Lithuania - Vilnius

 Cycle the Baltics - Lithuania (Vilnius)

We left Klaipėda and headed inland toward Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city.

Our first stop was the small town of Zapyškis, located along the banks of the Nemunas River, the largest river in Lithuania. The town is best known for its beautiful 16th-century Gothic church, one of the oldest surviving brick churches in the country.

From there, we hopped on our bikes and began cycling along the Nemunas. The route passed through quiet villages, riverside beaches, and lush countryside. Much of the trail followed a well-developed cycle path decorated with historical displays celebrating cycling in the region. 

Unfortunately, we were moving a little too quickly to absorb much of the information. We basically conducted a high-speed historical review.

After several scenic stops and a lunch of chicken salad, we arrived in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city and former capital.  We spent some time exploring the town square, which included the obligatory gelato stop.

Back on our bikes, we passed several impressive churches, historic buildings, and remnants of Kaunas Castle. One particularly memorable landmark was the giant basketball sculpture and statue of James Naismith, the Canadian inventor of basketball. Lithuania is famously passionate about basketball, and Kaunas is often considered the country's basketball capital. 

Our ride concluded at Pažaislis Monastery, a magnificent 17th-century Baroque monastery widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Italian Baroque architecture in Eastern Europe. Adding a modern twist to the centuries-old setting, a gender reveal party happened to be taking place on the grounds. As we cycled in, a cloud of pink smoke revealed that someone would soon be welcoming a baby girl. 

After 40 km of cycling, we loaded up and continued to Vilnius.

Once checked into the hotel, our group headed to a Georgian restaurant for a food tasting.  The meal featured khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread), khinkali (Georgian dumplings), pork in pomegranate sauce, mushrooms in smoked cheese sauce, salad with walnut dressing, and baklava for dessert. Everything was delicious.

Back at the hotel, we spent the evening playing cards with our new friends and reflecting on how quickly the tour was coming to an end.

Our final day of cycling began in Senieji Trakai, or Old Trakai.

From there, we cycled along the shores of Lake Galvė, eventually reaching the spectacular Trakai Island Castle. Rising from its own island in the middle of the lake, the red-brick castle looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. Built in the 14th century by the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, it once served as both a fortress and a royal residence.

We took some group photos with the castle as a backdrop before continuing to Užutrakis Manor, a beautiful lakeside estate surrounded by landscaped gardens.

There, our cycling adventure officially came to an end.  Today's ride was only 16.6 km, bringing our total distance for the trip to an impressive 351 km.

While waiting for our boat transfer, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the dock consisting of cucumbers and kibinai, the traditional pastry of the Karaim people. The Karaims are an important part of Trakai’s cultural heritage. Some members of the group even went for a swim while we waited.

Unfortunately it was then that I had a minor issue with my phone resulting in no photos and the immediate need for a phone shop. Nothing induces panic quite like believing you've lost vacation photos or not be able to take more photographic evidence. 

Back in Vilnius, I made a quick trip to the phone store before rejoining the group for a guided walking tour of the city.  Highlights included the magnificent Vilnius Cathedral and its freestanding bell tower, the stunning Gothic ensemble of St. Anne's Church and Bernardine Church, and the historic Town Hall Square.

One of the more unusual sights was the interactive Portal sculpture, which connects Vilnius with similar portals in cities around the world, allowing people to see and interact with one another in real time. It was surprisingly entertaining to wave at complete strangers halfway around the world and have them wave back.

That evening we gathered for our final group dinner. I chose a beef salad, although one local menu item did catch my attention: beaver. While beaver is considered a traditional delicacy in some parts of Lithuania, eating Canada's national animal felt vaguely unpatriotic, so I decided not to test my loyalty.

After a wonderful final meal together, we returned to the hotel for laundry, packing, and one last spirited game of cards.

Tomorrow we leave the Baltics behind and continue on to Poland #62.