Striking gold in Vilnius

Main square
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Sometimes life has a funny way of working out.  With no guidebook on us, zero information at Suwalki railway station and not having heard the dulcit sounds of the English language being spoken for several weeks, we practically jumped two Kiwis on the platform.  Bruce and Leo from Rotorua turned out to be top blokes on a seven week tour of Eastern Europe.  We swapped travel tale and novels; and when Aaron and I managed to miss our connection to Kaunus they took us under their Lonely Planeted wing and helped us navigate Vilnius.  Being the middle of August and a Satuday night Vilnius was packed and we ended up in the Florens Boutique B&B.  Over budget, but what a find - a spa tub and the most enormous double bed.

Aaron, Bruce and Leo - rock bar
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We met Bruce and Leo later for drinks in the main square, which led to dinner, which led to a bar playing rock muisc, drinking perry and vodka shots until the early hours of the morning.  It was a top night, in which we cemented Commonwealth relations and secured a night out in NZ.  Pity our hangovers the next morning matched the brilliance of the night before.

So eating and drinking aside - Vilnius.  A great city for wandering around; compact, beautiful architecture and many many churches full of stunning icons. There is also an independent republic called Uzupis, made up of writers and artists which has a really nice vibe.  I would really recommend it for a long weekend break from the UK.  Good shopping to - I bought a large amber rock!