Final minutes in the Baltics

Will post more on the road, had limited access over the final part of the trip.

Beers across the Baltics

Lithuania is a beer drinking country, with the most famous brands being Svyturys, Kalnapilis, Utenos, Horn and Gubernija. A visit to a kiosk will show that there are more than 50 different brands of beer in this small country. 

I have tried my hardest to sample each and every one. Hope I can find a few of the better ones back home.

Lithuanian Cuisine

Cepelinai

Friends often ask what the food was like when I get back from holiday and I always have the same answer. "It was a lot like the food I eat in Canada". How can that be you may wonder? Well, as Megan will tell you, I like chicken fingers and Caesar salad and a few other things but you get the idea. I have had my fill of cheese pizza, chicken with mushrooms, and other very familiar comfort foods for me. Francois and I have a laugh when choosing a restaurant as his parents would always want something "typico", local food made my someone's granny. I say eiwwwww.

Typical Lithuanian dishes include Cepelinai, thick blobs of potato dough stuffed with cheese or meat or mushrooms. I did try these and liked them, what's not to like, they are deep fried and come topped with bacon or mushrooms in a cream sauce! Another artery clogger is sour cream topped kugelis, that is baked grated potatoes and carrots in the oven. Lithuanians also like the less savoury parts of there livestock. Cow tongue is a fav as well as (now this sounds yummy) Alioniu Skilandis, minced meat smoked in pork bladders. Pork snout with pork tail and trotter beans, pigs ears (I feed them to my dog and he hates them).

Needless to say, when I travel I stick to what I know. I am trying to get Francois to try some of the local delicacies, not having much success. Maybe today. Off to Trakai.

SVYTURYS

Just finished several SVYTURYS EKSTRAS and it's time for bed. What a wonderful day.

Bistro 18

We went for supper last night at Bistro 18. It was the second highest rated restaurant on Tripadvisor and was highlighted in the Lonely Planet, we figured it had to be good and was it ever. We share three appetizers, one entree each and two desserts, lots of bread and five pints of beer and some yummy creme brulee for dessert. Grad total including tip, 60$ Canadian! So cheap.

We had a great day today in the sunshine, well for the most part, wandering the streets (no we are not hooking) and visiting the sights. Just cooked supper at the flat and I finished off a pint of beer that I bought for 40 cents at the super market. Francois was looking out the window while cooking and caught some hobo trying to break into our car. There is nothing in the bloody car and it's a piece of junk. He was trying the doors, a quick scream out of the window scared him off. Fucker.

Tonight we are off to see the Lithuania Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are so affordable we can't not go.

We have to walk two kilometers and it is thundering, lightening and raining like crazy, Oh, and it just started to hail. Wish me luck. Who cares, we are on holiday....

Vilnius

Riga

Riga truly is the heart of Latvia and dates back to the early 13th century. It has grown to become not only the largest city in the country but in the Baltics. There is a lot to see and do in this town and has been named a World Heritage Site. The seductive Old Town with narrow alleys and a medieval atmosphere and cobblestone streets, that Latvian women have little trouble maneuvering in 5 inch heels, it's a skill.

The Old Town, besides being littered with numerous strip-clubs, offers a brilliant 14th century Hansa-styled cathedral, an old Livonian castle dating back to the early 12th century where the current Latvian president's residence. You can't miss the famous House of the Blackheads near St.Peters Church and the river Daugava, the huge christmas tree is also a dead give away.

Anyone visiting Riga should take a walk up to the Albert and Elisabetes Street and check out the famous Art Noveaux buildings, works of famous architects like Eizenstein, Scheffel and Peksens and some of the most beautiful in Europe. It's easy to find, just follow all of the other tourist carrying their Lonely Planet guides, looking up at building and true works of art. We spent the better part of the day taking pictures, sipping lattes and just generally enjoying our time in such a breathtaking city.