Day 56. Vilnius swings

Sometimes, while having a walk in Vilnius you can find some swings mounted on some high trees, so don't miss the opportunity to have a peacefull moments here.

Here comes a swing on the right bank of the Neris river, just right to the Zveryno bridge.

Day 55. Eating Celebration. Vilnius Burger Fest 2016.

Vilnius Burger Fest is quite a new festivity which started in 2015.

Although, as I said, it was only the second Burger Fest, on August 25 it attracted hundreds of visitors.

I haven't been there, but my one colleage with a family was at the festival, so he was telling that the queues were so enormous that they left  and had some burgers in fast food restaurant. :)

Day 54. Trendy places to eat.

Since I am a Budged Traveller and quite a budget resident of Vilnius, I not a specialist of trendy places to eat in Vilnius, but I will try to get you a least a little grasp of them.

Keule Ruke

One of them is a so called fast food restaurant Keule Ruke (Kiaule Ruke literally means a pig in the fog).
There are three restaurants in Vilnius, one is in Stoties district at Pylimo str. 66.

It bacame famous also because of a painting on its wall:

Donald Trump kissing Vladimir Putin

By Mindaugas Bonanu and Dominykas Čečkauskas

version .1

After act of vadalism the picture was slightly changed.

It was seen by millions of people after it was published 

by The New York Times in 2017 and other news media

When I visit Keule Ruke, I will something more.

Užupio kavinė

Actually, I love Užupio kavinė (strongly subjective). 

As its name says, the cafe is located in the famous Užupis, just next to the Užupis Bridge on the bank of Vilnelė.

You sit on the bank of the river, you hear the river flow and you have a glass of beer. 

Užupio cafe from above

Day 53. Pilaite Part IV. Walk in Pilaite's surroundings.

Series of #WalksinVilnius

series of #Pilaitė

I' m going to present you a long walk just perfect for not too cool and not to warm weekend.

You can start your walk by going towards the Salotes lake and walk through Sudervele Valley.

All the time you go along the Sudervele Stream. You pass the Gudeliai village. (in LT) (Zujūnai eldership (in LT).

In Gudeliai you can turn left and follow Taurupes str. untill you get to Karoliniškės district, or turn right into Senuju Gudeliu str. , follow the Sudervele till you reach Upes str. and almost the Neris. 

yes, yes. Upės street. Upės street bacame the most famous Vilnius region street in 2020 because the PM of the 17th Government of the RL  Mr Saulius Skvernelis lives there.

I had a meme somewhere on this but Ican not find it right now. 

Follow Upes str. until you reach the sign Griovių geomorfologinis draustinis (in LT).

Here Grioviai Geomorphical Reserve starts. You cross a nameless stream. Then turn right into Pasieniu str., later into Grioviu str. 

On your right you will pass a pond and a strange deserted building, I guess, the former watermill. 

2021 

You will walk through Grioviai village (in LT). 

Then you can:

1) turn right and go trought Dvarykščiai village till you reach Salotė village and you will get to the Salote Lake again.

or

2) go straight and follow a path along the western bank of a small Baltieša lake untill you get into Salotes str. Turn left and not far away the Gelūžė lake (in LT) is located. 

Just near the lake on the opposite side of the road Vilkeliškių piliakalnis (in LT) (Vilkeliskes Mound) is located. 

The fastest way to get to Pilaite again is to follow Angelavos str. and Pretorijaus str. 

The walk is approximately 10  km long.

That's about it :)

Day 52. Legends of Vilnius: The Cinema Lietuva

As I've mentioned in the beggining of a year, I would like to talk about the cinema Lietuva. Actually,  Lietuva is the former cinema and now - the building which will be destroyed in November this year.

Lietuva  (in LT) is the cinema in Vilnius, on Pylimo street just opposite Traku street constructed in 1965 by architect Jonas Kasperavicius, closed in 2002 and sold to a private company by Vilnius City Minicipality. 

All the information below will be translated from the text from wikipedia where it is stated that the information presented could be subjective and disputive.

History

Lietuva, opened in 1965, was showing the latest and the most popular films. In 1965 - 1985 the cinema was busy 85% all the time and the numer of visitors reached 1,4 million per year, income from sold tickets was over 1 million rubles per year.

Lietuva on its opening day in 1965

In 1997 Lietuva has undergone a significant reconstruction. The sound and video technology conforming the world cinema standarts was installed in the cinema. Since 1994 the Lietuva was in the system of EU association Europa cinemas.

In the years of independence in the Lietuva such film festivals as Vilnius International Film Festival (Vilniaus kino pavasaris) were organised.

Big Hall and Hall 88

Since 1997 reconstruction the cinema had 2 halls: Big Hall and Hall 88. The Big Hall had 983 seats and one of the hugest screens in Europe ( it was 200 square meters) and Dolby sound system (Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR) and the newest cinema projection systems were installed. The Hall 88 was opened in 1998 and it had 88 seats. Here also Dolby sound system and the newest cinema projection systems were instaled. 

Long story of Privatization

In 1990-1991 the State Cinema Lietuva was reorgnized into private company  UAB Lietuvos kino teatras, 93% shares of which belonged to Vilnius City Minicipality and the rest 7% to the employees of the cinema. In 1997 UAB Lietuvos kino teatras with an agreement of the Minicipality took 1,9 million litas loan for a renovation from Zemes ukio bankas. The loan was paid in several years from the income from tickets sales. In 1998 one more loan of 2,5 million litas was taken for further renavoation. In 2002 UAB Lietuvos kino teatras has 1 mln litas of still unpaid loan.

In May 2002 the first auction was organized. The winner a company of Vilnius Prekyba group - UAB Regiono investicijos refused to buy the cinema. Half a year later - UAB Regiono investicijos bought it for twise or triple lower price than it was in May -  for 2 mln litas. 

Three years later  UAB Regiono investicijos sold the cinema to a company M2Invest who was the shareholder of UAB Rojaus apartamentai for much higher prise than it had bought Lietuva in autumn 2002. 

Meanwhile in 2005 on August 25 the Lietuva was officialy closed. on that day it was showing two movies: One flew over cookoo nest and The Idiots.

Few protest actions were organized. More you can find here (in LT).

In 2010 UAB Rojaus apartamentai declared bancrupcy. 

In the beginning of 2012 SEB bank company Litecus bought Lietuva for 9 mln litas. 

In June 2014 it was announced that a joint company of the fund Lord LB Opportunity Fund II and VsI Modernaus meno centras called UAB LKT Projektai is negotiating about purchasing the cinema. 

In March 2014 Lithuanian Architects' Association and UAB LKT Projektai organized architectural contest for Modern Art Centre and office building which didn't succseed. The fund Lord LB Opportunity Fund II left the project.

In 2015 a new company UAB MMC projektai formed by VsI Modern Art Centre and its partners presented a new project of Modern Art Centre building by Daniel Libeskind.

We do not agree

On the roof of the Lietuva somebody one day wrote HELP.

And sombody crossed out the letter P and wrote the second L and one got HELL.

See here: the Lietuva is waiting for the help from Heaven. 

Summer 2016

In the middle of July the Modern Art Centre announced that it organizes tours into the former cinema Lietuva (in LT).

The Lietuva was opening its door for the very last time.

How the former cinema looks in July 2016 after 11 years of neglecting you can see in the article above ( click the link above).

I was inside the Lietuva on 28 July. Admission - 3,5 EUR.

Our guide was MAC employee - Migle.

I felt so sad for the whole history of that building. It's a bit pity that the tour inside the Lietuva took only 30 min, the rest 30 min Migle was telling us about the MAC - who they are and about their future.

Lietuva looks scary and terrifying.

Foje

Big Hall

the second floor - the floor of technicians

Famous corridor leading to Hall 88

Place where the screen of Hall 88 used to be

What future brings

The demolition works of the Lietuva will start in November 2016.

In the place of the Lietuva new MAC building will be constructed till 2017.

This is how MAC building will look like.

The End?

Yes, I guess that it is the end.

February 2017 - the beggining of the end

The Lietuva wasn't demolished in November 2016.
It was opened for the publicity for the very last time on February 1, 2017.
Some modern artist had their installation on that day there. Some free excursions took place.

These are some pictures from February, 2017

Last week, on Thursday, or Wednesday it was announced that the iconic metal title Lietuva was taken off from the building.

MMC (CAC) promised that they will preserve the title and will incorporate somewhere in the building of future MAC.

The Cinema on February 26, 2017

Day 51. Uzupis. Part III. Free walking tour with Gatves Gyvos.

#Užupis

#CityTours

Last Thursday I participated in a free walking tour in Užupis with Gatves Gyvos project.

Our guide was Albertas Kazlauskas and he is just an awesome guy.

A tour started at Užupio tiltas (Uzupio Bridge). Albertas told us a lot of intersting facts and things about Uzupis but I will mention only this that Uzupis was mentioned for the very first time in 1495, so we can say that Uzupis is officially 621 years old.

I have a huge wish to use this Uzupis Bridge Swing .....

Swing of Destination (or Faith) 

(in April 2019 it was replaced by 3 huge Dreamcatchers :)

And yes, I know that's for children ... but so what?

Albertas presented us the following spots:

1) The sign at the border of the Republic of Užupis (founded in 1997).

2) Sculpture Užupis Mermaid by a sculptor Romas Vilčiauskas
 (let me just remind you that The Mermaid is one of the talking statues :))

3) the map of old Uzupis on one of the buildings at the frontyard of Uzupis Art Incubator.

4) the frontyard of Uzupis of Art Incubator



5) the sculpture of Christ the Pilgrimer

Other Sculptures on the bank of Vilnele names of which I do not know:

Energy Charger :)

6) the Sculpture Kunigaikstis Vilgaudas



7) the Tibet Square

8) Uzupis Angel, also by Romas Vilciauskas



9) St. Bartholomew's Church

10) Jonas Mekas backstreet

11) Uzupis Square where Uzupio street splits into Uzupio street (futher - Polocko street) and Kriviu street

and I left the group here ....

Lateron Albertas took the group to the following points:

12) Bernardine Cementry

and finally to

13) Altana Hill

CONCLUSION: Gatves Gyvos - I <3 You!

Some more about things which are going on in Uzupis here (saint-patricks-day).

Day 50. Visit to the Centre for Civil Education

series of #VilniusINdoors

On July 10 I've visited the Centre for Civil Education located in the Presidential palace.It's such an interesiting educational place.
Not only you will get to the inner courtyard of the Presidential Palace, which is usually closed for visitors, but you will lear how the Lithuanian state functions.
You will learn about institution of the President, its history, about the Parliament, parties, muniscipalities and much much more.
Everything is in Lithuanian, but I guess some information could be found in Enhlish as well.
Just make sure you have at least 3-4 hours and you can spend them here. Although I thisnk that I can spend here the whole day.
The Centre for Civil Education has opened on March 10 and it's quite a new educational place.

First presidents of Lithuania

Presidents of Lithuania starting from 1990

The executive branch in Lithuanina

The Parliament of Lithuania

Check how civivally engaged you are

I've never seen 1000 litas banknote in my life!

PS this guy on 1000 litas is Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis :)

Day 49. Lithuanian Schoolchildren's Song Celebration. Part III. Ensembles Evening

This is a continuation of Part II. Dance Day.
I love Ensembles Evening concert the most of all three concerts of Song Celebration.

Ensembles Evening Koks grazus tavo veidas gimtine (What a Beautiful Face of My Homeland) took place on July 9, traditionally at 10 p.m. and traditionally in Kalnu Park.

This year I could not attend this concert because I had a trip to Latvia on that day (and at 10 p.m. I was somewhere at Latvian - Lithuanian border on my way home).

Nevertheless, you can find the whole concert on www.lrt.lt/mediateka somewhere here.

And now, why I love this concert the most?

Day 48. Schoolchildren's Songs Celebration 2016. Part II: Dance Day.

This post about Schoolchildren's Songs Celebration - Dance Day is a continuation of Part I. Songs Day.

Dance Day My Land is the second grand concert of Songs Celebration It took place on July 8 in the  Siemens Arena (a closed space). It was such a colourful and joyful event!

Songs Festival tradition started in 1924 in Kaunas and, as you see, it sonn will be 100-years old.

The whole history of almost 100-years old tradition is presented on the official website of Celebration's organizer.

On November 7, 2003 UNESCO has proclaimed Songs and Dance Celebrations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

We are really proud of that!

The organizer of Song Celebration is the Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre.

And the organizer of Schoolchildren's Songs Celebration is the National M. K. Ciurlionis School of Arts.

Dance Day concert My Land (or My Earth, it depends how you evision that because Žemė in Lithuanian means the Land as well as the Earth) was just amazing!

Traditional folk dances were perfectly incorporated with ballet dances, modern dances and ballroom dances, and some 3D effects and effects shown of a big flat screen. Dances were acompannied by songs performed by children's bands from private A. Novikas Jazz School: Mini Jazz and  Jazz Island. And these singing kids, in my opinion, are just absolutely tallented!

The whole concert could be found on www.lrt.lt/mediateka somwhere here.

But Im not sure if the link will properly work out.

Later, I will present some short videos made by me. :)

One of first videos. I'e called it The Universe

Samogitian folk song Pempel, Pempel sang by  Jazz Island

Modern dance

Modern dance and a legendary Lithuanian song Pasveikinkim vieni kitus

Concert is comming to its end

The End

And now, you can jump to continuation of Song Celebration  Part III. Esembles Evening

Day 47. Lithuanian Schoolchildren's Song Festival. Part I. Song Day & July 6.

Lithuanian Schoolchildren's Song Festival is an amazing massive culture event in which schoolchildren from all over Lithuania perform jointly in three main concerts: Song Day, Dance Day and Evening of Essemblies.

Traditionally Song Day is held in on July 6 in Vingis Park.

ok. First of all, what is July 6 for Lithuania and Lithuanians? 

On July 6 (Statehood Day) Lithuania celebrates State Day of Lithuania (Coronation Day of King Mindaugas). One of the three main National Holidays in Lithuania.

Official programme of the Statehood Day is presented here.

Traditionally, at 12 p.m. Lithuanian State flag hoisting ceremony takes place at Simonas Daukantas Square in front of the Presidential Palace.

And now, about Song Day. Song Day You are the only one for us concert, as I said, took place in Vingis Park and started at 6 p.m.

For me - this concert, and the other two concerts forming Song Festival are so solemn and so unique. You can just imagine how a simple song sounds when it's performed by over 10,000 schoolchildren standing under Amphitheatre of Vingis Park! 
It's abolutely amazing and it's unforgetable!
But it's subjective :)

Well, the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė is late a bit :)

Lithuania, on July 6 has one more tradition:

At 9 p.m. campaign For Sake of this Land Let Unity Blosom takes place, all Lithuaninans over the world are encouraged to stop for a moment and to sing the National Anthem.  

Here are some traditional songs, that are permormed in almost every Song Celebration.

Suktinis Nepaskutinis (Bitute Pilkoji):

Palinko liepa salia kelio feat. Thundertale:

And one more: called simply Lietuva:

The whole concert could be found on www.lrt.lt/mediateka somewhere here. 

 

And here you can jump to Part II. Dance Day.

Day 46. Vilnius Culture Night 2016

This year I've mssed one of the most joyful and interesting events in the year.
I'm talking about Culture Night Festival !
It took place on 17 June, and, I guess it always takes palce on the third Friday Night of every June.

As organizers state on their website the best time to enjoy art, music and culture is when it's dark.

That's absolutely true. I can't tell about this year Culture Night in detail, but if you are planning to get to Vilnius in the middle of June, DO NOT MISS THIS FESTIVAL. You will stay busy all the evening till 2 a.m. I still you will not have enought time to see everything.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. :)

Day 45. Picnic at Sakura park in Vilnius

#NDG

If you have an opportunity to visit Vilnius in middle of May don't forget to visit Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park in its full bloom.
The park each May attracts hundreds if not thousands of visitors.
There is even a famous joke:

OMG, What kind of Vilnietis you are if don't visit Sakura park each year???

Even our president visits it.

You can organize a perfect picnic there.  

At the moment I do not have pictures of the Sakura park in bloom, although I've been there this May.

However I have same amazing pics done last year in October (I guess) in super amazing golden fall of 2015.

Beautiful, istn't it?

And fallen leaves of maples growing not far away from the park 

Then, you can visit the National Gallery of Arts which is located nearby.

(I've visited  NAtional Gallery of Arts when Sauka was exhibiting his works) :)

Appendix to Day 45. Lady with Swallow Birds