We found that in our tired state, the oldsters had read the train schedule incorrectly last night, so we took the bus to Trakai, a huge castle about 45 minutes from Vilnius. It was a pleasant ride,and we were able to catch a taxi to the castle. The nice taxi man gave me his number and said that if we would call, he would be glad to take us back to the bus station. Sounded like a plan.
The castle is amazing. It was built in stages, beginning in 1337, but fell into disrepair and was not reconstructed until modern times. Vilnius in your pocket describes the stairs you climb to reach the upper floors as "an array of higgldy piggldy wooden steps and dark, plunging spiral staircases." The oldsters passed on the spirals. David thought it was a wise decision. Tracy and David posted beautiful pictures on FB.
After our tour of the castle we stopped at the little stalls to check out the goods and to buy some bells that had been made by the lady selling them. We think they will be good ornaments for the tree. After that we went to an outdoor cafe to try the traditiona Trakai kibinail. These are baked pastries filled either lamb, pork, beef, chicken or cheese and more strongly flavored than pastries we have eaten in Klaipeda and we enjoyed them. I was interested that each type of pastry is closed in a particular way so that the server can determine what kind it is. For instance, the pork is sealed across the top, while the chicken and cheese are sealed along the side but with a different decorative edge. We read that these particular pastries are only served in Trakai. David was intrigued by gira, a fermented bread drink. I don't think he will feel the need to try it again. That's certainly how I felt about it when I tried it with Mark and Sandy. We wandered a bit and then called the taxi. Seems the driver would only agree to take us all the way to Vilnius for the sum of 70 litas, in a cabthat was really too small. So we made use of Pat and Mike tp get us to the station. It was a bit of a long walk for the old guys, but we made it, and rode home in style in a very fancy bus. We decided to have a snack supper in our hotel room and one grandparent was asleep shortly after 8. I don't know what time the other came to bed. These young people can wear you plumb out.
what a wonderful day.
The castle is amazing. It was built in stages, beginning in 1337, but fell into disrepair and was not reconstructed until modern times. Vilnius in your pocket describes the stairs you climb to reach the upper floors as "an array of higgldy piggldy wooden steps and dark, plunging spiral staircases." The oldsters passed on the spirals. David thought it was a wise decision. Tracy and David posted beautiful pictures on FB.
After our tour of the castle we stopped at the little stalls to check out the goods and to buy some bells that had been made by the lady selling them. We think they will be good ornaments for the tree. After that we went to an outdoor cafe to try the traditiona Trakai kibinail. These are baked pastries filled either lamb, pork, beef, chicken or cheese and more strongly flavored than pastries we have eaten in Klaipeda and we enjoyed them. I was interested that each type of pastry is closed in a particular way so that the server can determine what kind it is. For instance, the pork is sealed across the top, while the chicken and cheese are sealed along the side but with a different decorative edge. We read that these particular pastries are only served in Trakai. David was intrigued by gira, a fermented bread drink. I don't think he will feel the need to try it again. That's certainly how I felt about it when I tried it with Mark and Sandy. We wandered a bit and then called the taxi. Seems the driver would only agree to take us all the way to Vilnius for the sum of 70 litas, in a cabthat was really too small. So we made use of Pat and Mike tp get us to the station. It was a bit of a long walk for the old guys, but we made it, and rode home in style in a very fancy bus. We decided to have a snack supper in our hotel room and one grandparent was asleep shortly after 8. I don't know what time the other came to bed. These young people can wear you plumb out.
what a wonderful day.
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