Right, about those ‘lt holidays’. I’d been grinding away at work for ages, really needed a proper break. Scrolling through places online, Lithuania popped up. Why not? I’d seen some photos, looked kind of quiet, different from the usual spots everyone flocks to. So, I decided, yeah, let’s do it.
Got onto the computer and started digging around. Flights weren’t too bad, managed to snag one without breaking the bank. But then came figuring out where to actually stay and what to do. Vilnius seemed obvious, but I wanted to see a bit more. Trying to find info on smaller towns or specific sights? That took some real effort. Lots of websites were only in Lithuanian, naturally. Google Translate became my best friend, though I swear half the time I was just guessing what things meant. Felt like piecing together a puzzle.
I ended up booking a small guesthouse I found near Trakai, looked nice in the pictures. Just crossed my fingers and hoped it was decent. Also rented a car – figured it’d be easier to get around that way.
Getting There and First Impressions
Finally, the travel day arrived. Flew into Vilnius. Stepped off the plane and boom, the cold hit me like a wall. Proper winter chill. Picked up the rental car, which was straightforward enough. Driving, though… well, it was an experience. The main roads were alright, mostly clear, but navigating using the road signs took some getting used to. Again, relying heavily on the GPS and hoping for the best.
Spent the first day just wandering around Vilnius Old Town. It’s pretty, definitely. Lots of old buildings, churches, cobblestone streets everywhere. Felt a bit like walking through a history book. But, I don’t know, maybe it felt a little too perfect? Like it was all set up for tourists. Maybe that’s just my cynical side talking.
Out and About
The next day, I drove out to Trakai Castle. Now that was something else. Seeing it sitting there on the island in the middle of the frozen lake – yeah, pretty impressive. Walked across the bridge and explored the castle. It was cold, biting cold, but worth it for the views.
Food-wise, I made sure to try some local stuff. Had cepelinai – those big potato dumplings. They were… interesting. Very heavy! Tasty, for sure, but man, they fill you up fast. Definitely food meant for cold weather.
One thing I noticed was people seemed quite reserved. Not unfriendly, just… quiet. Kept to themselves mostly. It’s a different vibe from what I’m used to, but not necessarily bad. Just different.
- Tried navigating smaller roads – sometimes confusing.
- Weather was consistently cold, needed serious layers.
- Found communication okay in tourist spots, tougher elsewhere.
Looking back, it wasn’t exactly the super chilled, relaxing holiday I first pictured. It was more of an adventure, constantly figuring things out, dealing with the unexpected little bumps in the road. But you know what? It was memorable. Saw some genuinely beautiful sights, experienced something different. Would I recommend it? Yeah, probably. Just be prepared for a bit of effort, especially if you venture outside the main city. It’s not a place that holds your hand the whole way, but that was kind of the point, I guess.
