Category Archives: Lithuania
For the mass graves, turn right in 300 meters
Just a regular marker in Central and Eastern Europe: I stumbled across this one as I was walking to Europos Parkas from Vilnius, while looking for the geographical center of Europe. But more about that in a separate report, hopefully … Continue reading
In the Middle of Nowhere or in the Center of Europe?
It felt more like the middle of nowhere than the center of Europe, when the bus driver dropped me off at this intersection in the Lithuanian countryside. But the sign was unambiguous. Here it is. The full story is coming … Continue reading
Birthday Trip 2024 to the Center of Europe
I am still chasing after the geographical center of Europe. This time, I am going to Poland and Lithuania. The latter is the perfect destination for my birthday trip, because they celebrate Statehood Day on the same day (6 July). Continue reading
Journey to the Center of Europe
Zur deutschen Fassung. It is July 15th, 2022. The early hours of the day are still morning-pleasantly fresh, although it will turn into a very hot day. There is even a bit of a drizzle in between. The kind of … Continue reading
A Postcard from Trakai
Zur deutschen Fassung. I don’t remember exactly what year I moved to Lithuania. It must have been about ten years ago. But I do remember that it was on July 1st. Because in the same week, on July 6th, was … Continue reading
“Sovietistan” and “The Border” by Erika Fatland
Hier gibt es diese Rezension auf Deutsch. Do you also have so many travel guides at home for countries you never made it to? I still got a Lonely Planet guidebook for Central Asia, which I bought in 2007. Apparently, … Continue reading
Your name in Lithuanian
Each time I receive a message from my bank in Lithuania, I am reminded of the insistence of that language to Lithuanianize foreign names, although I don’t quite understand what’s wrong with my first name, which already ends in a … Continue reading
Random Thoughts (17)
Now I know why it’s called CATalonia: it doesn’t know if it wants to walk through the door or not. Shouldn’t nobody sign no contract that they ain’t read before. (I am now giving legal advice in country lyrics, at … Continue reading
Where is the center of Europe?
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. Reading the book Black Earth, I became aware of a village in Ukraine that was calculated and named as the geographical center of Europe in 1887: Dilove. “Really?“ I wondered, not because I would begrudge Dilove the … Continue reading
Kaunas: European Capital of Culture 2022
As with the choice for 2021, I agree with the election of the European Capital of Culture for 2022. It will be Kaunas in Lithuania. Sadly and inexplicably, during my whole year in Lithuania, I only found one day to visit … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 