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Old 08-05-2005, 12:00 PM   #1
beergal
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well i dont know if im mad but im going to riga and vilinus at the end of november for my birthday 24-th 30th.
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Old 08-05-2005, 12:04 PM   #2
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Lucky you!!
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Old 08-05-2005, 01:56 PM   #3
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:P

I'll be in Australia for our birthday. Hah!

We'll have a trans-global birthday party, eh?
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Old 08-06-2005, 02:22 AM   #4
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yes we will omi, bit like last year ha ha
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Old 08-07-2005, 03:45 AM   #5
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You'll like Vilnius, I think. It was c-o-l-d when I was there in November, so be ready for Winter!

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Old 08-07-2005, 04:02 AM   #6
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ive heard that vilinus is a whole lot better than tallin. Can anyone confirm or deny.
Tumbleweedz has given me so much info for vilinus it feels like i will have her inmypocket ha ha this lady is certainly has some info for the baltics, its absolutely wonderful!
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Old 08-08-2005, 02:03 AM   #7
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Well, I've been to both and enjoyed them both. I like Talinn's historic old walls, castle and so on. The main historic sights in Vilnius are its churches. Talinn is more of a "postcard" city, and is a stop on the Baltic cruise lines (which is how *I* saw it...). So, you'll get more daytripper tourists there than Vilnius.

Compare them in my photos...

Historic Talinn

Historic Vilnius

Church in Talinn

Church in Vilnius

I know, Briley, superficial, just comparing one guy's photos...but as you can see they both have attractions.
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Old 08-08-2005, 04:19 AM   #8
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i think its going to have to be vilinus for me i dont know why but i seem to be drawn to it probably has something to do with tumbleweedz! Maybe it was the snow as well, im a sucker for snow
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Old 08-18-2005, 10:11 AM   #9
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Weighing in again! Obviously since I spent two years in Vilnius and only a weekend in Tallinn, I'm a lot more knowledgeable about the former. Tallinn is quite strikingly beautiful, the location by the ocean is dramatic and the medieval city is fairly unusual. Someone told me that the reason so much of the city is preserved in such an early style is that as trade and politics changed the city ran out of money and they couldn't afford to rebuild it in the then modern (renaissance) style, so they had to leave it alone. Well lucky us then.

But I still prefer the ambience of Vilnius better, I like the variety of architecture (Gothic to neo-classical in the same block) and its higgledy-piggledy streets. I wouldn't count on snow in November, though - it can happen but isn't a guarantee. But it will certainly be cold for you.

Since you'll have to combat the cold somehow, be sure to stop in at any little cafe and ask for "karshta shokolada" (that's phonetic, it's spelled "kars^ta s^okolada"). Though the words literally translate as "hot chocolate", you won't be presented with a steaming cup of cocoa. You will be presented with an espresso cup full of melted milk chocolate with, if you're lucky, a dollop of nuts sprinkled on top. (If you want this, look for "su reis^utais" or something similar - "su" means "with", and that's the only thing they add, so if you want some and have to ask, just say, "su..." and they'll probably offer you nuts.) You eat this concoction with the small spoon provided. Do not drink it directly from the cup, everyone will secretly giggle at you.

If you prefer a bigger drink, hot cocoa is "kakava", coffee is "kava" and tea is "arbata" (all pronounced as they look). "Balta kava" (white coffee) will get you milk, if you want a latte, ask for a "kava latte". Tea is usually served clear, with sugar. If you want honey/lemon/milk ask for "arbata su medumi/citrumi/pienu".

A great place for any hot drink, and yummy but somewhat pricey meals (relatively speaking) is Skonis ir Kvapas in Traku street. The sign is painted over an archway leading into a courtyard, and the restaurant is through the arch built into the wall on the right. On the other side of Traku you can get a cheaper, less atmospheric snack at Sveisos Bandeles. Also in Traku, check out Humana, an awesome second hand store, for any extra layers you may need! And check out the stuff downstairs, they have vintage and Indian clothing and accessories. Right next door is a big glove shop if your hands can't take the cold any longer.
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Old 08-18-2005, 10:32 AM   #10
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once again tumbleweedz you have astounded me with more valuable information! (ive already printed off the other stuff!) you have given me much more info than any book can, im looking forward to that cup of hot chocolate

Do you know if the second hand clothes sells clothes per the kilo as this is what they did in poland much more economical really
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Old 08-22-2005, 05:43 AM   #11
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They don't go by the kilo at the Humana stores, though they may at some of the other second hand stores. Generally speaking, Humana are slightly more expensive, but generally better quality and more stylish (some of the other places cater more to the babushka set); most of their clothes are imported from Scandinavia. However, they generally have some kind of promotion going on, my personal favourites are the "Visos Prekes 7/5/3 Lt" days, when they are selling off their back stock before getting in a new shipment. The lita is tied to the Euro, 3.45 to 1, so for 1 or 2 Euro you can get yourself a wool coat, trousers, funky shirt or sulwar kemise. Try to go before noon, the line ups for the changing rooms get a bit long during the lunch hour! And there are changing rooms downstairs that aren't so busy as the ones upstairs.

Oh, one more thing, most places will give you bags, but at the food markets (IKI, Rimi and Maxima) you have to buy bags if you haven't brought any along, just pick up as many as you need when you get to the check out counter and they'll add them to the bill. Once you have some, of course, you can reuse them til they break! (Which hopefully won't happen in a weekend!)
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Old 08-22-2005, 06:22 AM   #12
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the bag situation sounds similar to the markets in Hungary, its quite funny when i take my reusable hessian bag to tescos's over here but i got into the habit of being eco friendly andi find itreally annoying now to buy things on a weekly shop i really try to continue buying things daily as the produce is fresh compared to having all those additives thrown in. I cant wait to get my own garden!
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