My friend, Andre, found this rock while we were making Belarussian shashlik in the Lithuanian countryside at a lake. It was in the shape of a heart so I decided to snap a photo. After I took this picture he threw it deep into the lake, who knows who will find it next. By my best estimates you have a better chance of jumping in a pond in Middle Earth and finding the One Ring than ever finding this rock.
I visited the capital city of Lithuania, Vilnius, in the summer when darkness only lasts a meager five hours. You can walk down alley ways and old city streets to see the same view that Lithuanians had seen hundreds of years ago. It’s incredible to walk down the cobblestone streets thinking of what has gone on in these places for the last few centuries.
This shot was taken at the KGB genocide museum in Vilnius. The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania from 1939 to 1990, and during this time hundreds of thousands were killed and deported. This lock held the innocent Lithuanian prisoners outside during the frigid winter. It’s terrifying what humans are capable of even over political disagreements.
Vilnius is an entire city covered in grafitti. No building seems too sacred to escape being painted over, but the grafitti adds to the feeling of the city. Almost as if the city is the palette of the artists that call it home, bringing the whole city to life.
The Neris river runs right through the heart of Vilnius the capital city of Lithuania. The summer months bring warm morning breezes, which give a tangible peace to sitting and watching the river. The sun rises around 4 am around the time of the summer solstice, creating the perfect opportunity to sit, watch and listen to nature carving it’s way through the city.
As I walked down the streets of the old district of Vilnius, Lithuania I kept noticing square holes that had been cut into the buildings. It turns out that these holes hold deep significance for each building. The main road was cobblestone and each beautiful building was “de-faced” just like this. What I found out was that these holes give every passerby a look into the strength and integrity of the building. If a building was built with bricks it demands more respect.
Vilnius is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities I have ever been to. I arrived somewhere near the summer equinox so there was only about six hours of dark a day, I don’t think I would have liked it as much had I been there for the winter equinox!
