Just cruising trough the beautiful countryside on minor roads, stopping by some unknown landmarks, watching the local sunbather at the crowded beach or listen to their nightly party music on a picnic spot next to a lake on a weekend.
The Baltic people love the outdoors. They spend the weekends out camping, enjoying fishing at the lake or just chilling at the sea. That’s why there are easily to find picnic spots in beautiful surrounding for a overnight stay including a refreshing dip in the lake after a day driving.
It’s a catholic pilgrimage site, not known by certain when or by whom it started.
What is believed is in the 19th century people started bringing crosses to the site of a former hill fort. Probably in memory of perished rebels, who fight against the Russian Empire.
This hill, now know as Hill of Crosses has estimated more than 100’000 crosses, rosaries and statues, brought from all over the world.
Just by coincidence i found a city camp near the Republic of Uzupis, a neighborhood in Vilnius, which declared themselves independent. It suppose to be open for all people to live have happy life here. On a wall at the entrance of the community is displayed the constitution of the republic in many different languages.
A stroll trough Vilnius brought me to a few sighseeing spots in the old city, such as the cathedral with the distinct bell tower or up to the Gediminas tower for a great view over the city.
Time for traveling was limited this summer, but at least an extended road trip should bring me to a few interesting places. Going north, so was the plan!
In my mirrors i saw the sunset when i hit the road. I like night drives to cover long distances. Especially those long stretches on German Autobahn. Just filling up my diesel tank, get some strong coffee and driving into the night.
Then finally reached Poland. Not long until i crossed the bridge of Wroclaw, what felt like to enter a new section of my trip.
Crossing the bridge of Wroclaw
That new phase of my road trip wasn’t going as smooth as expected. After a break, my Land Rover, called #TinaTortuga , won’t start anymore. Not even a sound when i turned the key, just nothing.
It took five hours until a guy from the road assistance turned in. Meanwhile i found the issue. A main fuse was broken. Unfortunately i didn’t bring these kind of fuses with me, but at least i could send a message to the road assistant. So, i just had to wait and prepared myself for another night drive as the sunlight faded.
What a lovely sound to my ears, when the diesel engine of #TinaTortuga started again. I thanked the nice man who brought me the fuse, and hit the road again. There was another night on the highway with just a few hours sleep. But at the next day i crossed the border to Lithuania. Here, so i felt, finally will start my Northern Europe road trip.
listen to the characteristic sound of an Land Rover TDI 300 engine 🙂
rene bauer photography 