And now something about Lithuania

Just browsing the Web and found this quite interesting and fun presentation of great small coutry called Lithuania :)

Trip photos

As I still can't find time enough to write about those great couple of days spent in Budapest, but I've already uploaded some photos here - picasaweb.google.com.

Budapest

Finally, some memorries from Budapest! Final stop of the trip before coming back to work.
Actually, I spent only two days there and I really believe that one day I'll be back for a much deeper acquaintance with the Hungary. So, let's start refreshing all the good time spent there :)

The city from the first step proved to be absolutely friendly with some travelers in the airport and my host guy, Peter, meeting me in the beautiful island of Margaret for some beers with friends of his.

Africa moved to the Europe.. Maybe I'm too nordic man, but that heat of +35 degrees by Celsius is way too much for me! I even couldn't bring the rain with myself this time..

Funny thins (occuring in most of post soviet countries, I guess) - people do not speak english.. asking in market center for tourist information, but getting directions only to bowling, caffes and jeans shops :)

Pigeons became my friends in this trip.. They were just posing in front of my camera :)

However, Peter (good luck to you in Brussels) and his friends, the atmosphere of the city where I felt like back to Lithuania after sights of Rome and Brussels, the wonderful views of night life and so on made me feeling a fan of this place.

Sorry for such short lines. But this trip was one of those very good things that happens to me.
Welcome to the club of black optimism!

Leaving Belgium

Once again - how fast can some ideas turn by 180 degrees.. I said that Brussels wasn't ok, but maybe what was really just because of wonderful Rome expierence. However, some good things also happened here :)

Firstly, I've decided to go to hostel's pub at night. Met one funny guy from Mexico, drank some beers and told him some joke about lithuanian and polish people (that wherever lithuanian will go he will find at least one polish). Then bartender came to me and said 'hi, guess where I am from' :) I feel that you don't need to try three times? Anyway, evening was quite god and fun this such company.

Mini Europe park is a place to visit for sure. But the best thing was that Lithuania has such a big area in it. There is copy of Vilnius University, 25 times smaller than original buildings. Anyway, it looks so giant comparing to some other monuments standing close and it looks so good! Promise to add picture of that this weekend ;)

The last thing done in Brussels was a small meeting of CouchSurfers. I wasn't expecting a lot from it and I can honeestly tell now that I was absolutely wrong. The guys who came (CS ambassador from Belgium, his two guests from USA and some guy from Netherlands) were so great company to talk to and to have a laugh that we just decided: it's sad we met on that day and couldn't spend some more time together. Hope to meet you once again guys!

That's from Belgium, which is very nice country.. But it's a mistake to come to that place after speding time in southern Europe. My guess would be to travel from north to south next time :)

Welcome to Budapest!

Brussels!

So, as you may already guess, I came to Belgium. After couple of hours searching of where to go in airport of Rome the decision was made. I've already seen capital of our old Europe, now came to see capital of new Europe.

Sadily but except one girl from Britain which left today and nice personel in hostel I almost didn't find anything what could beat feelings taken from Rome :/ OK, there are some very nice building, squares and so on, but I did find out that on this trip I'm searching for warmness of people which Italy was full of and Belgium is not..

Anyway, tomorrow am going to visit MiniEurope park, meet some travellers also, but I'm absolutely sure that a day later I'll be happy going to the airport and flying to the last stop of my vacations trip..

Guess 700 pictures in 5 days isn' much? :)

P.S. Seems like my old dream about visiting Budapest is becoming true... ;)

Last days in Rome

Now I can honestly tell that I'm absolutely in love with Rome!!! After great day with french guys I had a day of resting and some sleeping in the afternoon and in evening made some walking finishing putting pluses to things I must see. So, some thoughts from last two days in Rome:

1. Don' you ever again try beef floreciano made by some ancient roman receipt - I have never seen that big portion of food! But the wine was great!

2. French guys out, but girl from Tunisia left :) What a strange thing to realise that park into which you came half an hour ago has only one entry and exit.. Me and Fatima were going to see Coliseum at night, but had to turn back as all other exits were simply locked! However, mission was completed a bit later :)

3. The best news was that on my last day in Rome I will have a tour in Vatican with a guide only for myself :))) Thanks to you friendly people from CouchSurfing!

4. But here came one more guy to the tour, so we were three - me, guy from States and our guide (she's american living in Italy). Vatican is incredible!!! Even if I had some doubts on importance of making everything so expensive, but this time it was millions of paintings, statues, etc. What really surprised me - some gallery with modern art.. For example, painting with some scary old man with suite instead of Jesus on the cross...

5. I did mentioned that it's fun to see same people from the plane you arrived twice.. I did saw them three times already :) Who said Rome is big?

6. One suggestion - don't go to the places recommened by travel agencies when you want to have a party or just good evening feeling at leasdt a bit local.. Go to some area of the city which maybe isn't that beautiful, but is real! We found such a place.. Place where old italian men and women were playing old italian songs, also some crazy italian movie was being showed on, we were lots of locals playing table games all around us, sicilian home wine, sicilian home cheese and so on.. That was the best ending for my trip in Rome... But now I surely know that one day I'll be back here as I found everything what I wanted here: nice historical places, warm and friendly people and perfect atmosphere :)

First days in Rome

OK, guys. Here I am and finally have some time to sit and write something. I've made lots of pictures, but just I can't upload it into the internet. Some crazy italian indian internet caffe :)

So, main things in this trip so far:
1. Was always travelling and staying at someone from Hospitality Club. Couple of weeks ago one guy told me that using hostels is even more fun. I didn't want to believe that.. till this trip :) Hospitality Club sucked all the way this time and finding a hostel in the centre of the city was one of the best things! I've met there two guys and three girls (some of them were talking with incredibly nice french accent, I just loved it!) from France, who were traveling in Italy. A big thanks for those guys for a very good day spent together with them! ;)

2. Rome is a gopod place to get used to drink lots of water. You know, it is told that human has to drink 2 or 3 litres of water each day. Come here and you'll drink at least 4 with no thought that it's too much :)

3. Churcges are nice places.. But just a thought - does gold really has to help us to love God more? One french guy told: if all those money that were spent to build some of those churches were given to people, couple of villages could buy food for a year or two.. I know it's impressive.. but if to talk about the beauty.. Churches of Lutherons for example are touching my feelings much more.

4. However, it's incredible to see those ancient buildings in the city between caffes, offices and so on.. that's something totally worth of seeing!!!

5. A place called Cats sanctuary (as I was told) - a place with some, let's say, parts of very old buildings where no person can come in. The only living creatures in that place are cats!! Lots of cats! Seeing the place I started photoing the place and after noticing the first cat I made maybe 40 pictures of them. One even smiled to me when saw photo camera :)

6. Italian love for arts. I and couple of guys were sitting in one nice caffe taking photos of glasses, tables and so on. Then th e waiter come to us with some olives, put them onto the glass of martini and told that it should be very nice picture!

7. Meeting one traveller from CouchSurfing and making a picnic near the river in the centre of the city. Guys, I hope one day we could make it again as it was superb evening. Even talking with that homeless man, who seems to be a traveller around the Europe (only Europe! forgot to ask why). Listening to some of his stories and so on..

8. It is very fun to see (twice!) people in the streets from the flight you come to a city with millions of habitants :)

Am starting to think about my next stop as on Saturday I would like to leave this wonderful Rome.

P.S. Coffe, tea or me!? :)

Traveling

At last I've got first guests from HC! (From now on noone can tell that I'm only using it as guest myself) :) Even being totally tired after superb Rock nights, those guys made my evening absolutely interesting and fun!

Tomorrow I start my trip around.. around.. I don't know where :) I have one way ticket to Rome, billions of ideas and two weeks to see as much as possible and maybe to find some answers for my own questions (we all have such questions I guess)!

Hope to be able to put some photos here as often as it will be possible when being somewhere :)