Good Luck Lithuania

Tonight is the Eurovision Song Contest and Lithuania are participating with their dreadful and unfunny entry 'We are the Winners.' Somehow I cannot see them winning. Good luck anyway

Back in Blair's

I have finally left Vilnius for my home town, Camberley, Surrey. It's not true when we say 'the grass is greener on the other side.' When I arrived back in England, I couldn't beleive how green and pleasant my country is.
More pics later. I promise

The last 48 Hours

I had an OK last bank holiday weekend in Vilnius. However, my old boss, Daiva came to haunt me for the last time. She seemed surprisingly nice to me, although she enjoyed teasing me.
I have 24 hours left in Vilnius. Despite the lovely warm weather, I have a stinking cold - the first one! I managed to avoid it all this time, but now the weather's nice, I have it. The wind has enabled lots of germs to travel all over the place.
The last 24 hours have been pretty boring here: Just giving back stuff and shit like that. No one is around.

The last day

I had my last ever class yesterday - my FCE class. As it was my last class, I just turned the last half into a conersation class. Unlike my cherryade swilling kids, my FCE students were shocked, sorry and surprised to see me go. I am also afraid that I'll miss them, but it has to be done.
Today was a special conference day where people from other schools in Romania and Spain came to see what we do. An organisation called Socrates organised the event in order to create cultural awareness within Europe. We had discussions on what is culture and what our experiences of teaching abroad mean to us. It could've been better and more interesting, but it was really short and we didn't get a proper chance to talk to the other teachers and students.
I am out celebrating tonight. My leaving do is going to consist of three consecutive nights out at different places. The Lithuanians are determined to see that I get a proper sending off.

Shiny happy Vilnius

Bar Paparazzi and Balti Dramblai


After months of searching for service with a smile and places with a good vibe, I have decided on a top five of 'happy' places in Vilnius
1. The Republic of Uzupis.
This 'republic' was established on April Fool's day 2002 as a happy, vibrant area to live in and visit. Uzupis attracts many 'bohemian' types such as students, artists and writers. It's a must and don't forget your passport.
2. Baras Paparazzi
Bar Paparazzi is quite a trendy bar chain that attracts young professionals who enjoy sipping on expensive cocktails. However, the place has a cool vibe and in-house DJs play anything from soul and 70s disco to cool, modern jazz. NICE!!!
In Vilnius: Totoriø 3, tel. 212-0135. Open:17-03. Fri, Sat 17-06.

3. Balti Dramblai
This is Vilnius' only non-smoking restaurants that sells all vegetarian food. It is situated in a basement. Although the food is too bland to be classed as real Indian cuisine, it is certainly cheap and fillling. The place also sells many varieties of real tea including chai and ginger and lemon tea.
Address : Vilniaus 41Tel : 262 08 75 Website : http://www.baltidrambliai.com/ Open daily :11:00-24:00except:Saturday: 12:00-24:00Sunday: 12:00-24:00

4. Prospekto Pub on Gedimino Street
This is the place to come on a Saturday night to let your hair down. The music's crap and cheesy, but who cares when it is full of people flirting wildly.

5. Bix
A great classic rock n roll pub

Springtime in the Baltics plus breaking news

The weather here is gorgeous!! I've been told that temperatures could reach +20. The patios are out and Vilnius is full of tourists, especially from the UK.
I have some breaking news: I have booked my flight back to the UK on the4th May. I have to leave early because of a number of reasons that I'd rather not mention on this blog.

Holiday in Lodz

Lodz's new Lizard King Bar plus Springtime in Lodz



Yesterday I faced a gruelling 12-hour journey from Vilnius to Lodz via. Warsaw on the bus. The best part of that of that was seeing beautiful storks rest on telegraph poles and rolling hills on the Lithuanian-Polish border. The rest of it was spent trying to get some sleep and restlessly trying to read my book.
I have arrived in Lodz safely to see my old colleague, Kasia and the school I used to work in. Nothing here has changed much in the last 10 months. Manufaktura, Lodz's biggest regeneration project still remains unfinished while most of the shops are pretty much the same. However, some new places have opened up such as more expensive coffee houses and a few more restaurants. Apparently, I only have another month until Manfufaktura finally opens its gates to the public.
I have been here for 18 hours and I am already bored. There are so many times you can walk up and down the main street, Piotrkowska Street. I have spent the morning reading my book and the Guardian.

Easter Weekend and Gruto Parkas

Uncle Len, Gruto Parkas
Alytus town centre





Had a great Easter Weeekend. Went to Gruto Parkas - an open-air museum dedicated to Communist Statues that once stood in Lithuania's towns and cities. Gruto Parkas is situated in the south - about a few km away from a spa town called Druskininkai. Some argue that this place rather controversial as it seems to glorify Lithuania's communist past. Despite what some people think, this is a representation of one of the most important periods of Lithuania's history.
Unlike Statue Park in Budapest, Gruto Parkas isn't just a display of different Communist heroes. It is a theme park with old posters of the revolution and has a number of different pieces from this period including a wagon used to expel Lithuanians to Siberia. It is said that over 360,000 Lithuanians were either killed or transported to Siberia under Stalin's rule.
As you walk around, you will hear communist propaganda music throughout the park. After one hour, it gets pretty annoying and tedious.
Anyway, I ended up missing the bus back, so I hitched to Druskininkai, only find that I couldn't get back to Vilnius. I ended up taking a bus to a place called Alytus. Alytus is a pretty dull but mad little town. There are no tourist attractions here - only grey buildings and pissed up youths with nothing better to do. Fortunately, I met some Lithuanians living in London, back in their home town for the holidays.
Am off to Sunny Lodz, Poland tomorrow. Will tell you all about that later.