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Tags: Capitals of Culture / Meltdownomics / Vilnius / Baltics / European Capital of Culture / → All Tags

Is Vilnius Too Broke To Be A Role Model?

Austrian city Linz is just one of the European capitals of culture for 2009--one's just not enough culture, apparently. The second is the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, a place we rather like, but we're not quite sure they've got the right approach to this whole "culture" thing.

Visit their official website and you'll see the Vilnius gang are already getting worried. Headlining the site is a ramble about re-doing the Capital of Culture budget so that they can save eight million Litas (over $3 million) because of the economic crisis.

So who knows what will remain. We're figuring the New Year's Eve sound and light show is too close to cancel, but will June's culture night and next November's light festival survive the budget cuts?

The good news is we're guessing the haiku project isn't too pricey in the first place, so you'll still be able to read a few Vilnius-inspired three-liners.

Related Stories:
· Vilnius Capital of Culture 2009 [Official Site]
· No Kangaroos But Tons of Culture in Austria in 2009 [Jaunted]
· Vilnius Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Vilnius CultureLive]

Tags: Cruises / Baltics / → All Tags

Baltic Cruisers Get Extended Holiday

We're not big cruisers, and here's one more reason for us not to start: Cruise ships can run aground. The Mona Lisa ship, which is registered in the Bahamas but floats around Europe a lot, has got stuck on the bottom of the sea off the coast of Latvia.

After leaving the northern German port of Kiel, the Mona Lisa was headed for the Latvian capital Riga and got pretty close, but not close enough. Nearly a thousand passengers are now waiting around for a solution, as attempts to tug the cruiser off have so far failed.

With all the modern technology that cruising comes with these days, we're a little surprised that such accidents can still occur. We're also surprised that cruise lines leave the passengers on board to twiddle their thumbs until things start looking better.

Related Stories:
· Baltic Cruise Ship Runs Aground [CNN]
· The A to Ama of Cruising Europe [Jaunted]
· Where Did the Spirit of Nantucket Run Aground? [Jaunted]
· Latvia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: alex__w]

Tags: FlyLAL / LCCs / Baltics / Airline Food / London Gatwick / → All Tags

Lithuanians Love FlyLAL

Everyone's got their own low cost carrier these days, even former Soviet states like Lithuania. And while Lithuania's FlyLAL doesn't usually offer the ridiculous €1 flights or taxes-and-charges-only fares you'll find on other European budget airlines, it does advertise "cheap direct flights to Vilnius" (Lithuania's capital) and has a heap of flights on sale for 199 Litas ($85).

FlyLAL has quite a colorful history: it began life way back in 1938 as Lithuania's national carrier, became a branch of Aeroflot during the Soviet era and nearly went bust in 2005. Then it reemerged with new owners and a budget airline philosophy--and Western aircraft to replace any Russian planes it still flew--and is now cruising right along. Earlier this year it was named the most punctual airline flying into London Gatwick.

The other neat thing about FlyLAL is that it still supplies meals on particular flights. For example, Vilnius to Brussels flights get a free hot meal; Vilnius to Munich flights get a free cold meal. Some longer flights get nothing, but the short hop from Vilnius to Tallinn is rewarded with a free snack. Must be a case of Lithuanian logic.

Related Stories:
· FlyLAL [Official Site]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]
· Hotels in Lithuania [HotelChatter]

[Photo: moacirpdsp]

Tags: Baltics / Africa / Restaurants / Drinking / → All Tags

When In Estonia ... Eat African

While African cuisine doesn't rate quite as highly on the "know it and love it" scale as, say, Chinese or Indian, we do need to nourish our stomachs in a multicultural way. So next time you're traveling through the Baltics and pop by Estonia's gorgeous capital Tallinn, take the chance to check out the tasty African Kitchen.

Not only are the prices great, but there are also plenty of interesting dishes, and definitely things you'll never have heard of. What we love is the equality-based cocktail menu: 23 countries of Africa are represented, each getting a cocktail named after them. The Algeria, for example, is full of strawberries, strawberry liqueur, cherry brandy and vodka (yum!), while the Libya mix has Jack Daniels and cream sherry topped up with treacle and fruit juices.

None of them have much to do with their namesakes, but they'll put you on the tasty path to inebriation nonetheless. If you're not sure whether to choose between a Madagascar or a Mozambique, the African Kitchen are quick to point out that "traditional" cocktails are available too. Grab a Rwanda for us while you're there.

[Photo: Cremo]

Related Stories:
· Croatian Cocktails Take to the Skies [Jaunted]
· Tallinn: Let Me Kiek in Your Kök [Jaunted]

Tags: Crime / Baltics / Buses / Transportation / → All Tags

Dollar Bonus on Baltic Bus

Any readers out there leave $100,000 on a bus recently? Just accidentally, you know, like you might leave behind your used chewing gum or even a magazine you don't need anymore? If you think it could be yours, just give the Latvian police a quick call.

The cash--a combination of euros and US dollars--was tightly taped up in multiple plastic bags and found hidden on a bus that was running between Prague and the Latvian capital, Riga. Perhaps they were meant to be found by somebody else, but customs officers are now the proud minders of the bundles of notes. Who says corruption's dead in the ex-Soviet states? Just remember to check under your seat next time you're taking a bus in the Baltics--you might hit the jackpot.

[Photo: Stylishgeek]

Related Stories:
· 77,000 Euros on Riga Bus [Baltic Times]

Tags: Baltics / Tourist Attractions / Lists / Estonia / → All Tags

Tallinn: Let Me Kiek in Your Kök

The 2007 Lonely Planet Bluelist is full of what these big travel guide publishing types think will be hot (and not) in the coming year has an interesting selection of cities in its Top Ten: all three capitals of Baltic countries Estonia, Lativa and Lithuania make the list, among others. One of our favorites is Estonian capital Tallinn, and according to Lonely Planet there's more than one good reason to head there:

The flair of the streets is decidedly fashion-forward, with boutiques bearing the imprint of rising Estonian designers, in contrast with centuries-old artisan traditions. The capital also boasts the largest wine cellars in the Baltics and plenty of medieval settings in which to imbibe.

Imbibing is well and good, but we can do that at home too--we recommend catching a distinctively Estonian sight, like the Kiek in de Kök, a 15th century cannon tower renowned as one of the most powerful towers on the Baltic coast. You'll find it on the Toompea Hill, still part of the medieval Old Town of Tallinn, and we love it especially for its name. Apart from the fact that Kiek in de Kök sounds damn cute, the meaning is also great: "peek in the kitchen", because that's what the guards could do into neighboring houses.

[Photo: dgaponeko]

Related Stories:
·   Cities on the Rise [The Australian]

Tags: Baltics / Alcohol / Russia / Latvia / → All Tags

More Vodka, Please

When we've reported on Latvia before, it's been for worthy and decent tourism reasons like promoting a visit to Riga's Occupation Museum. This decency is all about to change.

Recently in Russia, workers digging holes to plant trees hit a pipe. A common-enough occurrence, until they discovered the pipe was filled with homemade vodka. And this spirited spirit was heading over the border into Latvia. Incredibly, this wasn't even the first such pipe to be found. Nobody's quite sure who's responsible--this pipe ran between two empty, rented houses--but the Russians have turned off the pipeline, anyway. We suppose there are a few thirsty Latvians this week.

[Photo: m_y_eda]

Related stories:
· Customs discover vodka pipeline [Ananova]
· Drink Vodka, Drive Volvo, Get Laid [Jaunted]
· Riga's Occupation Museum [Jaunted]

Tags: museums / Baltics / → All Tags

Riga's Occupation Museum

Fifteen years ago today, Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union. Latvia--that sweet Baltic nation sandwiched between Estonia and Lithuania--and Latvia's recent past is bound up with being occupied, whether by Soviet or German forces. Capital city Riga features the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 1940-1991 and once you get beyond the cumbersome title and realise just how real people were affected by this tumultous history, you'll find it hard to get out of this strange grey box of a building.

The goals of the museum sound pretty heavy, aiming as it is to "remind the world of wrongdoings" and "remember those who perished and suffered". And, we admit, it's no cheerful walk in the park. But seeing the Soviet-planted listening devices found in buildings around Riga and getting an impression of life in prisoners' camps is memorable if nothing else. On top of that, it costs you nothing to get in (but they accept donations if you're suitably impressed). We were.

[Image via adetrich/Flickr]

Related stories:
Latvia Haunted by Soviet Past [Radio Free Europe]

Tags: Baltics / Islands / Beaches / → All Tags

Summer Lovin', Had Me an Umlaut

The Independent has gone Baltic island mad! Don't cower in the corner--we promise we won't talk about herring. No, they're pushing the region as the "Mediterranean of the North"; old school spa and beach towns where Finns, Estonians, Germans and Swedes spend the summer on sandy beaches.

Unfortunately, they didn't write the article for American attention spans--it's really long. We'll summarize for you, so that you'll be able to tell the difference between Mihu and Hiiumaa at the office water cooler this week:

Gotland: Part of Sweden, it's the largest Baltic island, home to a huge medieval festival in August. Originally home to the Goths, it's now it's home to Gothem church, dating from 1300.

Aland: The Aland Islands are part of Finland. A distinct culture from the Finns, they speak Swedish, and many of them come and live in waterside log cottages for the summer.

Hiiumaa: Home to one of the world's oldest lighthouses, this is part of the Estonian archipelago chain. Muhu, also part of the chain, is famous for wild orchids.

See how nice Estonia can be without stag parties?

[Image via tonykerr/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Guide to the Baltic Islands [Independent]
·   Summer Islands [Jaunted]