Then Dan, Georgia, and Alicia went to the airport and I went to the pharmacy to pick up more meds and then to the University book store to check out some books in English. They have a really impressive English book collection but practically no science fiction.
Then they all returned from the airport and Dan and I ran out to get some orphan kibinai because no one wanted to go out. We got the last remaining stock. After Georgia woke up from her nap we went to the Big Japan exhibition at the museum of contemporary art on Vokieciu 2.
It was really so so. The most impressive exhibit was the plastic railroad with some scenery. It was everywhere - on the floor, walls, ceiling, and even outside. It kind of reminded us the real thing. The other exhibits were large yellow balloons with black spots, strange blue eyed androids who we saw all over the city anyway, and a room with 6 screens with pre-recorded movies. One of the movies was a beach shot in slow motion and it created an interesting effect. Georgia got screamed at by the old witch who watched over the exhibit for touching the balloon. This really rattled me. I had an argument with her and did not get very far. I was not in the mood to take it further up her chain and anyway it would not make the slightest difference. She would scream at anyone given the chance.
Anyone interested in a whiff?
Next we went to Gaby to try some Vederai but they did not have any. So on to the Forto Dvaras, which we thought we were not ever coming back to. However we had a really good waitress this time. Sweet, and responsive, and a brunette version of Cameron Diaz from the Charlie's Angels when she does the German song. It almost made the food taste better if not for the homeless guy who walked up to our table (we were sitting outside) and stole the potatoes for my Saltibarsciai. With the enormous potato pancakes stuffed with meat that followed it was a negligible loss.
Next we walked back to put on some sweaters and met with Lena and Oleg from last year. A small city it is. I ran upstairs to grab some warm clothing while Dan and the rest chatted.
Our apartment owners had shown up to clean up the place. When they come, they, especially Nona, usually engage in lengthy conversations. They probably don't get a lot of people to talk to living in the country and spending most of their time in the garden. This time the conversation went into the topic of Lithuania being so multicultural. They both expressed the excitement about it, though they were apprehensive about Russians taking over, as well as Chinese. While saying that Nona revealed that her family line actually has noble Russian blood and she also feels very sorry for the illegal 400mln Chinese who don't even have legal documents. So it was a bit inconsistent. But Gintaras cleared things up by summarizing that during the entire Lithuanian history no group of people ever felt uncomfortable. True, "a few Jews were killed in the war," (I am not paraphrasing, it was the real thing he said), "but their problem was that they got caught in between the two major forces - Russians and Germans." Should have just went downstairs with our sweaters without stopping to chat.
For those who might not be aware, Lithuania was a major killing ground for Jews during the war with the entire population and incredibly rich history distinct from other regions in Europe eradicated. And it was not done just by Russians and Germans. For all the beauty of this place and the country, I cannot help feeling that many people attribute all the atrocities that happened to the occupying Russians, and unlike Germans who knock it into their children generation after generation ad nauseam that Holocaust was committed by them, Lithuanians are not so willing to admit their role. Clearly there were many generous people who tried to save lives but the whole story is never told.
We walked our standard walk to Cathedral square and up Gediminas, and then up Vilnius gatve and went back to the apartment. Next to the city hall there were a bunch of fairies dancing. They had fantastic make up and moved interesting ways. As a few of them got closer, Georgia asked who they were. I said "fairies." They heard, and moved even closer looking even more fantastic. Georgia was amazed and a bit frightened at the same time.
Next we walked back to put on some sweaters and met with Lena and Oleg from last year. A small city it is. I ran upstairs to grab some warm clothing while Dan and the rest chatted.
Our apartment owners had shown up to clean up the place. When they come, they, especially Nona, usually engage in lengthy conversations. They probably don't get a lot of people to talk to living in the country and spending most of their time in the garden. This time the conversation went into the topic of Lithuania being so multicultural. They both expressed the excitement about it, though they were apprehensive about Russians taking over, as well as Chinese. While saying that Nona revealed that her family line actually has noble Russian blood and she also feels very sorry for the illegal 400mln Chinese who don't even have legal documents. So it was a bit inconsistent. But Gintaras cleared things up by summarizing that during the entire Lithuanian history no group of people ever felt uncomfortable. True, "a few Jews were killed in the war," (I am not paraphrasing, it was the real thing he said), "but their problem was that they got caught in between the two major forces - Russians and Germans." Should have just went downstairs with our sweaters without stopping to chat.
For those who might not be aware, Lithuania was a major killing ground for Jews during the war with the entire population and incredibly rich history distinct from other regions in Europe eradicated. And it was not done just by Russians and Germans. For all the beauty of this place and the country, I cannot help feeling that many people attribute all the atrocities that happened to the occupying Russians, and unlike Germans who knock it into their children generation after generation ad nauseam that Holocaust was committed by them, Lithuanians are not so willing to admit their role. Clearly there were many generous people who tried to save lives but the whole story is never told.
We walked our standard walk to Cathedral square and up Gediminas, and then up Vilnius gatve and went back to the apartment. Next to the city hall there were a bunch of fairies dancing. They had fantastic make up and moved interesting ways. As a few of them got closer, Georgia asked who they were. I said "fairies." They heard, and moved even closer looking even more fantastic. Georgia was amazed and a bit frightened at the same time.
Should do something interesting tomorrow. Thinking of going to Savickas gallery on Traku gatve. Saving the torture museum for Monday.
A few cute encounters around the city:
Dan, hard at work. Notice the innovative combination of headphones from Mac accompanied by the mic from a local non-brand whose headphones kicked after the first use.
Dan looks like a nerd! And yeah the Lithuanian role in the Jewish Holocaust is entirely looked over. If I remember correctly during our tour there, around 200,000/220,000 Jews died in Lithuania alone and it was the beginning of the Final Solution there- not that great of a percentage for those Lithuanian nationals during the war.
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