DAYS 30-31 EUROPE TRIP
LITHUANIA – Zarasai
It was still raining as we headed from Jonava back to Grikiškes. On returning we packed small bags for our trip with my sister-in-laws husband’s cousin and his wife to their property in Zarasai. We were told to expect a rustic, primitive setting. Instead it was a delightful place that we will never forget.
His cousin had put a lot of time and effort to plan our fabulous trips in Vilniaus region and to the Zarasai region. We commented that he should be a tour guide. If it weren’t for him we would never have seen some amazing places.
The weather forecast was not promising but we still headed for Zarasai the next morning. One of our must dos for this trip was to visit this northeastern part of Lithuania that everyone kept telling us was very beautiful. Initially the days were coldish but dry. Our first stop was near Moletai at the Etnokosmology Museum. Since we were last here there has been considerable injection of funds as evidenced through the new building.
You can only go through the museum on a guided tour so we joined a school group. Whilst waiting for them we admired the interestingly constructed sculpture in the foyer.
The museum has not been completed fully inside. I felt that the earlier display was much more powerful than that in the new building.
Whilst at the museum it started to pour.
It was not possible to explore the exhibition outdoors due to the rain.
We then went to Paluše – a 1650s church built with rivets but no nails. The words above the doorway say ‘walk out as a better person’.
A beautiful woodcarving addresses the traveller – ‘traveller stop and think’.
The rain really set in so we decided to go straight to the cousin’s place on the edge of Lake Kumpiniškes. We were met with a beautiful vista when we got there.
Across the other side of the lake is Latvia.
The setting was magnificent. The stone by the gate is referred to as the ‘guard’.
It was wet and cold. Soon a log fire was burning in the cottage and a campfire outside.
The steps to the outside loo were very slippery due to the rain. The situation was quickly rectified as wood steps were improvised from the timber on site.
Before long potatoes were peeled, the veg prepared and a pot of soup was hanging over the campfire.
We relaxed on the porch with nibbles waiting for the soup to cook.
The red sunset was seen as a sign of a windy day ahead. And how true that was.
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