Unseen Lithuania

Unseen Lithuania is the English version of Neregeta Lietuva, the famous aerial photographic series by Marius Jovaisa.

The whole series is devoted to the landscape of Lithuania from the air.

Lakes, rivers, dunes, islands, churches, cityscapes and more are shown in panoramic photos taken from over 50 helicopter journeys – and like the name of the series suggests, it is something that not many people have seen before or expect from the small Baltic nation.

There are two books available in English – the 2008 and the 2009 editions, but both show excellent scenes of the country. A DVD has also been released with a selection of the best photos from the shoots.

I would personally recommend the books as the best way to go for many reasons – first and foremost is that the book is big and has large and thick pages with the photos in excellent colour and perfect focus. This is not the case with the DVD – there is a very noticeable loss in quality that is off-putting. Plus the photos on the DVD move around in the slide show making them hard to look at.

Perhaps the funniest thing in the series is “Lithuania in the World” where photos from Lithuania are compared to other locations in the world. The only reason I can think for including this is to enforce the nationalist illusion that most Lithuanians have that “our country is the same as everywhere in the world!” Either that, or better than everywhere.

Whats funny about this segment though is that the authors of the series get a photo from some place in the world and get a similar looking photo from Lithuania and place them side by side. For example, a bird’s eye view of a shallow reef in the Maldives is compared to tufts of grass and dirt poking out of a bog in Lithuania. Crystal clear turquoise water compared to muddy brown/green water. Not exactly the same, is it?

Anyway, apart from that terrible mistake they made of comparing mundane geographical locations to world wonders, the series is great and shows the natural beauty of Lithuania and the cities too.

It would make an excellent coffee table book or present.

Lithuania all over the world

Brilliantly detailed Lithuanian art for VECC

Part of the Vilnius European Cultural Capital 2009 (VECC) are the art exhibitions going on around the centre.



I went to a the Old Town Youth Gallery (my own translation from Lithuanian), which is at Totoriu street, number 22. It is in a small courtyard behind the bar Transylvanija and there is a red plane suspended in the court yard.


Go into the gallery on the left to see some great canvas paintings of Lithuanian life.

A small display of wackiness

This song from the 2006 Eurovision is a small sign of the sort of wacky people you might meet in the Baltics. This song was the best ever performance by Lithuania finishing in 6th place. The group LT United is made up of famous Lithuanian musicians and TV personalities.

Be warned...its addictive.

Upcoming events for VECC

The Vilnius European Capital of Culture 2009 (VECC) event booming in the capital. It is almost impossible to walk around the city without noticing one of the large green markers telling you about and exhibition or event. The best thing is that almost all of the events are free for all.

This weeks events:

EUROPEAN ART SCHOOL - Explore Vilnius – Design Vilnius Public lectures

Kultflux platform near the Lithuanian Energy Museum,

Rinktinės St. 2, Vilnius

21–25 Jul

19:00

Free of charge

KULTFLUX Culture Platform near the Neris Cinema night

Kultflux pavilion near the Neris and the Lithuanian

Energy Museum,

Rinktinės St. 2, Vilnius

21 Jul

21:00

Free of charge

ARTSCAPE/United Kingdom/Visual art

Fine arts: Roger Palmer, Eglė Paulina Pukytė

Cinema: Red Shoes, directed by Michael Powell; Life of Brian, directed by: Monty Python; Orlando, directed by: Sally Potter; 39 Steps, directed by: Alfred Hitchcock; The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, directed by: Peter Greenaway (shorts)

Gallery Vartai,

Vilniaus St. 39, Vilnius

22 Jul–8 Aug

Opening: 18:00

Tue to Fri

12:00–18:00

Sat 12:00–16:00

Free of charge

CINEMA IN THE CITY, CITY IN THE CINEMA

Ukrainian film review: Raspad / Collapse, directed by: Mikhail Belikov, 1990

Holy Trinity Church and the Basilian Monastery courtyard,

Aušros Vartų St. 7B,

Vilnius

22 Jul

21:30

Free of charge

52 Weeks. Cinema Marathon Skalvija Cinema Centre,

A. Goštauto St. 2/15, Vilnius

23 Jul

19:00

6–12

CINEMA IN THE CITY, CITY IN THE CINEMA

Ukrainian film review: Mijniki avtomobiliv /Car Washers, directed by: Volodymyr Tykhyi, 2001

Holy Trinity Church and the Basilian Monastery courtyard,

Aušros Vartų St. 7B,

Vilnius

23 Jul

21:30

Free of charge

KULTFLUX Culture Platform near the Neris Fishday, electronic music party

Kultflux pavilion near the Neris and the Lithuanian

Energy Museum, Rinktinės St. 2, Vilnius

23 Jul

22:00

Free of charge

EUROPEAN ART SCHOOL - Explore Vilnius – Design Vilnius Installation exhibition

Lithuanian Energy Museum,

Rinktinės St. 2, Vilnius

25 Jul–1 Aug

Opening: 17:00

Tue to Sun

10:00–17:00

5–10

52 Weeks. Cinema Marathon Skalvija Cinema Centre,

A. Goštauto St. 2/15, Vilnius

26 Jul

21:00

6–12

Sculpture: Puskalnis (Half Mountain) by R. Antinis

Neris embankment near the Seimas building, Vilnius

Runs until 31 Dec

Free of charge

Sculpture Dviaukštis (Two-Storey) by M. Navakas

Neris embankment near White Bridge, Vilnius

Runs until 31 Dec

Free of charge

Sculpture Krantinės arka (Embankment Arch) by V. Urbanavičius

Neris embankment near Mindaugas Bridge, Vilnius

Runs until 31 Dec

Free of charge

Network of Footpaths of the Balsiai Mythological Sculpture Park, sculptural park benches

Vilnius

Runs until 31 Dec

Free of charge

EUROPEAN ART SCHOOL NEU/NOW Vilnius’09 - Presentation of the 150 best European art students’ works

www.neunow.eu

Until 31 Aug

Free of charge

NEW CITY FACE - Lithuanian poets’ audio-visual poetry installation 'Poetry Pillar', curated by Julius Žėkas

Vilnius Bus Station,

Sodų St. 22,

Vilnius

Runs until 31 Aug

Mon to Sun

12:00–18:00

Free of charge

Photography exhibition - European Eyes on Japan

Contemporary Art Centre,

Vokiečių St. 2, Vilnius

13 Jul–16 Aug

Opening: 18:00

Tue to Sun

12:00–19:30

Sun 11:00–17:00

4–8 litas entrance

EUROPEAN ART SCHOOL - Art-o-thlon International Art Championship

Vilnius Academy of Arts, other public places in Vilnius

13 Jul (opening) – 31 Aug

Free of charge

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It should also be noted that Plunge is the Lithuanian capital of culture and is definately worth visiting with different walking trails, concerts and more.

Plungė – Lithuanian Capital of Culture 2009

Different locations in Plungė and district

Runs until 1 Dec

Free of charge

One of the fun ones...

Biplan - Šok ir nesustok

Travel the Baltics and win

Travelling in Lithuania is always nice and you can get some great photos. Now there is a website that allows you to enter your photos and win prizes if you submit the best ones.

Great Baltic Travel is a website devoted to photo-documenting the Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Their website best describes the project, which is organized by the European Union and the state tourism departments of the three countries.

"It’s a joint project by the three Baltic countries that invites you to travel around the Baltics anytime from May 15 to October 31. It’s a great way to spend your free time, to experience new impressions and adventures while traveling and being a part of the game. It’s about the joy of discovering incredible landscapes, fascinating historic heritage and modern achievements – all within a few hours drive from your home. It’s a great chance to connect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania together again on one route, 20 years after the historic “Baltic Way” project of 1989. The Great Baltic States Tour is a visit to 30 different sites in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – 10 in each country. Castles from the Middle Ages, parks encompassed by legends, adventure parks with exciting entertainment in the air and on the ground, museums and galleries of modern art, underground caves and labyrinths – these are just few of the sites that participants in the Greats Baltic States Tour can discover. Make these 30 Baltic sites 30 new stories in your personal travelogue."

While the website could be improved slightly, it is easy to navigate and you will find it easy to register. Those who complete all the tasks are eligible for prizes. (see below)

Prizes Travel Main Prize: a weekend for 2 in one of the capitals included in Air Baltic’s newly opened destinations at own choice – return flight tickets, 4-star hotel for 2 nights, breakfast included). Country (Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia) Prize: a weekend for two in one of the Baltic States’ capitals – Air Baltic return flight tickets, 4-star Reval Hotel for 2 nights, breakfast included) Additional prizes: Active nature holiday more... City holiday more... Bicycle Buss trip to Tallin for two business class and accomodation in Nordic Hotel Accommodation for two in the hotel „Le Meridien Vilnius“. Superior“room, breakfast and visit to health club „Oasis“included. Accommodation for two in the 3 stars guest house “Senasis paštas” ( “Old Post”). Romantic weekend in the Mazone castle Basket of sweets Air balloon flight Special prize by Jurmala City Municipality Spa weekend for two more... Parachute jump from 1000 m Dinner for two in the Museum’s of Rowing in Trakai restaurant “Remus”.

The wheels on the bus....

Getting around Lithuania can be hard if you don't like taking the bus. While in other countries in Europe, the train reigns supreme, the bus is the best alternative 9 times out of 10 for getting to the place you want to go.

Buses run all of over the country all the time. They aren't cheap when you work in Lithuania and earn the local wages, but for a traveller, the prices will be quite comparable to other countries.

Buses from one side of the country to the other are around 20 euros each way - not really that cheap - but they are frequent and pretty comfortable.

Going internationally also means taking the bus unless you go to Warsaw or Minsk. Buses to Riga are very frequent (at least four per day) and some are equipped with free coffee machines, wireless internet and TVs for watching moves. Keep in mind though that if you don't ask, you don't get. The nice buses, which are called Lux Express, don't cost more, but you need to ask for them.

The bus companies you should know about are Euroline, Ecolines and TOKS. Tickets for all of the are available at the stations before departure or on the bus. When buying on the bus be aware that the drivers sometimes try to cheat people. Get an idea about how much the fare is before you alight - then you know if they are cheating you.

Be aware that there are some people who mirror the routes of the buses with private vehicles - they usually wait outside the bus station and yell the destinations. They are usually the same price as the bus, but can be better. Try this at your own risk.

Have a good ride!

What you will see in Lithuanian clubs

SKAMP is one of the most successful bands of the last decade. They have just finished their latest album Kazka!? and are now working on their next, as well as solo projects.

The band, which plays a mixture of pop, jazz, funk and hip hop, can be seen in Lithuania for as little as 15 litas (4.35 euros) on most nights they perform.

Here is one some from their latest album "Kill you wit my mic"

Star1 links Lithuania to Dublin, London and Barcelona

New airline Star1 has now received all clearances and has started flying between Vilnius and London (Stanstead), Dublin and Girona (Barcelona).

The airline's new routes plug holes in the destinations that were left until filled after the winter debacle at Vilnius International Airport.

The small new airline is taking it easy so far with three weekly flights to Dublin, four weekly flights to London and two weekly flights to Girona.

From the company's website I can gather that they only have one plane at the moment, explaining the infrequent flights. It is however welcome news that there will now be flights direct to London and Barcelona, which previously didn't exist.

Currently the airline is only selling tickets on its own website as far as I can tell. It is not yet on Sky scanner.

Tickets aren't the cheapest in the European Union, but considering that they are new and that the entire airline industry is inflating its prices, they aren't too bad.

Including taxes, return flights to and from London end up between 700 and 1000 litas (200-300 euros). One strange thing on their website is that you cannot book tickets later than September this year, but that is probably because they are testing the water.

Book tickets here