Today was about visiting the old city of Vilnius in the rain. What can I say, not a good day for tourist businesses. Very few people were out braving the weather. Much of Vilnius's old city is also reconstucted and the fort on the hill is a complete reconstruction. This time the culprits were the Russians not the Germans.

The tourist area of the city was again all bars, cafes, and restaraunts. Outside the tourists areas the city is pretty run down.

Despite getting quite wet we had an enjoyable time

Two interesting, unique, tid bits about Vilnius.

  • The Museum of Applied Arts houses a display of Lithuanian sacred art, much of which was discovered in Vilnius Cathedral in 1985 after being hidden in the walls (of the Cathedral) by soldiers in 1655 to protect it from a feared invasion by Russia.

  • In Cathedral Square is a special tile, called the Secret Tile. This tile marks the spot where the 650 km Tallin to Vilnius human chain ended. This was a protest against Soviet rule in 1989.