Leaving Vilnius

I am leaving Vilnius in less than a week, so this will be my last blog post. I really enjoyed exploring the city, taking Lithuanian language classes, attending cultural events and festivals, and eating Lithuanian food. Most days now it is sunny and cool out; the gardens are in full bloom and the city is covered in green. After a long winter, the city seems so much more alive, and tourists are out in full force enjoying the many Capital of Culture events. Summer is a great time to be here in Vilnius and the most difficult time to leave.

Overall, my Fulbright project was a success. I published two articles about Vilnius and a third article will be published this winter. Additionally, I completed a detailed report on the city focusing on sixteen of its neighborhoods. The report compiles a year's worth of knowledge from exploring neighborhoods, interviewing experts, attending conferences, and talking with Lithuanian friends. The outlook for Vilnius is promising, but development progress has been delayed by the looming economic crisis and muddled in some cases by politics. However, there are a number of very passionate people within the planning, architecture and development fields that are determined to make Vilnius an even better city, and the future looks bright.

Wrapping up this blog, I thought it would be nice to share a collage of photographs from different areas of town and various events during the year, some of my favorite memories. Thanks for following along; I hope you all enjoyed my blog and learned something new about Lithuania!

Vilnius Cathedral

Winter sidewalk

Salomeja Neris Secondary School, Old Town, Vilnius

Fall sidewalk

A. Vivulskio g. plaza / short cut

Neris River, Vilnius

Druskininkai, Lithuania

My courtyard in winter

Karoliniškės

Basanavičiaus g., Naujamiestis, Vilnius

Collectors Market, Tauro Hill, Vilnius

View from Tauro Hill

Sierakauskio g., Naujamiestis, Vilnius

Savanorių pr., Vilnius

New business district, Naujamiestis

Wood house, Žvėrynas, Vilnius

Residential mews, Pašilaičiai, VIlnius

Pašilaičiai balconies

New apartments, Fabijonškės, Vilnius

The Sports Palace, Vilnius

Renovated Soviet-era apartments, Žirmūnai, Vilnius

Šeškinė pedestrian path, Vilnius

New apartments, Antakalnis, Vilnius

Antakalnio g., Vilnius

Gedimino pr., Vilnius

Capital Day Festival, Gedimino pr., Vilnius

Lithuanian language classroom at Vilnius University

Vilnius Television Tower and monument

View from Gediminas' castle tower

Kaunas Central Post Office

Europas Parkas

Trakai Castle

Užupis bridge with wedding locks

A. Vivulskio g., Naujamiestis, Vilinus

Užgavėnės festival


Winter walk through the forest with friends


The Philharmonic


Town Hall Square