Klaipeda

Klaipeda

1. Klaipeda Old Town main street

So we caught a morning bus to Klaipeda in Lithuania. This place was written down in the book as heaven on earth, so we thought we have to go there. We arrived and checked out the tourist information office. Eager to head over to a place called Nida, which is on this sand dune Curonian spit thingy. The accomadation was either booked out or way too much. Which was a bit disapointing at the time.

Anyways we ate lunch at the square where I realised that this town used to be called Memel, the German name. And to my WW2 buff liking Adolf hitler at the balcony of the theatre i was looking at from accross the old town square. Very exciting for me. We chilled out and enjoyed the scene, then headed for the local youth hostel. The only one in town. It was a small cosy one but it was actually better then the party one before because the people werent party animals.

2. The balcony where hitler stood

Also that night we went to check out the night scene. Unfortunatley on a Wednesday night in Klaipeda there isnt one really. I got a vodka and lemonade which just confused the girl serving. She called it a cocktail and came back and checked twice to make sure it was ok. It was some wierd Gold label lituanian vodka stuff. Then we headed around looking for busy bars. We found one which was in the lonely planet as a jazz bar. There was a "jazz band" which considered of a few young 20 year olds singing "I cant help falling in love" by Elvis. We caught the bus back after much walking into pubs and swearing and we were not tempted by all the strip joint signs lying around everywhere!

3. Canal

There was this guy in our hostel who looked 80 but was 65. He said he has spent the last 49 years of his life travelling. He has been a University lecturer and whenever he got his 5 months off a year he travelled. He has been retired the last 10 years and has been travelling for them too. He was really an amazing guy, had been to every country, seen everything. I asked him if he has taken many pictures and he said some guy stole his camera in France in 1965 and he refuses to buy another one!

On the big day when we decided to head out to the spit. We slept in. Well not really. It was 10:30 and everyone else was gone. We went halway down the spit to a place called Juodkrante. We walked about 2 k's to the beach then fell asleep for a couple of hours. Woke up walked back 2 k's to the bus stop and caught the bus a half hour down to Nida. It was a nice little village with a sand dune and sailing ships. But it was overpriced and i was glad to have not stayed there in the end. We caught the last bus back and one of the last ferries back to the mainland. Fell asleep and woke up early to catch the bus to where I am today which is Vilnius. The bus was 4 hours or so. I woke up with a massive headache and wanted to throw up. So much for being healthy again. But im all good now. Heading for Poland in a couple of days. I can now talk in present tence for the first time in a while.

4. The masses cramming on the 1/2 ferry

I am up to date!!

5. The beach

6. Nida

7. Sand Dunes

8. Me not a happy chappy

8. Nida from a high