Seeing Klaipeda In Waning Light

Nothing like a 10 pm sunset. Have a late dinner, take a stroll through the city and see where the light is still shining in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Zeroing in on an apartment building.

On streets, through vacant lots.

Finding a seam.

Distant sun near a tennis court. Hiding building.

End of day reflection.

Wandering Around Klaipeda, Lithuania

Time to take a stroll around town, see what the Lithuanian city on the Baltic Sea has to offer.

Of course, a monument related to WWII. This one is to lost Soviet soldiers.

Klaipeda's architecture is influenced by its German heritage. A pole awaiting banners.

Typical Lithuania - quiet.

Nice woodwork on the balconies. Post office tower.

Back to the WWII memorial, the other part in the same square.

Old Fishing Vessels, Neringa, Lithuania

Near the northern tip of Lithuania's Curonian Spit are a few old fishing boats, land-locked and ready for examination. They're a great hands-on look at the fishing heritage of Lithuania.

Behold, the mighty Dubingiai!

Straight up Soviet-era fishing vessel. Super handsome crew.
The bounty - cans of fish. Also frozen blocks of fish and fish oil. Fish, fish, fish.

They had a cute before/after exhibit. What the crew's luggage looked like at the beginning of a job and the same luggage upon return to port. Trading clothes for nudie cards and Western gum and music.

A sad and unsurprising graphic, how much honest fish made it to market.

Telegrams and awards, all done up in finest Lenin.

Bonus, a few other fishing boats of various vintages stand nearby the mighty Dubingiai. Behold the Kolyma!

United States Ship Visit, Part Two

The ship docks, media swarms, time for a press conference.

Addressing the crowd.

Translation time.

Once everyone has his or her soundbites, time for a little tour around the ship. How to stand out from the uniformity? Slap a Chicago Bears logo to your hard hat. Nice touch.

Meaning business on the deck. Down below, an overflow of electronics still make room for an analog grease board and old fashioned bell. 

We doubt these phones have call waiting.

United States Ship Visit, Part One

A standard U.S. State Department activity is sometimes military-related. Maybe an Army exercise. If you're in a country with water access, a ship visit is inevitable. Recently, the USS Destroyer Donald Cook paid a visit to Lithuania, docking at Klaipėda, on the Baltic Sea. The event would have been of mild interest except for a confrontation worthy of the Cold War that occurred a few days before the ship's arrival. Just another day in Eastern Europe, a little Russian fighter plane tango.

Waiting. The view of the Curonian spit from the port.

Destroyer sighting.

Shooters and shooters.

Flying the colors. Texas and POW flags are added to the mix.

Band greeting and reverse shot.

The VIPs meet.