THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Mon, 7th January, 2013 - Posted by - (1) Comment
The Hill of Crosses (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising. Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100,000 in 2006.
Mon, 7th January, 2013 - Posted by - (0) Comment
When it comes to ice, one thinks of skating or cocktails. It is only in Lithuania and other cold countries that people associate it with fishing!
It is cold, kind of boring and the fish are usually just so-so. But have a look at any Lithuanian lake in winter and you will see that they are all perforated with holes and crowded with people staring longingly into them – there must be something to it. Lars Bryne went to investigate.
Sat, 1st December, 2012 - Posted by - (0) Comment
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KAUNAS IN FOCUS |
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Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city and former capital, is receiving much attention in VilNews this winter. We focus on history, business, culture, innovation, tourism and more. We would also like to hear from you who have your personal Kaunas story to tell... Send us your Kaunas story!
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Visit Kaunas this winter!
Why not visit Kaunas this advent? Let’s give you some good reasons. See below.
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Kaunas – the taste of real Lithuania!
By Arnas Menciūnas, Welcome to Kaunas, the city which has mostly preserved the national character of the country, offering plenty of activities to everyone. Visit the heart of Lithuania and experience it‘s unique atmosphere: Feast here! Kaunas is home to a variety of festivals and events, including the famous Kaunas Jazz festival, Hanza days, Operetta, Pažaislis Classical Music festival, Bike show, Kaunas city days, Songs festival (listed by UNESCO), International Modern Dance Festival and much more. Visit! The remarkable Old Town which is a collection of ancient architectural monuments: the remnants of the 14th century with remains of Kaunas castle, the buildings of the Middle Ages in the Gothic and the Art Déco styles. The Kaunas Fortress is a valuable military heritage composed of a number of constructions that used to be a military complex. There are nine Forts around the city and the IXth Fort serves a museum. The macabre collection of nearly 3,000 devils at the Devils' Museum and the exhibitions showing the unique artistic styles of composer and painter M. K. Ciurlionis, as well as J. Maciunas initiator of the avant-garde Fluxus art movement. Taste it! The centre-piece of Lithuanian cuisine is dark rye bread. It is shown a great respect and even called "holy" and Lithuanians link many beliefs and magic with it. The great opportunity to taste it is to have soup in a bread bowl. Lithuanian drinks have very old traditions, to get to know them the "Stumbras" museum offers a guided tour of the history and tasting of strong drinks. Among the multitude of things that make any Lithuanian swell with pride (rich history, amber, beautiful nature, basketball, etc.), there is one that has a special place in his heart. This source of pride is the Lithuanian Beer. Make a wish! The beautiful confluence of two biggest Lithuanian rivers is well known for a magical saying - the Nemunas river is a male and the Neris is a female . The meeting of two rivers is considered as a marriage of a couple. Two rivers meet in Kaunas, they join and never split up! For those who want their dreams to come true it‘s a right place to go on rendezvous. See it! The whole Lithuania in one place is in the open air museum in Rumšiškės, which is the biggest open air museum in Eastern Europe. The museum with its collection of authentic wooden villages represents different regions of Lithuania: Zemaitija, Aukstaitija, Dzukija, Suvalkija and Lithuania Minor. Ride on it! The Funicular - a unique mean of transportation, is still in use today, including the genuine pre-war wagon, wooden seats, and stop platforms. Even today the funicular takes people up to the hill, from which the panorama of the Kaunas city centre and Old town is wide open. Kaunas is the only city among Baltic States, where such means of transportation is available. Sail! The biggest man-made water basin in Lithuania, which is surrounded by a wonderful landscape. Kaunas Sea is a perfect place for water activities. So see you on the deck! If you want to feel the real Lithuanian spirit, visit Kaunas and discover it. The heart of Lithuanian culture, tradition and history is just waiting to be discovered. Hotel news in 2012 IBIS KAUNAS CENTRE (opened in April, 2012) The Ibis Kaunas Centre hotel is located in the centre of Kaunas, within walking distance to the historic Old Town, close to railway and bus station and easy access to the highway to International Kaunas Airport. Ideal for business and leisure stays where guests can explore the city of Kaunas. It has 125 air-conditioned rooms with free Internet access, conference facilities, a bar serving snacks 24/7 and onsite parking. Our restaurant, The Oopen will delight you with pasta & grill dishes. Accor is the world’s number-one and Europe’s leading hotel operator. It has 440,000 rooms in nearly 3,500 hotels in 92 countries. Its extensive brand portfolio – encompassing Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercur, Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, Adagio Access, ibis budget and hotelF1 – provides a comprehensive range of options across the luxury to economy spectrum. Hotel and Eco center BABILONAS 2012 years 22 th. of June renovated hotel "Babilonas" was opened and now it's not only hotel, but and eco-tourism center. The rooms radiate a feeling of coziness created by modern wooden windows, curtains made from Lithuanian linen and the breathtaking panoramas of the city and the surrounding landscape. We can offer 50 high-quality German and American bikes, which can travel in urban areas and long distances. In formed package are included active entertainment, meals, transportation. Kaunas tourism information center and conference bureau offers original ways to get to know Kaunas. Unique guided tours allow you to glimpse the real charm of the city and see things that you never expected! Every visitor can choose These excurions: „Kaunas Compliments Women“, „The Old Town secrets in Kaunas”, „Strong alcohol degustation in Factory “Stumbras”, „Beer Route in Kaunas (excursion and degustation)”, „Basketball history in Kaunas“, „Sweet Kaunas",, „Spirit of Kaunas Catacombs”, „Kaunas – Provisional Capital“.
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Sat, 1st December, 2012 - Posted by - (1) Comment
| PLACES TO SEE IN KAUNAS | |
| Kaunas Castle |
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| Town Hall
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| Arch-Cathedral Basilica
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| Vilnius Street
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| Historical Presidential Palace
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| Musical Theatre
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| St. Michael the Archangel Church (Sobor)
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| Pažaislis Monastery
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| Kaunas Funiculars |
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| Kaunas Monumental Christ’s Resurrection Church |
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| House of Perkūnas The ruined house was rebuilt in the 19th century and served as a school and theatre, which was attended by Polish-Lithuanian poet Adam Mickiewicz. At the end of the 19th Century it was renamed "House of Perkūnas", when a figure, interpreted by the romantic historians of that time as an idol of the Baltic pagan god of thunder and the sky Perkūnas was found in one of its walls. Today, the house of Perkūnas once again belongs to the Jesuits and houses a museum of Adam Mickiewicz. |
Wed, 21st November, 2012 - Posted by - (0) Comment
Vilnius
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Pól Ó Conghaile, Irish Examiner
"Art may be a particularly good medium for distilling and reflecting the characteristics of a nation, but contemplation of it does not give us the vivid and visceral experience of them that we may crave," as Alain de Botton wrote recently in BA’s Highlife magazine. "We’re learning that what we might really want to do is to talk to people," the philosopher continued, with his usual — and irresistible — knack for nailing ideas so simple you wonder why nobody had nailed them before. "This is remarkably hard." Our increasing desire for stories, for the sweet sensation of living and breathing a city rather than digesting its historical data, hit me afresh in Vilnius. Lithuania’s capital is a gem. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a European Capital of Culture in 2009. It’s a small place by any measure, but one spilling over with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance churches, town halls and other buildings. Yet none of these things puts the hook in me. What puts the hook in me is the moment I wander into a small chapel above the Gate of Dawn to find a wedding underway. An older couple exchanges vows — she in a cream bonnet, he with a bouquet of blooms under his arm and trousers bunching around his ankles. A Handycam is propped atop of the organ. Beneath vaulted ceilings, a priest in a golden robe takes a step backwards. The couple leans in together and delivers a quick, bird-like kiss. The small crowd around them claps. And there it is. Interesting and all as the 16th century Gate of Dawn is, or the fact that its famous icon of the Virgin Mary is said to have healing powers, or that Pope John Paul II took time to say the rosary here in 1993, the strongest memory I’m taking away is of that little kiss. That moment in time. That stolen insight into two Lithuanian lives… |
Mon, 28th May, 2012 - Posted by - (21) Comment
An old house on the Nemunas river bank near Birštonas
Text and photos: Aage Myhre
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
Lithuania’s largest river, the Nemunas, is a slow and peaceful river; with an average speed of only 1 to 2 m/s. Its total length of 937 km makes it the 14th largest river in Europe. 459 km flow in Belarus, 359 km in Lithuania. Well, we called it peaceful, but if you agree to join us for a trip to the small resort town of Birštonas, one hour’s drive from Vilnius, you will soon realise that it’s right here that Nemunas gets a bit crazy, making four large loops without any other reason than this that Birštonas needed some special attention and minerals that over the centuries has made it such an attractive spa resort. Birštonas is suitable for therapy and recreation all year round with its curative peat and mineral water used in treating chronic diseases of peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal, respiratory and blood circulation systems. The first patients were treated in Birštonas as early as 1840. Enjoy!
Rūta Kapočinskaitė is my Birštonas heroine. She has understood what it takes to represent a tourist destination with energy and genuine attention to the visitor - much more so than representatives of the majority of destinations in this country. So, if you are a Lithuanian working in the tourist trade, don’t miss the chance to learn from Rūta. It takes enthusiasm to promote a destination, and Rūta has got plenty of exactly that. She is simply good!
Mon, 21st May, 2012 - Posted by - (1) Comment
Text and photos: Aage Myhre
aage.myhre@VilNews.com
The long pier that stretches out into the Baltic Sea is the hallmark of Palanga. It is still relatively spacey now in May, but it will soon become the crowded promenade path for intense summer evenings when the sun sets over the Baltic Sea. It is a real breakwater, struggling against the never-ending waves rolling in towards the sandy coast of Lithuania where the more than fresh breeze often does it very best to blow the sand further inland, but with the high dunes behind the beaches effectively stopping it. It is early summer in Palanga, and I simply love the freshness of the sea water, the breeze and the air that now feels healthier than ever.
In Lithuanian language the pier is called a bridge, and I am thinking that for the long years of Soviet oppression, the Palanga pier may have been like a real bridge for the people of this country, a bridge of imagination on how it would be to walk over to the Swedish shore on the other side - to the freedom and prosperity that for so many years had to be no more than a dream for the Lithuanian people.
Palanga town itself is calm and relatively quiet, perfectly well protected from the wind by the tall bowed pine trees that grow along the coast line. The leaves on the deciduous trees behind are still keeping their fantastic glowing red and yellow colours, even if many of them already have fallen to the ground, preparing to fertilise the soil for a new spring next year.
Spring in Palanga is for me even more attractive than the very summer when the huge crowds of tourists arrive here. Now I can see the beauty of the nature in a far more undisturbed way, and each breath of the wind seems now more soothing and healing.
Sun, 1st January, 2012 - Posted by - (2) Comment
Sat, 22nd October, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment
36 REASONS WHY IT’S SUCH AN EXCELLENT IDEA
TO VISIT LITHUANIA THIS AUTUMN AND WINTER
You can and should visit Lithuania for a lot of reasons this autumn and winter – as you can see from our below survey. Common for all the 36 ideas mentioned, is that here you get top quality and tons of experience – for half the price – if to compare with USA and most West-European countries.
We do, however, recommend you to plan your trip thoroughly, well in advance.
If you wish, we can help you to put together the most perfect programme for your trip, and give you some hints about how to get here, where to stay, with whom to deal and much more...
If this would be of interest for you, please write us at editor@VilNews.com
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A – NATURALLY Nature has been generous to Lithuania. There are no mountains or big forests, the country's beauty lies in the diversity of its landscape. This is a place of rolling hills and gentle plains; of quietly flowing rivers and of lakes reflecting the blueness of the sky. |
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B – MUST SEES Vilnius Old Town has a stunning array of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, a truly amazing place to visit and experience. It’s also in Vilnius centre that you find the KGB Museum, a reminder of the gruesome Soviet oppression this country was forced to live with for 50 sad years. But only 30 km from the city, there is a strong medieval symbol of the 500 years of glory, when Lithuania was Europe’s largest country. |
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C – CULTURE Far too few people outside Lithuania know what a tremendous treasure of culture this country represents! Today Lithuanian art is not only flourishing at home but is also gaining recognition internationally. Though not every poster tells that a nightingale soprano, a graceful ballerina, or a divine cello player comes from Lithuania, the probability that you have just enjoyed a concert of a Lithuanian artist is great, being it in New York, London, Berlin, or Vilnius. |
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D – HEALTH & WELLBEING Many people come to Lithuania for quality health care of various kinds. Medical quality here is very high and prices for services very low... In addition the country has a number of extremely good spa and tourism resorts where visitors can undergo all kinds of treatments or simply relax and charge their batteries... |
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E – SPORT, OUTDOOR LIFE & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES This year’s EuroBasket tournament took place in Lithuania (Aug-Sep). But Lithuania has also numerous other sport activities and events to offer, all year around. The Lithuanian lakes and rivers are full of fish, and the forests full of wild animals including deer, wild bears, beavers, elks and many others. One is allowed to hunt elks, wild bears, wolves, foxes, hares and birds, such as geese, ducks and woodcocks. |
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F - JUST FOR FUN Wondering what to do in Lithuania? We can help you stay busy, don’t worry... We can tell you about the most popular tourist attractions, beaches, outdoor/indoor activities, nightlife and much, much more... |
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G – WINING & DINING The natural and healthy character of its dishes is what makes Lithuanian cuisine unique. There are all kinds of restaurants in absolutely all corners of the country – international and local dining and wining from Nida to Druskininkai, from coast to inland, not to forget the big cities... |
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H – HOTELS, CONFERENCES Lithuanian hotels offer a large variety of accommodation options. Though the country has undergone vast economic development, it also retains ties with its nature loving, glorious pagan, countryside past. Did we mention conferences? Try Lithuania – fantastic quality, half the price! |
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I – TOWNS & CITIES Lithuania’s cities started to form in the 13th-14th century together with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first city to receive city rights was Klaipėda (1257). Most of the cities are old, established before the 18th century. There are only 19 cities with population of more than 20.000. Cities are quite evenly spread out through the territory of Lithuania. This forms a good network to support economic development throughout the country. The distance from the capital Vilnius to the port city Klaipėda is only 300 km, with excellent 4-lane motorway. |
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Sat, 2nd July, 2011 - Posted by - (2) Comment
To read more, click on the below links
or search in our VilNews-Google archive above...
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EUROPE'S LARGEST COUNTR
1. Lithuania was a world super power (1300-1600) – much longer than USA has been – stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, considered Europe's largest country by then. |
A HAVEN OF TOLERANCE 2. Gediminas (1275-1341) – founder of Vilnius and the first Grand Duke of the family of Lithuanian rulers during 300 years– made Lithuania a 'haven of tolerance' according to British historian Norman Davies. |
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STOPPING THE MONGOLS
3. Lithuania (the Grand Duchy) was the country stopping the Golden Hordes (the Mongols) from invading Europe (late 1300s) |
LAST TO BE CHRISTIANISED
4. Lithuania was the last European country to be Christianised (around 1400), and Paganism is still going strong here. Even Christian crosses sometimes contain pagan elements (sun, flowers, grass snakes). |
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CRIMEAN-TURKIC PEOPLES
5. Karaims – the Turkic-Crimean people who guarded the Grand Dukes – came to Lithuania in 1397 – and the Trakai town (at the castle) near Vilnius is now their world capital. |
JERUSALEM OF THE NORTH
6. Napoleon Bonaparte named Vilnius Jerusalem of the North when he arrived here in 1812. Lithuanian Jews (the Litvaks) had an extraordinary life here for 600 years. |
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EXCEPTIONAL ITALIAN INFLUENCE
7. Vilnius is the world's most Italian city outside Italy... Lithuania and Italy share a very unique common history. |
LANGUAGE CLOSE TO SANSKRIT
8. The languages Old Sanskrit and Lithuanian are having the same Indo-European roots. Incredible similarities between Indian and Lithuanian cultures since the early civilisations. |
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NATIONAL REBIRTH 9. Lithuania declared independence in 1918, after 123 years of mostly Russian occupation. The interwar years were very successful and the country prospered immensely. Kaunas was the capital for the period 1919-1940, after Poland occupied Vilnius and southern Lithuania. |
300.000 DEPORTED TO SIBERIA
10. During 1940–1953, some 132.000 Lithuanians were deported to remote areas of the USSR. More than 70% were women and children. 30.000 died there due to climate, hard slave work and starvation. 50.000 were not able to return to Lithuania. During the same period, another 200.000 people were prisoned and 150.000 of them were sent to Siberian Gulags. |
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HOLOCAUST KILLED 95%
11. The Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania resulted in the near total destruction of Lithuania's Jewish population. Out of more than 200.000, around 95% were murdered during WWII, the most tragic, worst example of Holocaust in the whole world.
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PARTISAN WAR 1944-1953
12. 22.000 Lithuanian 'forest brothers' and 70.000 Soviet soldiers were killed in modern Europe's longest and bloodiest guerrilla war, after the Balts withdrew into the woods to organize their powerful armed partisan resistance when the Soviet Union re-occupied the Baltic States in 1944. |
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SOVIET'S SILICON VALLEY
13. Post-war Lithuania became known as the Soviet Silicon Valley, and also today this country enjoys a very strong research and development sector. Lithuanian world-class specialists cooperate with NASA, NATO, Volvo, Saab, Philips, and many others in the fields of biotechnology, biochemistry, laser optics, chemistry, physics, etc. |
SINGING REVOLUTION
14. The Singing Revolution – that between 1987 and 1991 led to the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, culminating with the Soviet attack in January 1991 and the Union's fall later same year. In august 1989, two million people joined hands to form a human chain spanning over 600 km (370 mi) across the three Baltic States. |
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50% LIVE ABROAD
15. Former President Valdas Adamkus was one among the tens of thousands fleeing Lithuania at the end of WWII. Chicago is counted as Lithuania's 2nd largest city, and it is estimated that around one million Lithuanians live in the U.S. A new wave of emigration started in 1991, and one expects that half of all Lithuanians now live outside their home land. |
LITVAKS IN THE WORLD
16. During the 19th and 20th century, hordes of Lithuanian Jews emigrated to the U.S. and South Africa (90% of its 100.000 Jewish population are from Lithuania). Litvaks are today playing leading roles worldwide. |
VILNIUS CATCHES AND CHANGES YOUR SOUL!
Russian writer Daniil Granin
17. Paris has its Eiffel Tower. London its bridges. Rome has the Colosseum. Washington has the White House, and Berlin its Brandenburg Gate. Vilnius has its wonderful, mysterious Old Town with narrow, winding streets, courtyards, cellars, smells, music of all kinds, and the very atmosphere of 700 years development of a Mediterranean-like city far away from mainstream Europe...
Sat, 2nd July, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment
The UMI gallery in
UŽ!upio resPUBLIKA
Photo: Rasa Mekuskaite
If you believed the hype about amber you’d think it was the cure for all ills: heart problems, arthritis, depression, even the plague. I can’t vouch for any of those but I can say that having one’s face massaged with amber powder applied by amber balls is an absolutely delicious experience, like some rather superior form of tickling.
The ‘Gold of the North’ has been fished out of the Baltic Sea and traded for centuries – it was much in demand in Imperial Rome – and here today in Vilnius it is still big business.
There are countless shops, a museum devoted to the subject and a specialist spa which is where I’m about to sample a treatment.
I confess to being a bit of a fidget in some spas and when linen bags are tied round our bare feet and we’re asked to walk in different ways across a layer of small pieces of the fossilised resin – on our toes, on our heels, feet rolled outwards, feet rolled inwards – the familiar combination of mild irritation and self-consciousness begins to creep over me.
But once I’m lying on a bed and the therapist is gently rolling the amber spheres over my skin, pressing here and there, I succumb to the pleasure of the moment. I don’t know whether the ‘negative ions’ or whatever have done their bit: I can’t say I look any different by the end of the session but I certainly feel very contented and serene. And my purse is only lighter by about £15 which is certainly a lot cheaper than buying a piece of jewellery.
There are more elaborate treatments but the 20 minute one I’ve had is just right when time is limited.
We’re only in the Lithuanian capital for two days but because it’s relatively small and compact – certainly in the historic areas – you can fit a lot in. The old city is the major draw, with 1500 buildings one of the finest in Central and Eastern Europe, an UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow streets, hidden courtyards and an extraordinary mix of architectural styles: classical, gothic, baroque.
Read more at: http://www.thetravelmagazine.net
USEFUL INFO
www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk
www.vilnius-tourism.lt
www.lokys.lt
www.vilniuscitytour.com
www.ambermassage.lt
www.kybynlar.lt
We stayed at www.novotel.com
We flew to Vilnius with Wizzair from Luton (they also fly to Vilnius from Doncaster/Sheffield). Prices from around £42 one way. Find cheap flights to Vilniusfrom other airports.…
Thu, 30th June, 2011 - Posted by - (2) Comment
Palanga and its Vanagupe Hotel is among the author's top Lithuanian favourites.
Photo: www.vanagupe.lt
Text: Thomas Danielsen, Baltic Travel Partner
After writing an article about the paradox of Lithuanian tourism, where I am not only negative, but also sarcastic and patronizing towards the people in charge of Lithuania tourism, I was thinking that it is time to try to write a positive article about Lithuania and tourism. The fact that I have called Lithuania home for 7 years and have worked with tourism (read: promoting Lithuania) for almost as long, there must be something good or great to show the international tourist. And believe me, it is!
Thu, 30th June, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment
Vilnius Lithuania – My walk through this photogenic town
By Steve Huff
So here I am today..another day of serious photo opportunities! I am in Vilnius Lithuania for the next stop on the Seal European summer tour and yesterday I walked around quite a bit snapping shots of this lovely charming town. Had my Fuji X100 (new firmware rumored to be coming within the week) and Leica M9 with me and both gave me wonderful results, can’t complain about either of these lovely cameras.
I started the day early morning as the weather was brisk, cool, and sunny. In other words, PERFECT! Back home in Phoenix it is 110 and sunny so I am really enjoying this weather while I can get it! As I looked out of my hotel window I thought “Perfect Photo Weather”!
BTW, I am also staying at a beautiful hotel here in town and had to snap a couple as I left my room. Love the old world charm of this place.
You’ll find the complete story and see the rest of Steve Huff’s photos at:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/06/21/vilnius-lithuania-my-walk-through-this-photogenic-town/…
Tue, 14th June, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment
On top of the Nida sand dunes.
Lithuania offers the Baltic Sea’s longest, whitest and softest beaches. Most of the country's coastline, from Kaliningrad until Latvia, consist of sandy beaches as far as the eye can see. Furthest to the south you will find Europe’s highest sand dunes, next to the picturesque old fishing village of Nida. In the midst of the coastline the bustling port city of Klaipeda is located, and a bit further north you are very much welcomed to the tourist towns of Palanga and Šventoji.
What makes the Lithuanian coastal line so special, is that here you can still find the kind of genuine, authentic atmosphere and tourist resorts that you may remember from your childhood also in other parts of Europe.
Beautiful nature, good beer, and fantastic smoked fish are just three of the ingredients that will make you remember “the good old times” as soon as you arrive….
Palanga is the most important resort of Lithuania. Some of you may have childhood memories from this unique and beautiful tourist village right on the Baltic Sea lazy waves and miles of attractive beaches ...
Palanga lives - throughout the night - during three hectic summer months. And if you're lucky, it may well be that you will experience a live concert with Stasys Povilaitis, Lithuania’s famous ballad singer…
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Tue, 14th June, 2011 - Posted by - (0) Comment
Palanga International Airport is a small regional airport located at the Baltic Sea, only 10 minutes away from the Palanga tourism resort and 30 minutes from the port city Klaipeda.
There are regular direct flights to/from Palanga Airport operated by the airlines airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, RusLine and SAS (Scandinavian Airlines).
Palanga has direct flights from Copenhagen (Denmark), Moscow (Russia), Oslo (Norway) and Riga (Latvia), from where it is easy to reach a lot of other cities in Europe and the world!
Check the airports web page for more information about flights etc:
http://www.palanga-airport.lt/en/…
Tue, 14th June, 2011 - Posted by - (1) Comment
DFDS Seaways operate three passenger ferry routes on the Baltic Sea to/from the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda.
1) The Klaipeda - Karlshamn ferry service connects Lithuania and Sweden with daily departures in each direction.
2) The Klaipeda - Kiel ferry service offers six departures in each direction per week connecting Lithuania with North-Western Germany & Southern Denmark.
3) The Klaipeda - Sassnitz service connects Lithuania to the East German island of Rügen from where there is quick access to the extensive German motorway network.
Check the DFDS web page for more information:
http://www.dfdslisco.lt/bookonline/?ln=en…
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
Your February 25 VilNews issue is the best presentation for publicizing Lithuania's culture, beauty and arts.
Vytautas Sliupas, Burlingame, California
Am planning for a trip to Lithuania very soon... The pictures which you have uploaded haunts me....they are so beaaaaaaautiful.. I fully agree it is Europe's best kept secret!
I am forwarding it to all my friends and acquaintances to promote Lithuania ... It's worth a venture... Honestly!
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this issue
and using the links provided. Four of us are travelling to Lithuania in May and are very much looking forward to visiting the land of our ancestors. Thank you for the information.
Thanks so much for sharing. I'm going to forward to the rest of the family so they have a chance to see how beautiful a place Lithuania is and maybe visit there to see where their ancestors lived.
Fantastic. Keep up the good work. That is the way to present a positive view of Lithuania.
Linkiu sekmes, Aldona is Svedijos
Many Thanks for Your last Email with VilNews. Such beautiful present. I am not a stranger to Lithuania anymore. After 43 years of absence I managed to sneak in just before The Baltic Way (Baltijos kelias). Much water went under the bridge since. Lithuania is looking now like a paradise. Thanks to You and others who come to Lithuania and helped Lithuania to recover. Your Names ought to be written in gold in Lithuanian history books.
Antanas Kramilius
For 2011, LITHUANIA has been chosen as the host country for one of the most prestigious Sport's Tournaments in Europe and the World. This is the second time in the Tournament's rich history that Lithuania has been chosen to host the Basketball Championship of Europe.
EuroBasket 2011 will crown the Basketball Champion of Europe. While this is an important event for all European countries, it is especially important for a country like LITHUANIA that proclaims Basketball as its "Second Religion".
The EuroBasket Championship saw its first tournament held in Geneva, Switzerland in 1935. Since then, every two years the greatest teams and talent have met for the "bragging rights" of Europe.
Throughout the history of the tournament our Lithuanian Team has done very well.
In the second EuroBasket Tournament held in Riga, Latvia in 1937
Lithuania won the Gold with the final three results being...
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Lithuanian tourism is not only...There is more – and less – to Lithuanian tourism than what you may have thought. Lithuania is not like Spain, England, Thailand or USA, but if you are ready for some different experiences, then Lithuania is definitely the country for you. You can even save a good deal of money on many special services and products here. Maybe it’s your turn to discover the world of Lithuania? This article will present some excellent examples of tourism you may not have thought of......Lithuania's tourism business has exceeded projections in the first quarter pf 2011 and even beat records in some sectors, the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism (VTD) said. Over the Q1 of 2011, the number of tourists in Lithuania grew by 39.4% year-on-year.
Over January-March last year, 107,000 tourists stayed in Lithuanian commercial accommodation establishments, while this year the number went up to 150,000. The tourist traffic is reported to have increased from the tourism markets of great importance to Lithuania, writes LETA/ELTA.
Over the Q1, the largest increases were recorded in the numbers of tourists coming from Russia (61%), Belarus (53%), Poland (28%), Germany (31%), Estonia (34%), Great Britain (21%), Norway (57%), the Netherlands (34%), Belgium (31%) and the U.S. (68%). The growth in tourist numbers from Finland by 85% and from Spain by 71% made a pleasant surprise, VTD Head Dr Raimonda Balniene said.
Kaunas earlier received an award from the popular Spanish travel magazine QTravel as the most attractive destination in 2010. In the Q1, the largest number of tourists came from Ukraine. The growth in the tourist traffic from the country reached as much as 104%.
The 7.6-% growth in the local tourism is also good news to the tourism sector as it hardly stood at 1% in 2010.
Source:
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=41734
Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania, has brushed aside its reputation as a European backwater in recent months, with tourism in the city literally booming since the introduction of low-cost flights to the city last year.
With the boom in tourism, other areas of Kaunas' economy have started to pick up too, including retail, construction and more, revitalizing this charming city and spurring renewed vigour into its development.
The growth in these sectors is attributed directly to the increasing number of foreign visitors, says the city's mayor Rimantas Mikaitis. Since Irish-based low-cost carrier Ryanair started operating flights to Kaunas in 2010, the city has been resurrected from the point of collapse, he explains.
Read more:
http://www.argophilia.com/news/kaunas-booming-tourism/22847/
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Lithuania has become a leading medical tourism destination for people from countries around the world
