Author: Laura

Stay, Eat and Drink in Cold War Shelters and Rocket Bases in Lithuania. Vilnius in Love, a tour company specializing in unique and personalized excursions across Lithuania, invite to the forgotten Northern European shelters from the Soviet era.

Day of the Dead in Lithuania (Vėlinės): Where Pagan and Christian Traditions Meet in Enchanting Cemetery Settings. Vilnius in Love, a tour company specializing in unique and personalized excursions across Lithuania, invites to special tours of unique cemeteries, autumn countryside, and the Hill of Crosses. October 23, 2017 - Vilnius, Lithuania. On the first day of November, Lithuanian offices, shops and schools close, roads become packed with cars, families reunite, and everyone heads to one special place - the cemetery. Lithuanian cemeteries are already different from what you’d find in other countries - they rather resemble a botanical park, sinking in the sea of trees, adorned with flowers and beautiful tombstones. On November 1st, Lithuanians celebrate Vėlinės (vėlė means “soul” and ilgėtis means “to long”) - the Day of the Dead, which is not as joyful an occasion as El Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico, but rather the day of remembrance and reunion that bears deep traditions. Cemeteries become the place of family gatherings, where young and old arrange flowers and light candles. When the sun sets, the cemeteries become enchanting, alive and mysterious from the sea of flickering candlelights and the aroma of thousands of fresh flowers. When golden trees and low-hanging sun create special autumn atmosphere, it’s a perfect time to visit Lithuania and to get enchanted by the scenery and traditions, to explore some off-the-beaten track activities,  and to see some old Lithuanian customs put into action. According to the old Lithuanian tradition, this is the time to remember the ancestors and to re-think one’s place in the world. When Lithuania finally accepted Christianity (last country to be “baptised” in Europe), pagan and Christian traditions blended into one over time, giving special significance and depth to the Lithuanian Day of the Dead. The Old Cemeteries of

Tracing Jewish Culture in Vilnius, Jerusalem of the North: Special Tours That Take You to the Heart of Europe’s Jewish Heritage. Vilnius in Love, a tour company specializing in unique and personalized excursions across Lithuania, invites to special Jewish heritage tours. September 19, 2017 - Vilnius, Lithuania. Did you know that bagels, made from yeasted wheat dough, originated from the Jewish communities of Lithuanian Grand Duchy and Poland? Each Lithuanian town used to have at least a few bagel bakeries, and each bakery had its own secret recipe. Bagels disappeared from Lithuania during the Second World War, together with the lively Jewish culture. However, they got transplanted into other countries, and are now one of the most popular breakfast items in the US and the UK. The good news is that bagels have currently returned to Vilnius, together with the revival of the local Jewish culture.   Short history of the Jewish Vilnius Vilnius, which used to be called the Jerusalem of the North, welcomed its first Jewish citizens in the 14th century, by the special invitation of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. The Grand Duke sent out letters inviting people of different nationalities and abilities to settle in Vilnius, in order to create a new vibrant European city. These were the beginnings of the multicultural Vilnius. In the 17th century Vilnius became the center of the Jewish Culture, and Litvaks - Jews with roots in the Lithuanian Grand Duchy - became known all over Europe for their intellectual Talmudic studies. The ones who gave Vilnius the reputation of an intellectual center were first and foremost its rabbis. The most famous rabbi was the Gaon of Vilna - Elijah ben Solomon, the intellectual leader of non-Hasidic Jewish community in the 18th century Europe, Torah scholar, kabbalist and communal leader. He

What Is the Flavor of Beer in “Game of Thrones”? Lithuania Opens Doors to Its Secret Centuries Old Brewing Traditions with Beer Tours for Visitors July 12, 2017. “Game of Thrones” characters seem to be enjoying their ale - no serious meal goes without it. But what would it taste like? Homemade beer - and its flavors - is one of the best time travel machines. While cities, traditions and people change throughout centuries, some well-kept local beers preserve the same yeasty, raw flavors for ages. Lithuanian beers, for example, is one of the best kept secrets in homemade brewing world. Homemade beer in Lithuania usually leaves reviewers fascinated and confused, mostly because they feel they have stumbled upon tastes they have never known existed. For example, the Jovaru alus - an amber-colored, hoppy, fruity, sweet and bitter beer - has a yeast strain that hasn’t been identified as a part of any known species yet, making it a totally unique beer DNA sequence. Brewed by Aldone Udriene, the 70-year old queen of Lithuanian home brews, Jovaru beer receives some of the highest ratings in the beer world. The same way as Mrs. Udriene,  most small Lithuanian brewers don’t buy yeast from the lab, but pass the yeast on, generation after generation. The yeast is collected after each fermentation, and is used for the next batch, adding to the unusual and unique flavor of the beer. The use of odd ingredients - such as peas, flowers or raspberry stems - combined with brewing methods never used by any other tradition, make Lithuanian beer tasting into one of the most unexpected culinary experiences in Europe.   One of the oldest beer traditions in Europe Lithuanian beer brewing traditions come from Pagan times - Lithuanians had several beer gods. There is even

Unique Adventure: Take a Hot Air Balloon Flight over Vilnius, and Adore One of the Largest Old Towns in Northern Europe from Above.  Vilnius is one of a few European capitals allowing hot air balloon tours over the city. Due to the current airport renovation, hot air balloons are allowed to fly extremely low, offering a unique experience. August 2, 2017. The panorama of breathtaking Baroque architecture, red roofs of majestic medieval buildings, winding narrow streets, squares, hills, rivers, and green parks - that’s the experience of those taking hot air balloon flights over Vilnius, one of the largest surviving medieval old towns of Northern Europe. Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city, is home to over 100 registered hot air balloons offering breathtaking city tours from up high. Only a few European cities allow this attraction, but Vilnius has an exceptional privilege of favourable geographic location, infrequent air traffic and flight control service that is very accommodating. Currently, the conditions to fly over Vilnius are the most unique, since Vilnius airport is closed for renovations until August 18, 2017 - and that offers an opportunity for the hot air balloons to fly extremely low, offering new angles at the stunning views below. Normally, a balloon must rise up to at least 800-1,000m (2,625 - 3,280 ft) height in order to accommodate air traffic - in fact, there have been instances of a balloon safely flying over an arriving or departing plane for some extra thrills. Hot air balloons usually fly in April - October in Lithuania, during the times of the day when the wind is favorable, and other conditions are right, such as cloudiness, rain, wind speed, visibility, and so on. The final decision about the conditions is usually made right before the launch. The duration of one flight is about

Devilstone Festival in Anykščiai, Lithuania, Brings Music Fans into One of the Oldest Forests in Lithuania An alternative music festival brings crowds to a river valley in one of the oldest forests in Northern Lithuania, presenting an opportunity to explore what else the region has to offer. July 3, 2017. You might have never heard of Anykščiai - but if you are ever thinking of visiting Lithuania - it is a must-visit destination for those seeking unique travel adventures or looking to discover creative and compelling alternative music. Anyksciai is a Lithuanian region that boasts some of the most beautiful, and oldest forests that are said to have magical healing powers. Since 2009, every summer, the Devilstone festival welcomes guests from near and far - growing more eclectic to fit alternative music fans taste buds - combining stylish rock with extreme and rare metal and original electronic music. This year, the festival - which is coming up on July 13th through to July 16th - will invite 50+ music acts from all over, including Zeal and Ardor (Switzerland), Solstafir (Iceland), Satyricon (Norway), Raketkanon (Belgium) as well as Baltic music pearls - Žydrūns (Latvia), Solo Ansamblis (Lithuania) and Ba. (Lithuania), just to mention a few. Devilstone Festival goers from abroad are always surprised by the beautiful surroundings of Anykščiai and the Denubė valley by Sventoji River, where the festival is held. Located in the north-eastern part of Lithuania, it is a jewel in the ethnographic center of Lithuania. Tourism company Vilnius in Love has prepared a list of must-visit destinations in Anyksciai region. What to see/do:   Puntukas Stone (Devil’s Stone) - an attraction that inspired the name of the festival, or perhaps it was the legend about ‘the Devil’s Stone’. It is said that a devil had a plan to drop a huge stone onto the Anykščiai