THE PAST
Tauro ragas (bar) used to be one of the most popular beer bars starting from it's opening in 1974.
While Šopen brevery (Šopeno alaus darykla) was 1 of 3 fuctioning breveries in the 2nd half of the 19th century and it continues activity till huge fire in 1940.
But after WWII it was functioning as Vilniaus Tauras Brevery.
series of: #StreetArt
series of: #CentralStation
The Newest artwork is located at the Central Station:
The Painter EttoJa on his pictures (in LT).
What future will bring for the National Stadium. (And for us).
I could not agree with Andrius Tapinas on this topic more.
Here are the most painfull failures of Vilnius (sofar):
- construction of National Stadium;
- reconstruction of legendary Sports Palace;
- construction of National Hall of Concerts at Tauras Hill;
- reconstruction of Bus Station;
- reconstruction of Railways Station.
Vilnius museum was opened in spring 2021.
Very informative interview with Rasa Antanavičiūtė, founder of Vilnius museum: here (On lrt Mediateka).
About Lithuanian Jewish Genocide Rememberance Day I wrote on Day 102.
This year I took part in The Road of Memory. Ponary March of the Living.
March started @11:00 @Rudninkų squre with few speaches (among them a speach of our PM Ingrida Šimonytė) and few songs in Yddish.
Later the march headed towards The Central Railway Station for a train of 12:32 to Trakai.
Train was full of people. In Ponary the march headed towards the forest.
Like was one of the particpants of the march has said: This forest is full of Sadness.
The forest has a smell of blueberries (subjective, because I felt this smell) and a smell of pine spikes.
The ceremony was full of wreaths of flowers and full of speaches. A lot of Ambassadors took part in the ceremony.
It's a sad ceremony.
But we have to remember.
Never means never, never again means never again.
I was talking a litlle about the Green Bridge on Day 21.
In the end of August (2021) new installation on the Green Bridge appeared.
Its so called Cages by architect Audrius Ambrasas.
From the first moment installation lit up and provoked discussion and caused hatred.
Reasons:
First, The budget of the installation was 18 500 eur.
Second, the istallation is made from rusty material (oh no, again, one more after Krantinės Arka.)
On 21 September publishing house Lapas organized discussion at NDG about Public Vilnius Spaces.
Participants: architect Audrius Ambrasas, artist Dainius Liškevičius, and historian Zigmas Vaitkus.
Moderator: art manager Laima Kreivytė (smart and intelligent women).
Dainius Liškevičius of the author of the idea of istallation for Petras Cvirka monument.
Monument should not be dismounted but hidden under the ground and it coould apper from the under the ground only when visistor wishes and pays a fee.
Vilnius municipality has taken decision that Petras Cvirka monument should be dismounted.
The main idea that why we get rid of all soviet heritage and we dismount or destroy object that reminds us our past, instead of looking for new solutions and implementing new original projets.
Today I've visited an exhibition Petras Repšys: The Works. at National Museum (so called New Arsenal) .
#VilniusMuseums
It was a guided tour for single visitos with a museum guide Kristina.
Petras Repšys is known for his famous paiting The Seasons at Vilnius University at Lithuanistics Cathedral.
I do even have a book on The Seasons paiting but actually I've never read it.
Petras Repšys was born in 1940 in Šiauliai. He is a professional illustrator. However he is the most famous for his medals.
When exhibition curators suggested to call the exhibition Petras Repšys: the creations, artist himself refused and insisted that the exhibition should be called Petras Rešys: the works, so showing that each piece of art requires a lot of hard work.
Autoportraits of Petras Repšys are quite common in his works.
The guided tour consisted of two parts.
The 2nd part was at Vilnius University (VU) and the Old Town was guided by Vaiva, who works @ VU.
We've visited: The Seasons (finished in 1985), later Aula Parva (Mažoji aula), Rector Aula at VU, and later we went to Lokys and to bookstore Versmė.
Both Aulas were so new for me, i've never vistited them before.
At Aula Paula Vaiva told us about Coat of Arms of VU (created by P. Repšys).
Rector Aula is decorated with beautiful beautiful painting by Antanas Kmieliuskas.
Later we went to Stiklių str. and stopped Lokys restaurant. Near the entrance there are two works of P. Repšys in two niches (around 1976).
The upper work depicts a bear, a women, and a child.
The work below depicts ... (I forgot that) :)
Lokys was established in 1972.
And the last our stop was at Versmė Bookstore at Didžioji Street. P. Rešys has created its Signboard (with a Griffin) and the bas-relief over the arched passage (with Pegasus).
Everything was so new and intersting to me.
Admission fee: 4 eur + 2 eur for guided tour. (Of course with my beloved Guide Certificate admission was for free). :)
:) next spot or activity: Museum of Applied Arts and the same Museum of Applied Arts.
Yesterday, on September 20, I've joined the 7th Volunteers Edition at the MO.
We will participate and help in variuos events and activities.
Volunteers shall have 3 functions:
- Šypsenos (Smiles);
- Guides;
- Educators.
We are especially welcomed on weekends when the flows of the visitors at the museum are quite numerous.
The 6th exhibition Celebrate for Change has been opened recently.
MO will celebarte its 3rd birthday on October 18.
previous spot or activity: Walk in State Cultural Reserve :)
I've just attended a discussion at Kirdiejai Palace organized by Vilnius museum.
Participants of the discussion: Rūta (moderator, Vilnius Muesum coordinator, historian), Mindaugas Repšys ( former resident of skvotas Barbora, belonged to a punk movement), Povilas (historian), and Viltė (heritage manager). Of course Rasa was also present here, but she was a photographer today.
Kirdiejai Palace is an abandoned building near the Bernardine Garden. And it seem that it has bad luck, because it was abandomed for yeras and years in 17th and 18th centuries, and it is abandomed now.
Kirdiejai Palace was constructed in the begining of 17th century.
In 1993 skvotas Barbora was established here.
short deviation:
The last residents of skvotas, among them the family of Kristojonas who was born in Barbora (his father - Giedrius was a student at VDA), and were evicted in around 2003.
In 2005 the building was enlisted on the Lithuanian heritage list.
The territory of the buildings belongs to the State Cultural Reserve of Vilnius Castles.
Buildings belong to Vilnius city.
And, as I uderstood, Vilnius museum is planning to move here in the future.
series of: #FutureVisions
Series of: #VilniusMuseum
In the front of the buildings at Maironio str. 1 quite a new Hotel Vilnia is located.
***
Next spot: Menų Spaustuvė
series of: #VilniusLakes
series of: #VilniusBeaches
I am not pretty sure if Balžis Lake is located on the territory of Vilnius, but still it is extremly beautiful lake with 2 beaches and a path to walk around.
And it is extremely blue lake.
Vilnius Gallery Weekend took place on the second weekend of September 2021 and it took place at more than 30 spaces in Vilnius.
This year I've visited:
1) at #NDG 2 exhibitions: Indigenous Narratives and Photobloc
2) at Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis House exhibition Kita Oda
3) Pilies Gallery
Festival Muzika Erdvėje is organized for the 7th time here in Vilnius. It is really strange that I've heard about them only this September for the first time in my life.
Their official website is here: https://www.muzikaerdveje.lt/2021-2/
One of the the most significant unrealized Vilnius projects is the Church of Sacred Hear of Jesus ( Švč. Jėzaus Širdies bažnyčia) designed by architect Anatanas Vivulskis.
You can find the model of the church, erected in 2019, in the front of Klasikos Teatras.
Model of Antanas Vivulskis exposed in the front of the previous church building. (in LT)
more on this on: bernardinai.lt (in LT)
A new brand office of UAB Palink and a shopping mall will be built in Pilaitė.
Previous spot: Legendary Seimas Fountain
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania - the biggest library of Lithuania.
Constructed in 1963;
Architect Viktor Anikin;
Engineer Ciprijonas Strimaitis.
Main features:
- sophisticated vestibule with walls and collons from artficial marble;
- reading rooms loacated on both sides of the vestibule on all three floors.
- modern vitrage of Antanas Karbauskas Į šviesią ateitį;
In the front ot the library a square is formed and in 2011 a Sculpture of Juozas Kęstutis Patamsis Žinia was erected.
Deviation from the walk along the left enbankment of the Neris
On 10 March 2021 Vilnius City municipality transferred the legendary fountain to the Seimas.
The fountain was constructed in 1987 by sculpture Gediminas Karalius and architect Algimantas Nasvytis.
I remember that the last time I saw the fountain functioning was in 1998 when I was visiting Vilnius in summer.
In 2013, when Lithuania was taking over the presidency of the Coucil of the EU, the fountain was dismantled.
The Seimas is planning to reconstruct the fountain and to bring it back to life.
And generally speaking, not only Seimas but also people of Vilnus are very dissatisfied and disappointed with a poor condition of the Nepriklausomybės Square.
Next spot ( and a neighbour) : Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Series of:
Not a bad choice to eat at any time in the city Centre is Downtown, with 14 different kitchens and a spaciuos and nice terrace.
Series of: #FutureVisions
Series: #Pilaitė
A new hight school building will be built in Pilaitė.
CONSTRUCTION:
Architects: DO architects studio
Project budget: almost 17 mln euro
Project Executor: Jungtiniai projektai
Duration: 15 months
End date: September 1, 2022.
Start: May 2021
To be continued ...
series of: #VilniusBeaches
series of: #VilniusLakes
series of: #VerkiaiRegionalPark
One can spend a perfect day on a Balsys Lake Beach.
It's super nice, super tidy, but super crowded.
Even on 27 September at 18:00 it could be full of people.
On 26 April we had a breaking news that this beach was awarded a Blue Flag ( the Ecological Mark meaning that awarded beaches are of the highest). In total seven Lithuanian beaches were awarded the Blue Flag.
Grinda is taking care of the beach.
Next Spot: Old Villages Hiking trail!
Series of: #aroundVilnius
From the Europos park you can go straight to Liubavas Manor.
It's located 15 km away from the Park, and reachable on foot from Skirgiškės bus stop in 43 min walk on Saulės aleja and then trought the the Tartokių forest. That was a really nice walk with no wet places. :)
NOTE!
When Google Maps shows that something is quite away, always check map.lt!
Maps.lt knows all passages, all paths and all so called dog-paths!
It will lead you by picking the shortest way available to anywhere.
From my point of view Liubavas Manor turned out to be a little dissapointing.
Manor consists of 3 remaining buildings: a building of Orangery, an officine, and a building of a Watermill. The museum is located in the Watermill building (a shop also).
I wanted to get a Magnet, like I always do, but they do not have magnets at all!!!
Hey, what kind of tourist spot shop you are, if you do not have magnets!!!
Like Mr Trumps would say: I was very very dissapointed.
Kalvarijų street (5,5 km) is one of the Oldest (16th century) streets in Vilnius. It has existed since always :D
It starts at the Green Bidge and leads to Verkiai and the Verkiai Calvary
It was formed in the 16th Century, together with Ukmergės street, as two main streets of the Šnipiškės suburb.
Few things that I would like to point out:
1) Bronius Laurinavičius Square
Bronius Laurinavičius - Lithuanian priest, a memeber of Lithuanian Helsinki Group who in strange circumstances died on the Kalvarijų - Žalgirio streets crossing on 24 November 1981.
Previously on 365 days in Vilnius
Quite a good day for a Saturday Hike.
Old Villages hiking trail (or a Cognitive Path or a Cognitive Trail) was opened in Fall of 2020, so it's the newest trails for hikers in Vilnius.
Series of: #HikesinVilnius
It begins exactly just like my hike from 2016 hike in verkiai regional park.
Trail goes trought Verkių Riešė aka Rzesza Werkowska - Staviškės aka Stawiszki - Turniškės (on the right bank of the Neris) with impressive views on the Neris - further - Krempliai - and finally, Naujieji Verkiai Paper Manucatury.
Trail is about 10 km long and it took me 3 hours (but I had only 1 short 5 minutes break).
On the whole 10 km you will find only 2 benches for rest. So the rest stops are your problem.
The trail partially coincides with Turniškės trail.
On one section of the trail I was last Saturday when I was wandering on the Turniškės trail.
The passsage trought the Turniškė stream near the 2nd Turniškės Pond is totally bad, and since yestarday it was raining, I didn't manage to go to the other side without without staying dry.
My shoes got wet and so dirty. As coach Schiller would say: They are extremely dirty.
People living there are local Poles and you hardly find any Lithuanian speaker there.
* The same evening LRT Panorama commented that Lithuanian Poles and Russians and Belorussians, all non-lithuanians living in the South-East Lithuania kind of unloyal to Lithuania. They follow and believe Rusisna news. But it's states fault. The Lithuanain State failed to integrate all these citizens into society during these 30 years.
This is a time when Yellow anemones and Common Wood Sorrel are blooming.
On some passages you will meet other hikers.
The last section of the trail is straith and it goes trought the Verkiai Forest.
next spot: Verkiai Manor!
Can we do this? I believe we can NOT.
I believe we are incapable of doing this.
what's new here?
Published on 04 May 2021:
Konstitucijos Avenue - one of the shortest and but he busiest streets in Šnipiškės.
I love to write so I write although a poor writer I am.
Official Vilnius website: madeinVilnius.lt ammounces that the palace laocated at Žygimantų str. 3 will be reconstructed.
They call the palace Juozapas Tiškevičius Winter Palace. But they are wrong.
The true owner of the Palace from 1891 till 1901 was Jonas Leonas Tiškevičius, the 4th Manager of the "majoratas" in Astravas.
Jonas Tiškevičius also constructed winter garden near the palace.
The building was abandoned for quite a lng period of time.
Also his family built Žygimantų str. 1 Palace in 1884-1888 so called The Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy od Sciences.
Vilnius will clean up and prepare a new beach near the Neris the Lazdynai Beach
Series of: #VilniusBeaches
Wow, such a huge Vilnius fan I am and I have never been to the Europos park before.
It was founded in 1991. It occupies 55 ha territory.
96 sculptures to see are officially marked on the visitors map.
The park could be walked around in 2 hours on quite a slow walk.
Admission fee: 11 eur / adults.
Similar place in Vilnius but much smaller and for free: Jeruzale Sculptures Garden.
Series of: #VilniusSculptures
series of: #AroundVilnius
Location: Joneikiškių village, Vinius region. 19 km from the Vilnius centre.
TOP 3 MOST RECOGNIZABLE SCUPLTURES
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TOP 3 SCULPTURES I LIKED THE MOST:
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No. 3
OK, and No 4
