... something about Lithuania

 
Over Lithuania today only few german know to say somewhat. At the same time Lithuania has thoroughly a reference to Germany. Lithuania was once in part of german occupies, the earlier Memelland. Are so To find some references out of this time yet. The river Memel is named Nemunas and the city Memel now Klaipeda. Lithuania belongs by the way to the three Baltic countries, and only first in beginning of the ''90's became independent.

The beer (alus) :
It will surprise perhaps someone, but Lithuania has an independent beer cultivation. There is an astonishing amount of beer sorts and these are as different as in Germany. Often strong beers are available that contain more than 7,5% alcohol (dark and light), also light alcohol sorts too.
I myself did not try yet all sorts, because they're in Germany heavily available. It tastes usually especially and gets even international prices. He who is interested, can look for example in www. svyturys. lt (Klaipeada) or www. utenosalus. lt, without advertising meaning.
In any case for all beer drinkers, the trying is a must.

The coffee:
It gives to drink a type of coffee in Lithuania, that me (and also the Lithuanian) as a "lithuanian coffee" in the memory remained is. That is usually "Jacobs Krönung" coffee powder in the cup or pot, filled with boiled water. That saves yet considerably on expense.

Who does a trip:
To travel to Lithuania is actually very simple. Only the large distance should not to be neglected. Who wants quickly time for a couple of day there, should travel with airplane. For that there are differently flight connections to Vilnius in partly quite different price situations. It passes of special in the internet from 175,- Euro plus costs, up to ca. 1500 Euro. Who itself wants to make efforts, to seek and be flexible, can save some money. And it quickly goes also yet. Stuttgart - Vilnius directly should be possible in ca. 3 hours.
With the bus it is the most favorable, the small trip price (e.g.. Stuttgart-Kaunas back ca 150 Euro) makes itself astonishingly. And it is comfortable: getting into bus and other day get out. There are different bus-companies, that go to Lithuania. The line of the "Eurolines" goes ca. 2 times a week forward and back (www.eurolines.de). This bus-company goes from several cities of Germany out to Kaunas and Vilnius, or further. Here modern vehicles are inserted with up to four drivers alternating itself in the trip. A trip lasts then (In good weather) about "only" 24 -26 hours. The recesses are short.
Also the Minibus firms are a possibility to trip. Little buses (like Ford Transit) are there, which are different "comfortable" completed. Such buses are actual sooner for Lithuania connoisseur to recommend because you have to reckon with so many peculiarities. Would be it, that the bus is full, or has a large delay around a day, or defective situation shelter or because of overfatigue somewhere of several hours recesses inserted will, so can it thoroughly to 46 Hours trips and more come as far as you arrives with the same bus. For that these buses pick up you also in your own city and take you there where you want to go. Only they do that also for others and it can lead to that you sees much of Germany, before it really goes on.
With the train it is thoroughly possible, to travel. Herefor you have change stops in Germany often, as well as longer stops in Berlin and Warsaw. Not each connection will be happily selected: Which who travels over Munich- Prague, can expect an connection in Poland, under circumstances, to Lithuania first at the subsequent day.
With the own car remain natural all freedoms receive the mobility in the vacationer. Before is however advisable to inform itself on the page of the Foreign Office www. aa. de over trip references. It has already supposed to have occurred, that car missing come up. Also our vehicle was tried to break open. But that happens in many vacation countries, is accordingly to give respect.
To consider is, for so a long auto trip, naturally the own condition and possibility of driver changing. Basicly is to dissuade of a marathon tour Kaunas -Stuttgart in 22 hours. Therefore it is better, to plan somewhere quiet night. In Poland this should be in a hotel with supervised parking lot. Which who wants to travel with the tuned sport vehicle, will notice soon, that the streets not everywhere are suited with. There are sections, which scream that suspicious after repair. The holes/pits and trace grooves, seek here its equal. Also caution with the gasoline is advised: there are yet 80 octanes gasolines and naturally also 98 superplusavailable. Only once the vehicle wanted not more to go out, although the ignitions was turned off. Selfignition in the benzin-car?
But once arrived, you can enjoy there straight empty streets and freeways through apparently endless expanses.
With the motorcycle , I have yet no trip reports.

Sport possibilities:
Lithuania is relatively flatly, and has much snow in the wintertime. Strange manner that ice-skating is therefore possible usually only in the hall. Inlineskating does there only the fewest, because the adult are at work anyway and the ways are partwise in a bad condition for that. Also the cycling is not so spreaded there like here, also because of the streets condition.
Which who likes to Paragliding, can do itself there for hours with amuse, in even wind, a couple of meter above the ground of the dunes of the kurian spit of land in Nida.
Otherwise the Lithuanians frequently are mad for Baketball yet, one of them is superstar of NBA, Sabonis.
Who seeks far and wid forests, without immediately a village to see or a house, he is here at the correct address.
In the snowy winters are many block houses in the forest only to reach with the skis.

The meal:
Have a meal in Lithuania is no problem. It reminds to the german cooking, also if there is a couple of thing, that may germans seems to be exotic. It will be cooked there often with potatoes, in addition also pork or bacon. Zepelinai for example are similar to potato dumplings half&half, filled, oblong looking like a zeppelin, and tastes good. Generally the lithuanian cooking has a "heavy" character as well as the old german cuisine. To the difference in this country the meat and also other products there are more tasteful as that, bought here in the supermarkets.

Shop:
The course of the Litas was fixed this year (2002) on Euro, and Amounts to 3,4528 Litas for 1 Euro. In Lithuania, it gives almost to buy all you want, especially in the gigantic supermarkets as well as maxima. In Vilnius, this year opened a new Hypermaxima. It reminds strongly of France with its supermarkets on that Green meadows. Yet domestic products are comparatively cheap To have. Import ware costs as much as in Germany also. But the customs determinations make a stroke through the calculation in too generous shopping.