Made it, just. - Vilnius, Lithuania
4 Stars This place was Great visited Aug 15, 2005
Country count: 36+1+half Another car and a truck later, we found ourselves at dusk on the side of a beautiful new freeway in the middle of the north of Lithuania, waving our thumbs at passing cars while admiring the sunset and assessing the local area for possible places to discreetly put up a tent for the night. We weren't really expecting another lift, but while standing on the side of the road, you may as well put a thumb out! We were in luck. A Lexus pulled up, and a young man with excellent english offered to take us all the way to Vilnius. Turns out he was a professor in law at the local university, spoke English, Russian, Italian, French and Lithuanian, was well travelled and provided fascinating conversation all the way to Vilnius. When he heard we hadn't booked a hostel yet, he asked us to stay in his enormous flat (we had a choice of rooms) and to show us around Vilnius the next morning. He had a red baseball cap that said in large white letters "I *heart* JESUS". So it seems he was a Jesus freak, or rather, Jesus Geek, but apart from the hat - and the religious art around his house - it didn't show too much! Having our own personal tour guide and chauffeur was a great introduction to the city. The next morning he rang the hostels we had mentioned we were going to try, arranged us two dorm beds, and drove us there. Then he drove us to the centre, through his university, pointed out some sights, and took us to the main cathedral square and the KGB prison museum, before having a light lunch in a cafe on the main street and then leaving us to finish exploring the town on our own. It was lovely. I've added a half to my country count, becuase while in Vilnius we visited the Republic of Uzupio, a small artists' enclave in Vilnius that has declared independence. Not that anyone has noticed, I don't think. But they think they are their own autonomous country, and even have a constitution that includes such things as "Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat". It was a cute place. Next: Poland