car and nibbled a little more away from the leading Mercedes. We have now travelled over 7000 miles from Beijing and the car is beginning to show the stresses of such a journey. The back axle has developed a small leak and the rear wheel mounting on the boot has cracked the boot skin.

... but during the Soviet occupation the Russians bulldozed it. Anyhow the persistent Lithuanian's continued to stick crosses there risking their lives to sneak past the Russian guards. From the Hill of Crosses we hitched the few kilometers into Siauliai and then onto Vilnius. Vilnius is a beautiful place with even more beautiful people. With the exception of estonia, which is on the same level, I have never seen so many amazingly fit women in my life - got to love ...