Another day, another country....
We set off from our campsite in Riga, heading for a lakeside campsite in Lithuania - slightly off the beaten track.
We sail out of the city (oh bliss!) while most of our group are breathalysed by the Latvian police. I begin to understand why pedestrians here will stand facing a red pedestrian light without moving when the is absolutely no traffic in sight...
... Anyway, we make stop at the Hill of Crosses, a sacred place where crosses were first placed in 1831. It became a symbol of resistance and faith in the Soviet era; all crosses were destroyed by the Communists but, each night, more crosses would appear, despite the danger of persecution and even death, should the perpetrators be caught.
Before reaching camp we all meet up for a guided tour of an ex Soviet missile base, now turned into a cold war museum. Getting there involves lots of dust and a washboard road for a few km but how fascinating it is when we eventually get there; the small number of operatives and technicians here were responsible for a collection of intercontinental ballistic missiles - and we see the site remains, including a missile silo. Sapiens eh?
Above ground..
Missile Silo...
We arrive at camp, dusty and tired but excitement awaits! Sabine has organised a shashlik barbeque with lots of food and a roaring wood fire. This is the weekend of the longest day celebrations in Lithuania and the lakeside campsite has a real buzz to it, with lots of young people. We, the silver surfers, add to the atmosphere by eating and drinking around the campfire while cranking up the oldies via Spotify and our Bose Bluetooth speaker. We head to the lakeside to watch the sunset at some ungodly hour then, eventually, drift off to bed. A wonderful night indeed.
Be careful with that axe!
Image is included on the basis that our lunatic friends are unrecognisable...
Time for bed, at last
Last stop tomorrow - Kleipeda, all being well. Join us there.
We set off from our campsite in Riga, heading for a lakeside campsite in Lithuania - slightly off the beaten track.
We sail out of the city (oh bliss!) while most of our group are breathalysed by the Latvian police. I begin to understand why pedestrians here will stand facing a red pedestrian light without moving when the is absolutely no traffic in sight...
... Anyway, we make stop at the Hill of Crosses, a sacred place where crosses were first placed in 1831. It became a symbol of resistance and faith in the Soviet era; all crosses were destroyed by the Communists but, each night, more crosses would appear, despite the danger of persecution and even death, should the perpetrators be caught.
Before reaching camp we all meet up for a guided tour of an ex Soviet missile base, now turned into a cold war museum. Getting there involves lots of dust and a washboard road for a few km but how fascinating it is when we eventually get there; the small number of operatives and technicians here were responsible for a collection of intercontinental ballistic missiles - and we see the site remains, including a missile silo. Sapiens eh?
Above ground..
We arrive at camp, dusty and tired but excitement awaits! Sabine has organised a shashlik barbeque with lots of food and a roaring wood fire. This is the weekend of the longest day celebrations in Lithuania and the lakeside campsite has a real buzz to it, with lots of young people. We, the silver surfers, add to the atmosphere by eating and drinking around the campfire while cranking up the oldies via Spotify and our Bose Bluetooth speaker. We head to the lakeside to watch the sunset at some ungodly hour then, eventually, drift off to bed. A wonderful night indeed.
Be careful with that axe!
Image is included on the basis that our lunatic friends are unrecognisable...
Time for bed, at last
Last stop tomorrow - Kleipeda, all being well. Join us there.
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