Baltics - 16 June 2012 (1)

Kaunas Sightseeing

Kaunas Castle

St George Church, Kaunas

I got up at 06.30 and was downstairs early enough to be able to use the internet.  Our Kaunas city guide, Dahlia, arrived and we were all checked out and onboard the bus at 09.00.

St George Church, Kaunas

Pagan-Style Cross, Kaunas

We drove into the Old Town and stopped at the castle beside the River Nerys.  The castle had recently been restored, but only one tower remained.  The moat was dry, but Dahlia said that it used to be fed by the river.

Catholic Seminary, Kaunas

Town Hall, Kaunas

St George’s Church, which is next to the castle, wasn’t open yet, so we walked on to see the Catholic Seminary and the nearby pagan cross instead of waiting around.

Church of Holy Trinity, Kaunas

St. Francis Xavier Church, Kaunas

When we returned to the church, I stayed outside and watched a white wagtail, who was hopping about very close to where I was standing.

Wedding Party

Wedding Party

Next stop was the city square with its town hall and the Church of the Holy Trinity.  Being a Saturday, this was a day for weddings and we saw two wedding parties in the square.  The bridesmaids in the first party were wearing some revealing long red dresses and everyone was enjoying a glass of wine.  Sara and Susie weren’t impressed by some of the dress designs.

House of Thunder, Kaunas

Carving, House of Thunder

We continued on up a side road to look at the House of Thunder.  I liked the carvings outside.  Further up the street was Vytautas' the Great Church.  Then we turned round, walked past the square and reached Vilniaus gatvė (Vilnius Street).

Carving, House of Thunder

Vytautas' the Great Church

Kaunas Cathedral Basilica

The others went into Kaunas Cathedral Basilica on the corner.  As I waited outside, the wedding party with the red dresses approached.  The bridesmaids were fighting against the wind, which was revealing far more than they intended in their wrap around dresses.

Dahlia led us down Vilniaus gatvė, which is a picturesque, cobbled street.  There were lots of cafés, but, alas, there was no time to stop and we pressed on.  The street is cut by a main road, which we had to cross using a subway.  A green tram went past as we approached.

Old Photo, President's Palace Garden

Vilniaus gatvė

After the subway, we went into the garden of the former President’s Palace.  In the garden was an exhibition consisting of a series of old black and white photos, with women in full long dresses.  There were also some statues, including one of Kazys Grinius, Lithuania’s third inter-war president.

Kazys Grinius

Former President’s Palace, Kaunas

We walked further up Vilniaus gatvė until we reached Laisvės alėja (Freedom Street).  This is a wide pedestrian street with trees in the middle.  Halfway along was a monument to Vytautus Magnus, who was the Grand Duke of Lithuania 1392-1430.  As we looked at it, Dahlia explained some of the history of when Lithuania was a major player in Europe back in the middle-ages.

Then we headed up to K. Donelaičio gatvė, where Dahlia pointed out some museums and left us to explore on our own until meeting again at that same place, when the bus would arrive.

Vytautus Magnus Monument

Fountain, Laisvės alėja

May and I headed back to Laisvės alėja by cutting across a car park.  Our primary aim was to have a coffee/hot chocolate and after an aborted venture into Pizza Jazz, near a fountain, we headed slightly back to Café Supremo in S. Daukanto gatvė.  It must have been a good decision because we found Dahlia there, chatting to Ken.  After about ten minutes, Harry came in looking very anxious.  He had lost Angie, who had disappeared to take some photos.  He went off again for a while and then both of them came in, back together again.

After coffee, I went off to try to get a closer view of the large St. Michael the Archangel Church, which was further along Laisvės alėja.

St. Michael the Archangel Church

Former Palace of Justice & Parliament - Philharmonic Hall

Time was flying and I turned off before reaching it with just ten minutes left to get back to the rendezvous site.  Just as I was starting to panic about being late, I spotted Charlie, Susie and Sarah, which was a big relief.  Dzintars arrived with the bus as the clock was striking noon.