11-11-06

got our taxi in preston at 5am and left liverpool airport at 7.40 am with 5 lads aged 39, 38, 27, 26 and 21 and arrived at kaunas airport at 11am local time. ryanair plane made good time. after disembarking at the smallest terminal ive ever seen and 1 carosel for in-coming bags, we changed some money at the desk in the terminal exit and went to find a taxi. if the bank is closed, there is a cash machine on the outside wall. we got a taxi to the 'hotel metropolis' in the city center and it cost 50 liths, 10 quid between 5. a 25min run and we arrived. hotel isnt the best, its warm, clean beds, fantastic location, great breakfast between 7-10 and for 10 notes a night each and just a place to put our heads down it was perfect.

we threw our bags in our rooms and went for a little walk round the main street and ended up in a pub pretty much soon afterwards and our first day was spent drinking, eating, mixing with locals, partying and having a good time. the local women are stunning and are willing to chat, but boozy men are not a thing that fascinates them. we went to a few resturants (only 1 pub to be found here) and the irish bar(barman was really helpfull) and made some decent aquatencies. we ended up going to a night club with some but we didnt stay long. pizzas and bed by 1.30am. a long day had been had and the snow made it freezing.

12-11-06

the next day i was up by 8am and down for breakfast. the others rose eventually and we found some of our belongings missing. a mobile phone, a credit card and my expensive camera. it would be cheap of me to say they had been stolen, but the chances are we were careless the night before being drunk and lost them and then we found out the one of the yorkshire lads had been mugged outside a pub and had his wallet and money stolen by 6 local lads. he had a hell of a shinner but still was determined to carry on his holiday. i had warned the lads in our groups of dangers, as ive been to eastern european countries on a number of occassions before, so we decided to stay as a group for our time there.

after some dinner and buying a transport map for 60p, we got a bus to the national football stadium to watch the final game of the season between champions FBK KAUNAS + runners up ERKANAS ULTRAS. after 5 liths(one quid) entry i had a cracking time singing or should i say humming with the locals. firecrackers, flares, beer, cider and streamers were the order of the day. kaunas won 4-0 and were presented with the championship trophy. all this for a quid. we got a bus back to the center, had some tea and got changed ready to watch an english footy match on the tv. the rest of the night was sown up in the pub and later partying at the hotel with a big group of german students.

13-11-06

got up early, had breaky went for a walk around and went for a train to vilnius. the train only left 1 hour later so we went to the market and a cafe and had some food. the train was around 5.50 return and took 1.40 hours going but 1.10 coming back. vilnius is a lovely place, a lot more than kaunas, but go to the information desk and get a map so you know were your going. we tried the 'house of genocide' but it was closed mondays. just our luck. we eventually found the other main street and did a bit of shopping and site see-ing. we got the train back at 6.40pm and on arrival back, got the bus to our hotel. had something to eat and got changed. after a few beers it ws midnight and the place was shut!!! not a bar open. no shops or anything, so back to the hotel it was for an early night.

14-11-06

after rising at 9am we had breakfast, went and bought all our gifts for home and decided to check out the war museum just around the courner as we had time to kill untill our taxi came at 6.30pm. guess what? it didnt open monday or tuesday!! just our luck. some lads went to play snooker for 1.20 quid an hour and we went for a look around. we decided to have a big meal before we left and went to the best place we could find and ordered 10 pints, 2 cokes, 4 soup starters with bread, 4 steaks and another meal i cant remember and 5 shooters and it came to 155liths....31 quid. steak was excellent. in fact all food we had on the trip was. taxi back to the airport was 50liths again and we flew back back on time.

just a tip or two about lithuania.

food is fantastic and so cheap. most resturants are pizza and steak places and a small pizza will cost around(all eat in prices) 1 quid - 1.50, a large one will cost no more than 2.50. steaks 2-3 quid, ribs and pork the same and some great local dishes around £1. i got some 2 x chicken breast with a cheese sauce inside, wrapped in mash potato and a batter and in a cheese and sourcream sauce...£1. a bargin.

beer was only 60p-80p 1/2 litre. shorts were cheap. fags in the supermarket cost 7-8 pound a sleeve and bottles for really cheap prices. the airport shop is very small, but you will see this when you are waiting for your bags.

we travelled on many buses and trolley buses and never payed, but that was a chance we took.

only dangers i could see were small groups of unsavoury charecters hanging around the main street late at night. nothing was open and they were sending young teenagers to ask for money. we just walked away and ignored them. they had a couple of dogs with them as well.

would i go again?

yes, but i would stay in different towns. kaunas closed dead by midnight except saturday and nobody was seen after 10pm. seemed like a curfew was on. it was dirt cheap to stay, people i spoke to were very friendly and i loved the experience, but kaunas is not yet geared for tourists and i wish there had been more to see. i jumped on the bus and looked around from stop to stop on my own and looked at a few monuments, but with so little info on kaunas available i just took it as it came. only wish id booked into vilnius at least one night. very happy i went and if you want any info feel free to ask.

the whole trip cost me-
flights £46
taxi's both sides 4 trips £20
insurance £4
hotel £30

£100 for 4 days away. cheap as chips