Day 36 – Moletai

We were planning to go to Moletai for some time to see the lakes and the town. The basic piece of information that we had was that it is a beautiful lake-filled region with no industries and correspondingly no industrial pollutants (if you ignore possible issues with Ignalina nuclear power plant). It was really difficult to find good information on the Internet about getting there and suggested itinerary. Here are the links with the best (but not sufficient) info (most of the best info is in Lithuanian):
· http://www.supertravelnet.com/search/index.php?serv_no=1&country=201_5087_7&show=1&language=3
· http://www.moletai.lt/index.php?-2023850377
· http://www.travel.lt/ntisFiles/uploadedAttachments/Manual_2007_en200723094413.pdf
· http://www.tourslithuania.com/pages/tours_sight20.shtml

We did not do expect any museums to be open today. So we decided to make today’s trip exploratory and come back again to do it right. The bad part is when we were packing Dan and I thought that the other person packed the camera and as a result we do not have any pictures from today.

We took A14 for about 60 km and then made a left onto 173 which becomes Vilnius gatve in the city. The town gets nicer towards the old part, once one passes non-reactive old car dumpster. We’ve stopped at the information office but it was closed. There was a Lithuanian family at the nearby museum into which I wandered by mistake. They took me to the souvenir shop at the museum where I got the map and recommendations and directions to visit lake Siesartis some 3km away.

Essentially one has to stay on Vilnius gatve, cross A14, and make the first right into the gravel road. If one sees the small billboard with the map of the area, it is too late – it is necessary to come back and make the first left.

Subsequently while on the gravel road we made a wrong turn at the fork and went into a little village that was next to the lake. The houses are really beautiful, in very good condition, artfully decorated with wood, flowers, and pottery. They are also really close to each other but that’s the way it is here.

We got on the right road (left spike of the fork off the initial gravel road) and drove on a sort of nature path better suited for the Jeep. Dan spotted some wild strawberries and we pulled over. There were sooooo many of them on the sides of the road and deeper into the forest. There were lots of blueberries too. We picked several cups of berries and fed them to Georgia.

Then we got back in the car and drove further until we reached a clearing next to the lake. There were bunches of campers there. It would be a great place to come back to make a bonfire. The air smelled great of burned pine. The lake is really pretty and it was very peaceful. Georgia walked around, picked pine cones, and called out to us “Ay.”

We picked some more berries (they taste better next to the lake). Then we headed back and got lunch at Gojaus Smukle (on A14 just before the turn onto 173 next to another lake). It is a awesome place. There is outside sitting with benches. Since it was overcast we sat inside and it looks very good too. Food arrived at unbelievable speed and it was really great!! So far it is a winner in terms of the taste Lithuanian food. Too bad one has to drive so far to get there. Dan got ground potatoes baked in a clay dish with pork leg inside and sour cream outside on the top.

Outside there is a big circular sandbox with a birdhouse forming a roof above it. There are lots of kiddy toys around the sand box. Behind it, there is a fruit tree grove and old rusted very picturesque looking car. They have one of each: pears, apples, cherries, plums, gooseberries, red- currants. There used to be a nice playground too but the swing and slider are broken. We walked along the path from smukle towards the lake. There are more berries there. We’ve stopped at the pier to look at water lilies.

Next we grabbed a cake and some beers and headed to Dina’s parents dacha. They are a few houses away from Vitalik’s dacha. We had a really great time there. Dina and her sister Yulia brought out their toys – they have impressive collection of dolls, make believe settings, 2 strollers. They also have red currants in great quantities. Georgia had a blast there. She picked apples and put them in a little handbag Dina gave her and "went to work." Dan and Vitalik grilled some sausages. Alica and Diana joined us for desert.

It was sad to leave but it was time – someone was running out of clean clothing. Tomorrow is a day off again here. Diana offered to go to Kernave tomorrow where they would be having Archeology days - basically Baltica festival times 10. We might do it, but there are a few things to finish here first.

There were fireworks in the city in the evening.