🌎📍Non-Vilnius Landmarks
Some of my favorite non-Vilnius landmarks we visited were Trakai, Druskininkai, and the Aukštojas hills.
Trakai
The photograph of Trakai Island Castle attached above, although beautiful, does not even do justice to the place in person. This was certainly my favorite place in Lithuania, and the scenery of this place strikes me as one of the most stunning places I have ever been to. I felt like my History textbooks came to life in this place: a (very well conserved) castle, dating back to the year of 1410, overlooking Lake Galvė and a park. Inside the castle, there were collections of tapestries, armors, weapons, and even silverware from the 14th century.
Druskininkai
Definitely one of the most unexpected and contrasting places I have ever set foot in: the sight of a children's playground alongside statues of Stalin, Lenin, and Karl Marx was simply striking to me. Grutas Park was a very interesting and peculiar contradiction of children's innocence/happiness and strong Pro-Sovietic propaganda. Wow!
Below were some of the many propaganda posters featured at Grutas Park:
To the left is a photograph from the Hill of Angels, a very symbolic place which, to me, symbolizes the Lithuanians' attachment and proximity to their faith in post-Soviet times.
The attraction was opened in 2010.
The structure of the hill also symbolizes a peaceful union of the two most prominent faiths in Lithuania: Paganism and Christianity.
To the left is a photograph of the highest cliff in Lithuania: only 294 meters high. Though the height is nothing impressive, the natural beauty of Aukštojas is remarkable.
