Kaunas...

...is a UNESCO World Héritage site because of its urban development between the wars, lots of buildings in the then fashionable Art Deco style including the monumental church.

The Friday after we arrived was also graduation day for the school leavers so a huge service in the church and lots of teenagers making whoopee!

Had a super brunch before doing a tour of the Art Deco buildings, but got stuck in the first one which turned out to be a museum to a pair of music/theatre/opera brothers. Fascinating history and their apartment was nicely restored.  Pics in the other post.

Eventually wandered down to the old town, some lovely old buildings.

Next day caught a (very) local bus, full of ladies who had come into Kaunas to do their weekly shop.  Standing room only for most of the trip.  But had a great time at the Lithuanian Ethnological Museum, basically a 7-hectare site where they had brought old houses from all over the country.

Very interesting and a very Lithuanian lunch - stodge!  But quite tasty.

Were planning to go to a national park tomorrow but weather iffy so heading to the capital Vilnius instead.

More Kaunas pics

Some Art Deco 

And some more historic

Into Lithuania more pics

These from around Rusne.

Into Lithuania

Started in Klaipeda, a port in the northwest corner.  Nothing special although there seems to be lots of tourists, just a nice town, feels more prosperous than the the bit of Latvia we saw.  

Hired a couple of bikes to cycle part of the "Iron Curtain" cycle route north along the coast to a bird lake, all super pretty.  Nice to not be in a town for a while.  Cold north wind but found a nice sunny spot for our picnic.

An hour south by bus to Silute, the gateway town to the Nemunas Delta. 

The tourist office recommended a bike hire place but the owner seemed a bit nonplussed - he obviously wasn't prepared for the season.  So he gave us two new bikes!  They also suggested a restaurant which was actually a canteen for the workers, though open to everyone.  Lunched for 10 euros!  Then pedalled against a stiff breeze as far as the village of Rusne in the heart of the delta, a really pretty little place with Russia just over the river. (There's an odd bit of Russia between Lithuania and Poland).  Apart from that it reminded us of the fens of East Anglia.

Next day pedalling again, stopping to visit a famous bog - yes, really!  

Then on to Kintai which was mostly shut, not a weekend, not the summer.  Found a fish restaurant on the way back.  Another cool and very windy day but the sun was shining.  Apparently a heatwave back home!

Off to the second largest town in Lithuania tomorrow for Judy's birthday.

Onwards in Latvia

Caught the slow bus heading west to the town of Kuldiga, recently awarded UNESCO status as an "authentically preserved urban structure" - and beautifully untouched it was.  Old buildings not prettified at all, loved it!

It also claims Europe's widest waterfall, although at only about 2m high it's stretching a point!  But fish were jumping.

Next day (Chris's 75th birthday) another bus to Liepaja on the coast.  It's early spring so lots of lilacs, fruit trees with blossom and nesting storks to see on the way, also loads of birch forests in early leaf, very pretty.  Chose Liepaja because it's the music capital of Latvia and big enough to have a good choice of restaurants. 

Checked in to our luxurious apartment then went for a superb lunch in a Georgian restaurant.  It's a big weekend here (Whitsun or Pentecost), a huge 2-day market with coach loads of people, music etc.  We sat and listened to a Latvian folk-rock group in the park - they were brilliant.

And in the evening an Irish folk-jazz ensemble in the Great Amber concert hall, also brilliant.

Heading a short way south into Lithuania this afternoon.

More Riga pics

Old town 

Old house kitchen 

Art Nouveau 

Art Nouveau kitchen 

Into Latvia

Arrived in Riga about midday after an 04:30 alarm, so didn't do much that afternoon, wandered the old town and bought a bus ticket out!

Our walking tour the next day was very interesting, all about the history of Riga (quite old) and Latvia (surprisingly new!).  The old town has lovely buildings 

but the centre is very Art Nouveau with literally hundreds of buildings in the style. So pretty!  A cool, grey day. 

Lots of parks around the centre but it's really noticeable how late the spring is here, still daffodils and tulips in flower and the lilacs too not forgetting the azaleas.  Lots of red and white - the country's flag.

Visited two house museums today, one 17th century 

and the other Art Nouveau (early 20th century). 

Both fascinating.  And a lovely sunny day.  

Moving on tomorrow.