On to Kaunas

We had an early pick up for the two hour drive to Kaunas. Our driver was the same as on the previous day, as was our vehicle- a roomy VW capable of speeds of 135 km/hr (Barry could see the spedometer).

We arrived too early to check in, so wandered down the street- Freedom Avenue- to find a coffee shop. The closest one was two doors down from our hotel; there may be more coffee shops here than in Victoria!

We wandered down the avenue for a bit then had lunch and soon we were able to check in.

view of Freedom Avenue from our hotel room

Our afternoon itinerary included a 2 hour walking tour of the central part of Kaunas. We began by going down Freedom Avenue, which is currently undergoing massive resurfacing in preparation for its successful bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2022. The pedstrian avenue. the longest in Eastern Europe is 1.7 km long and joins the Old Town with the new.

Lithuanians have a strong pagan history but one that also welcomed the practicing of other religions. This is reflected even in the predominantly Catholic churches, where the steeples are usually topped with a cross that incorporates the pagan sun symbol.

archeological site- ruins discovered recently when a building was to be erected

quiet side street

The Town Hall Square is surrounded by former 16th to 18th century merchants' homes, now mostly converted to restaurants.

There are still functioning seminary schools in the old district, with a nearby statue of Pope John Paul II, the first pope to visit Lithuania.

Statue of a former beloved mayor in front of the Town Hall.

Of course, there is a castle with a tower to climb.

Although our hotel room was charming and we were pleased that it overlooked Freedom Avenue, it was a noisy night, as there was a strip club just around the corner which must have been open until 4:00 am, as evidenced by the groups of jubilant patrons passing under our window throughout the night.