We left Riga in bright sunshine at 10.00am and arrived in Vilnius at 2.00pm. Sadly the clouds were gathering, but it didn’t rain until after we were checked into our apartment.

This is where we had to collect our keys. It is a day spa and we get 15% off. I could be tempted.

We headed towards the Tourist Office and walked through the main square.

At first it seems very different to Riga. The streets are wider and busier with traffic.

Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic countries – 3.8 million, but Vilnius is smaller than Riga.

Our bus yesterday brought us through modern-day Vilnius and we were both gob-smacked at the large and strikingly beautiful buildings that abounded. It seemed incongruous after reading Lithuania is the poorest of the Baltic countries and wages are low. A teacher gets paid €7,000 per year. Ouch!!

We also passed through areas of Soviet relics. But it looked as though some of them were getting a makeover.

We explored some areas nearby on foot before it became too dark.

And later we tried out the craft beer bar / cellar at our front door – yes another perfect location. Mick was excited, but it was not a patch on Riga’s.

It was certainly much better renovated but had no atmosphere and a bad smell of sewage. So we didn’t stay long.

We ended up dining at The Meat Lovers Pub along with a group of Ukrainians who were there enjoying a meal. We thought they were Russians initially, but our waiter cleared that up for us. There were at least four times we saw them all toast each other and most of them skulled a shot of vodka.

I chose the beetroot soup, basically the only non-meat meal available. It was delicious.

Mick on the other hand had a horse burger. Yes, made from horse. 🐴