| Trakai, Lithuania |
On our last full day in Vilnius we took the bus to the village of Trakai, about 20 miles (30km)
southwest of the city.
southwest of the city.
We visited Trakai's Island Castle built about the year 1400 on a small island in Lake Galve,
connected to the mainland by a footbridge. The extensively restored castle looks beautiful
and the many visitors we saw there attests to its popularity. The castle contains a small
museum and is located in a large national park.
connected to the mainland by a footbridge. The extensively restored castle looks beautiful
and the many visitors we saw there attests to its popularity. The castle contains a small
museum and is located in a large national park.
Trakai Island Castle,
Lithuania
Lithuania
Virginia and I took a walk in the village of Trakai and saw many traditional Lithuanian
wooden houses. We also entered a small house of worship, most likely Jewish, in which a
religious service was taking place.
wooden houses. We also entered a small house of worship, most likely Jewish, in which a
religious service was taking place.
A religious service in the
village of Trakai, Lithuania.
village of Trakai, Lithuania.
Enroute to Riga, Latvia: The day after our visit to Trakai we left Vilnius and headed for
Riga, Latvia, about 200 miles (320km) to the north. The landscape consisted almost entirely
of plains with forests, meadows and occasional small towns. It looked like good farmland but
we saw almost no cultivation of vegetables of fruits, and few cattle.
Riga, Latvia, about 200 miles (320km) to the north. The landscape consisted almost entirely
of plains with forests, meadows and occasional small towns. It looked like good farmland but
we saw almost no cultivation of vegetables of fruits, and few cattle.
We stopped for lunch at a restaurant surrounded by several old farm buildings containing a
large collection of traditional farm implements, mostly of wood. There were also a couple of
deer in an outdoor enclosure. Perhaps a farm museum in the making.
large collection of traditional farm implements, mostly of wood. There were also a couple of
deer in an outdoor enclosure. Perhaps a farm museum in the making.