23/01/2012 Vilnius, Lithuania

We got up early and got going to make the most of our time. We started by walking to the ‘egg statue’ a very strange but cool monument then walked down the entrance street to the old town which had 4 – 5 churches, and an archway entrance. We only got a little bit lost briefly… It was cold and snowing quite heavily (around -15 degrees). We walked  through the arch way at the entrance of the old town then made out way to Uzupis, a small town in Vilnius that calls itself a republic! We found the ‘angel statue’ in Uzupis that supposedly hatched out of the egg statue we saw earlier in the day (apparently the egg statue was originally in the main square in Uzupis but the locals decided it wasn’t a prominent enough statue so they took it away and replaced it with an angel which they say ‘hatched from the egg’!). We walked back across the bridge to Uzupis which was covered in ‘love locks’ where on their wedding day locals come and lock a padlock to the bridge and throw the key into the water – you are not supposed to see where the key lands or you will have bad luck in your marriage… We walked back to the hostel past a little market and met the tour guide at the hostel at 12. It was snowing quite heavily again but we went out on the walking tour with the guide. We walked past the oldest church in Lithuania and down the narrowest street in Lithuania. We went back to Uzupis with the tour guide who explained the history behind it all (it is mostly populated by artists and wealthy people). The tour guide took us to Independence square where they celebrate/support all countries seeking independence (such as Tibet).  We walked to a wall that was covered in plaques in different languages listing the rules of the Republic which was fairly entertaining. From there we walked back along the bridge to the old town to an outdoor art gallery (a street covered in art) recognising artists from around the world. We were told about a 600km human chain that started in Vilnius outside the main cathedral and went right up through Latvia and into Tallinn, Estonia celebrating independence. We left the guide at the market street and made a few purchases then walked back to the main square where we found the magic tile outside the cathedral (you stand on it and turn 3 times to the right and make a wish). We walked up castle hill for views out over the city which was really cool – very pretty snow covered roof tops and church spires. We made our way back to the hostel to thaw out for a bit before venturing out to find some Lithuanian cuisine for dinner.

Alanna leaving our hostel with a fresh dump of snow

Our hostel

Outside our hostel

One of the churches on 'the church street'!

Random statue just near our hostel

Looking back to another church just near our hostel

Random statue

'The egg' statue!

Walking around Vilnius old town

Another church...

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town - another strange statue

Walking around Vilnius old town - the church street

One of the churches on church street

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town

On the church street

Walking around Vilnius old town - on the church street

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town - on the church street

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town - another amazing old church

Walking around Vilnius old town - and another...

Walking around Vilnius old town - one of the 5 churches down the entrance street to the old town

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town

Walking around Vilnius old town - a massive old church just near  Uzupis 

Walking around Vilnius old town - a massive old church just near Uzupis  

Walking around Vilnius old town 

Walking around Vilnius old town - another church on the river front looking over to Uzupis  

Walking around Vilnius old town - another church on the river front looking over to Uzupis 

Crossing the river to Uzupis

Love locks on the bridge crossing over to Uzupis

Looking over to Independence Square in Uzupis - with the prayer flags

The angel statue in Uzupis

Uzupis

Walking around Uzupis

One of the old churches in Uzupis

Uzupis

Angel Square in Uzupis

Uzupis

Back to the hostel as the snow starts to fall a little heavier for a midday rest before setting off again

Random art on the walking tour of Vilnius old town

The narrowest street in Vilnius old town

The narrowest street in Vilnius old town

Walking tour of Vilnius old town

A very old church on the walking tour around Vilnius old town

Crossing the bridge back into Uzupis on the walking tour - these are the rules of Uzupis

Another view of a church on the opposite side of the river to Uzupis

Snowy river crossing into Uzupis

Statue of Jesus 'the backpacker' in Uzupis

A closer look at Independence square in Uzupis

Outside the pub in Uzupis

Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis 

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

Walking along side the snowy river in Uzupis

The street 'Art Gallery'

The street 'Art Gallery'

Vilnius old town

Me making a wish on the magic tile outside the cathedral

Alanna making a wish on the magic tile

Walking up to the look out in Vilnius old town

Walking up to the look out in Vilnius old town

Walking up to the look out in Vilnius old town

Looking out over Vilnius old town 

Looking out over Vilnius old town and the river

Looking out over Vilnius old town 

Alanna after a great slide back down from the look out!

Vilnius old town

Alanna in Vilnius old town

Our traditional Lithuanian dinner: beetroot soup and garlic bread 

Our traditional Lithuanian dinner: weird potato pancake things with sour cream and mushroom sauce - interesting!