• Vilnius and Trakai Castle

    The sun is shining and the people are singing.  Literally.  I’ve managed to stumble onto a day of festivity in the Lithuanian capital, as everywhere you turn people are performing on the streets.  It seems as the whole city has come to life for a traditional “day of music”, when bands and artists of all …

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  • Hitchhike to India leg 25: Šiauliai to Vilnius

    I’m up at 5am.  That’s FIVE AM PEOPLE.  Actually I’ve been awake for most of the night.  Going cold turkey on years of drinking isn’t really a good idea; you need to taper off.  As a result I’m experiencing my usual bout of nightmares, anxiety, panic attacks and sleep paralysis.  Added to this a genuine …

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  • Hitchhike to India leg 24: Riga to Siauliai and The Hill of Crosses

    Now I’m not in any way a religious man.  Each to their own, but I don’t have a believing bone in my body.  Strange then, that I’m drawn to a rather interesting spiritual and cultural object located in Northern Lithuania.  Just outside the town of Siauliai (I don’t know how to pronounce it either) is …

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