Hi

I ve a long time without giving news, sorry about that, I stayed 3 weeks working as volunteer in a orphans in Vilnius, interesting experience. I ve done it for severals reasons : to feel myself useful (and not only to travel), to understand better the lithuanina mentality, to make a break in my trip,...it wasn intersting experience, I sfaff was great and we was two volunteers (me and an american girl) our mission was to spend time with childrens (plays, walks, song...). Today I m living Lithuania to reach the baltic. sea...Gdansk..Afortunately I don t have enought time to go to Kalingrad (where my grand father stayed 5 years as prisonner) because I need a russian visa to get in. 

Every day I m use to be hosted at the home of someone, i use the couchsurfing website to meet people. I can meet local people, and I can save money too. Especially in those last days, I lost my credit card. The ATM give you the cash before givind you back your CC. I let the CC in the ATM. ANyway till my return to france I just try to survive , eating  polish potatoes!!!.

I m already looking for information about the followings destination in asia. I haven t booked any flight yet. BYe BYe gloves, hot tea, coat...

It s 11 pm, the train got in Vilnius the railway station is almost empty, I didn t have any problems on the border.

I looked for an ATM to have cash. A new country...Sometines when I wake up I just wonder me wher I am? That s weird to change again and again of language and currency. I ve still lot belarusians roubles in my pocket. Of course lithuanians have their own language, their own currency. I ve to learn really quickly how to say thank you , hello , bye bye in this unknown language. I think it s necessary to learn a minimum of a vocabulary when you re visiting a country.

After two tests at two different ATM I got money, I didnt know the rate, so I took too muck almost 700 euros. Anyway I ll change it when i ll change of country.

I looked for my bus at the bus stop, I was almost get on the bus when i saw a sign indicating a youth hostel at 300m. Quiet lucky

I reach that on foot. LOt of beds was available. I let my staff in this dormitory of 10 beds, an english boy is reading her guide book. The hostel is half full. I asked to the staff where i can enjoy a sauna, laundry,...

I went to walk around the city, looking for food..a pizza restaurant was still open.

My first impression is that is really easy to travel in Lithuania, they know the word service. People are really friendly and funny we say that they are the spanish of the baltic countries. Lithuanians are pagans, churchs are over crwoded. We feel that they are no slavic.

Vilnius is a barroc style city, I feel more in a village than in a capital. I visited the university, saint Anne church, the casttle, the national lithuanian museum, the three crosses,...

I ve been in a one day trip in trakai..ex capital of lithuania...2 castles 5 lakes...perfect place to chill out.

I went to the french cultural center, to be kept informed about the stricks...shame on the people who are on strike...if they disagree they are free to dismiss from SNCF and to find a better job. 

On monday morning I take the bus to riga the capital of Latvia.