Day 11 – The Kindergarten & the Old Town

Today was the big day. Dan had a hard time falling asleep, we both had butterflies in the stomach in the morning. I’ve started waking up Georgia at 8:00am, and then the cleaning crew came. As first order of business they’ve busted one of my creams (apparently it is so heavy because it is in a glass bottle).

We cleared out of the house so that we won’t have to watch any more damage and run to the nearby bakery. Georgia ate enormous cherry bun. We walked to the kindergarten. We nearly missed it because we were so worried and it is hard to find with all the construction going on around.

Director came out to meet us. She said they are still not done with their own construction project and the whole kindergarten is together in one room for this week. She went to locate the kids and we stayed at the playground. Georgia was pulling us to go there but we were resisting and telling her let’s meet the kids first. Dan went to work and I’ve stayed a few more minutes.

We then met with the teacher – diminutive lady called Lena. We all walked upstairs and came inside a big room with about 14 kids inside. Everyone said hello. And another teacher gave Georgia a paper boat. Georgia said “I am Georgia” and allowed to be lead away. They took me to the little dressing room just outside and started looking to a drawer to put her things. There wasn’t any available so I just put a bag with replacement clothing on top of the drawers. Lena and I exchanged our cell phones. Lena said it is time for me to sneak out and asked to come back in 2 hours, at 11:30 when the kids eat lunch. I said I have to tell Georgia I am leaving and walked up to her. She was next to some boys playing with cars. She barely paid any attention to me.

I met up with Dan and we went to Double Coffee on Gedomino to work. The cell phone was in front of me so I could run out at the first notice. But no one called.

Here is some info about the streets we walked last night. http://www.untilourlastbreath.com/Bart4bunkerfacts.html. I find myself looking at people to see if they have a “Nazi glint” in their eyes, and some seem to. Others, including the once we spoke with are very nice. It usually does not take too many of the ones with the glint to get their way in the crowds of nice people.

At 11:10 I went back and took the wrong turn and spent a several scary minutes thinking I would not make it on time. Luckily I found my way soon enough.

The kids were playing outside. Georgia was picking at the bush with Lena and head mistress next to her. They said she was great, just amazing, very communicable. Ad Lena said she will be able to pick a key to her.. whatever that was supposed to mean. Georgia did not seem to notice I was there until I picked her up. She said “thank you very much” causing another round of delighted squeals. We left to join Dan for lunch. Georgia was really tired and not to detailed on what happened. But she was open to doing again tomorrow, so it was a success!

At Double Coffee she busted the glass pencil holder given to her by the waitress. I guess it is a day of the broken glass. For good luck.

Cleaning crew was there till 3pm – they said the drawers were a nightmare. They’ve cleaned all the windows too – it is awesome to watch the trees waving around from our living room window. Kitchen cabinets are not sticky anymore and we are free to create our own mess. The owner dropped in to see the work done – after all she is paying for it. I don’t think she was impressed.

We spent a little time at the park for youths and Dan joined us for a walk around the Old Town. We were aiming to hit the little streets previously unexplored and found a few special places. We found a tiny but pretty Lutheran church inside the courtyard across the street from our building, Dr. DoLittle (Aibolit) statue, marionette theater (we will come back to see the show and museum), Jewish culture center. The center was closed and strangely had a horse statue inside. We wondered if it is designed as one of the ethnographic-paleontological museums - we had dinosaurs, prehistoric horses, and Jews here :).

While I was at the Coffee Inn, Dan and Georgia were hanging out in a little square next to the Franciscan church. Georgia declared that she had to go right now and he had to hold her on the path as there were people (potentially worshippers) passing by. He is a hero Dad.

It sounds like today's was just one of many abuses the place suffered since being built in 14th century: http://www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/vilnius/sightseeing/churches/venue/13926-Franciscan_Church.html.