Leaving Lithuania

We have loved our time in Lithuania and are sad to see the tour come to an end. To everyone we've met, everyone who has become a friend, a big

Thank you!

To Lithuania, you diamond of the Baltic, we say:

Good night!

So that's it, back to the USA, time to get to know the motherland again, reconnect with family, friends and slurpees. One last image from the continent, starting our journey home from VNO:

The blog will continue. Posts will run three times a week. There will be a bit more cleanup of romps around Europe and then - who knows?!

USS Mount Whitney Ship Visit

Another month, another show of NATO force in Lithuania. The USS Mount Whitney arrived in Klaipeda recently, hosting the media and tours for a few days.

Warm up the band.

Flying the colors and keeping the ship ship shape. Sparkling.
Press conference.

Inside, the wall of power and where the power meets.

Back outside, another sign of military might, equipment awaiting shipment at the port.

Žalgiris Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania

Right next to the impressive auditorium, Sporto Rūmai, sits the not impressive, semi-ruin of Žalgiris stadium. It's your basic one-story oval affair surrounding a football pitch. Multi-colored seat sections, a half-hearted attempt at Greek-like exterior embellishments.

The stadium was completed in 1950 by German POWs. Sad irony, it's built on the grounds of an old Jewish cemetery.

For Soviet-era Vilnius, this 15,000-seat stadium was it for witnessing the top football club and other similar events. Post communist rule, newer stadiums have been built, rendering Žalgiris to rot.

Heading into the squat stadium.

Main entrance. Classic colosseum style, writ small. Another entrance, football medallion.

Behind the big scoreboard, Lada auto for effect.

Signs of desolation, trashed office and leftovers from the nearby....

...auto repair shops that dot one end of the complex.

Baltic Pride Parade, Vilnius, Lithuania

What an amazing, beautiful day last Saturday. Baltic Pride, an LGBT festival that rotates among the three Baltic states, rolled into Lithuania this week and the highlight was an impressive parade through the center of Vilnius. In years past, the protesters have out-numbered marchers and Neo-Nazis (why is it always Nazis?) have caused trouble.

How quickly things change. About 2,000 people marched, a huge increase in participants from previous parades and a big accomplishment for small Lithuania.

Let the marching begin. The US Embassy was there to represent. Front and center, in yellow and purple shirts respectively, Dennis and Judy Shepard, the parents of brutally slain Matthew Shepard. Next to Judy, Ambassador Deborah McCarthy.

A stunning day. People brought their love balloons and lovelier outfits.

Europe, in union.

Multiple nations proudly showing their colors. Riding the bus, ready to party.

You gotta win them with humor. The cookie woman actually had a little sack of cookies!

The hugging Panda, a popular stop.

Everyone was watching. Members of the Lithuanian national basketball team? So said their T-shirts. Work stoppage for this important event.

American presence. On the left, Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk.

Protestors were hard to find. This guy's sign says "Protect our children from gay propaganda." A sad reminder of the grim Soviet era (Vladimir Linderman is a current anti-gay crusader from Latvia).

A tribute to free flowing ideas and a bright future for total equality!

The Great Sporto Rūmai In Vilnius, Lithuania

There are still a handful of fantastic Soviet-era buildings scattered around Vilnius, stark reminders of a stark time in Lithuania. The most iconic building sits across from Old Town, across the Neris River from the central section of Vilnius. Never mind that it was built on the site of a desecrated Jewish cemetery. Different times, different values, definitely different architecture.

Behold Sporto Rūmai. Nice curves. Built in 1971.

The building makes a statement, all harsh concrete, a little glass to soften the mood. Front view.

Side and back of the place. It seems the Soviets decided to do a mash up of Eero Saarinen's Dulles Airport with the brutalist style of Louis Kahn.

Hints of aquatic, grand details. A set of porthole windows, emulating deco style, maybe whale blow holes.

Fish gill side windows.

Marble entrance. Kahn-like concrete stairway.

Front lobby.

Alas, the place is closed. About a decade ago, developers were circling, ready to spruce it up, make it part of a new destination. Double alas, plans fell through, demolition loomed. Triple alas, the city has re-claimed ownership and has established historical status. Final alas, its future.

Its present? Rented to a film for use as offices and a stage for sets.

Seating, regular section and VIP. An interesting design: the seats are only on one side, taking up the inside of the giant front sweep. Mainly basketball and volleyball were played there. Maybe since the Soviet Union was a one party state, you only needed one point of view.

Back of the building reception area, a little wood to soften the look.

The film that's being made there? Jack The Ripper. Roll over Brezhnev, tell Krushchev the news.

Dogging It At Statoil

We showed you the future of gas stations here.

So what happens when you stop by one of their actual fuel establishments? You hop out, pump some gas, maybe pop into the mini-mart. What's that looming around the corner?

Of course! Another reminder of life after oil. "All hail the era of hot dogs!" Statoil has become famous for its Statoil Dog. Who knew the best way to build your gas station brand was through a wiener?

Hanging Out In Vilnius With Trump, Putin and Tony Soprano

Larger than life characters have descended on Vilnius. The usual mix of art and politics.

By the train station, it's Tony Soprano. He's been in Vilnius for a while.

More recently on the scene, political titans, tyrants. Let's collectively call them TrumPutin. Maybe you recognize the pose? An homage to a famous mural from the Berlin Wall. Its appearance went viral and Vilnius was suddenly a famous city for a day. Maybe now more than a handful of people will know where we've called home the past two years. We couldn't ask for better publicity.