LITHUANIA; Hill of Crosses and Klaipeda

We cross the border into Lithuania; it is less forested and flatter compared to the other Baltic States. The population of Lithuania is 2.7 million, and it is the same size as Latvia (population 2 million). The Lithuanian language is the oldest spoken European language. There is no German influence here in general, and the country is more closely associated with Poland - they are both strongly Catholic- and it has a stronger "East European" feel (particularly in Central Lithuania); there have been several rebellions against Russia over the years.

The Hill of Crosses is in northern Lithuania, near Siauliai, and it is believed crosses were first placed here after the 1831 Uprising; it represents a symbol of defiance for both anti-Russian rule and for pro-Catholism - there are thousands of crosses here now. The Russians have tried to bulldoze it down, but it split! The Hill of Crosses is now both a major pilgrimage site and a major tourist attraction.

We then drive on to Klaipeda, a city on the coast of Western Lithuania. It was originally a Teutonic Knight Fortess town, becoming part of Prussia and was known as the German name of Memel. The town was destroyed during the Russian invasion in WWII and rebuilt as a Soviet city; a small part of the Old Town area remains. It is now an important Lithuanian city as it is the country's only seaport; all oil and import / import is done here, and shipbuilding is a major industry. Its location, where the River Dane meets the Baltic Sea, makes it a very windy place. The main attraction is the Curonian Spit National Park.

The next day, I have a quick explore of the Old Town on my own, as described on the picture captions.Read more