The sights of Vilnius, August 2007 (, or Under Construction)

So, I spent a night and two days in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania on a business trip in early August, 2007. Luckily, I had a little time to see some sights and feel the city.

First thing that struck my eye was the fact that the whole country seemed to be under construction. Looks like Lithuania is a growing nation, very much so in the Western sense, with modern builings and most of the people very ready and willing to speak English with you. The airport was still being built for the most part, and the road next to my hotel (Ratonda Centrum Hotels) was closed from one point on. All the time, here and there, you could see something being renovated or built.

(Even in churches, I visited the Cathedral and St. Catharine's church, where my business - a first performance of a composition - happened, there were sections closed or covered due to renovation or restauration.) Obiously, the city will look amazing in a year or two, and the old town seems already to been renovated for the most part.

The city's architecture is something to be mentioned. And old, traditional city with the pittoresque old town (something between Copenhagen and Salzburg in style) overlooking a modern new side of the city on the other side of the river with many amazingly modern buildings, many of them skyscrapers! Really worth mentioning for a city of this size. If you look the city from the wonderful hill of Gediminas Castle, for example, the skyline is just crazy, architecture of almost all styles at once!

And, finally, I was amazed how tall and beautiful some of the Lithuanian girls were.

And how they had such an open way of looking you in the eye... But that's an another story, you have to see it all for yourself! :)

And yes, it's possible to drink all night in Vilnius, for example at the bar of the casino by the Reval Hotel. It's open 24/7, and the beer costs onlt 5 lt (that's about 1,5€ or $2!). For the hangover brunch/dinner, you'll find cheap restaurants everywhere (I would strongly recommend Da Antonio restaurants - there's several -, if you can still taste. The lamb ravioli with cream-artichoke sauce at Trattoria Da Antonio was just perfect, something to miss back home.)

The local beer, Švyturys ("Lighthouse"), is neither bad nor anything special. Very good terrace drink, not too bitter, very refreshing. And don't forget to taste the vodka - good, strong stuff with no smell at all :)

Hope we'll meet again, Vilnius. Ir as tave! :D