Lithuania

LITHUANIA

We headed onto Lithuania’s Capital, Vilnius on the Thursday morning. It was a long drive, so we decided to break it up and stop in a little town along the way. With no Camping grounds we were forced to stay in a cool little hotel for the first time, it was a steal at a tenner each, and we also got a full sauna, Turkish steam bath and spa in the place too. The lads all jumping at the chance for our own bed!

Heading across the country the next day was interesting. The land is flat, like the Canterbury plains flat. But pocketed amongst the green fields are little towns, which are just what you would picture a post Soviet country. Buildings are very simple, modest little houses and many old tractors chugging along. Also every so often a old Soviet relic, like a massive coal factory, with huge towering red and white smoke stacks looking very out of place in this landscape. When you come across a larger city it will have endless rows of massive apartment blocks, all grey and lifeless. Must have been tough in the old days. Mind, we have spotted naff all Ladas! Looks like they export them all now? Another amazing place we paced was the Hill of Crosses. This is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The exact origins are unknown, but it is considered that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising. Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 50,000, but I think it would be more like double. Truly one of the most eerier and astounding places I’ve been. Apparently when the Soviets were in control, they bulldozed the hill 3 separate times, yet every time crosses would appear almost within 24hrs.


















We breezed into Vilnius, and with it our Alternator in Rolling Thunder gave its last charge and died.. This, you might gather presented a rather large fucking problem for the campaign. How does one find a mechanic on Friday at about 4pm who can not only fix it, but has seen a 1979 FIAT camper, we’ll I tell you, A TON of bloody luck. As within 1 hour we had pulled up into the FIAT dealer garage for our repairs. The next hour we had setup in our Guest house in old Town and ready to see what this place had on offer. Ireland were about to be roasted by the Frogs in the Rugby, so we decided to head to the only Irish bar and check it out. Attempting to take some front row seats, we were told that they belonged to the Irish ambassador . Bad start. But things lifted when we spied the terrace seating, albeit right in front of some local ladies, who i guess didn’t barging on a close up view of our asses with there dinner!

After the French sorted out the game, things moved into full swing. We befriended an elderly Irish chap from Cork, who happened to be as clichéd as an Irish man can get. He like us, a lot! This chap one time in his life was a Millionaire, and proceeded on telling us he lost it due to being a manic depressive with a drinking problem (A handy combo I would think). But he was as funny as a man can get, ripping us all to pieces with his shit humour and tragic yarns! Father Jack he was to be known for the rest of the tour. I recall the night ending with some classic Air Guitar on the tables, duChats and Harbott forming a potent Lead/Bass combination, leaving the crowd speechless.

Saturday was our rest day, so we decided to find a few hidden jems in Vilnius. We went to a little bar called Play, which like its title had plenty of things to play with inside. Foosball being one of them, so after a few rounds of that we moved onto have what turned out to be the best dinner on tour, and cheapest by far. Cosy was the venue, and after some witty repertoire with the waitress over wine, we moved across the road to mix it up. Shooters we consumed, why I’m not sure, and the dance floor featured heavily for some time. As far as nights go, nothing special and I’m sure you’d agree. Its not until I introduce some decidedly dodgy, yet charming, Aussie lads into the picture that we can then continue the yarn. For at closing time, we found ourselves in a group of around 10 chaps and one rather colluded young Aussie girl, and no where to go. Someone, and I’m not willing to point fingers, muted the idea of perhaps a lady show? Hey why not, so off we all went in search of the finer things in life. What followed was perhaps the saddest, humours and meaningless display of direction I have ever witnessed in my time. With No leader, no map, no actual idea of a venue and a skin full we walked around town for nearly 2 hours, and then only stumbling across one at 6am. After a heated debate on cost, we discovered it was only open for a merger 1 hour more, hardly worth the dollars it was decided! So another 1 hour was spent finding food, at this stage we had lost 5 others. Left only with Clint, Phil, Myself and Luke and Scotty (Aussie lads). Double Coffee really never saw us coming at 7am. Luke and Mark had a bus to catch at 9am, and a small fortune of Lithuanian Lits to burn. This Luke’s order at Double Coffee –

Luke – “Jack Daniels and Coke please”
Waitresses – "just 1 sir"
Luke – “No the whole Bottle and 10 cokes”
Waitresses – “I’ll have to check with management…….”

5min later, and I’m sure a call to head office…..1 bottle of JD’s appeared. All Costing about 40 notes. Classic stuff. Come to think of it, we never did eat.

So we moved onto the Saturday and the next AB’s game v Scotland. We thought we had scooped the correct venue, and when arriving at the Friday nights stop, we found the Irish bar didn’t have the game. I’d like to say the lads are good in a crisis, and a crisis is what this quartet suddenly found themselves staring right in the eye! Even the locals said we wouldn’t find the game…..plah to them we said. Lead by a more than agitated, but eager Richards, we set sail in search of a bar to watch the AB’s. After a 30min walk around town we stumbled into a Casino, and before our eyes swept the best sports bar I’ve been to..or ever hope to go!

30 Plasma screens, waitresses in French maid outfits and beers costing around the 50cent mark! The next time you hear someone say ‘They struck it lucky’, just picture the 4 of us giggling like school girls and hugging, as the waitresses flicked thru the 5 million channels and found the AB’s v Scotland in English! And then preceded to crank the Volume to our liking, this in the face of 40 odd Man U v Chelsea supporters who had flocked in! Dig a hole and burry me now….as good as it gets (Leather couches too)

After the game, and loosing a paltry amount on the black Jack we decided to move on. We ended up going to a bar called, and I love this name for many reasons, PROSPECTOR. Sunday night and the place was in full swing. Notable events of night, break dancing, Clint befriending the manager (Again) and calling in that contact when he was denied entry back in later that night. Also Phil and myself carrying Clint off the dance floor, and out of the bar when we had to go! Good times!


Poland next