Exploring Vilnius, Lithuania with Jordan and Emily
Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic region of Europe. It has a population of approximately 580,000 people and covers an area of 401 square kilometers. Vilnius is a popular destination for tourists, as well as a center for business and commerce. It has a diverse economy, with industries such as biotechnology, finance, and information technology playing significant roles in the city's development.
We spent the day leisurely strolling through the charming streets of Vilnius, savoring the local flavors of their bagels and the delectable fried breadsticks and potato dumplings that the city is renowned for.
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Beigelistai
We visited Beigelistai to enjoy a bagel and coffee. Bagels have a fascinating history in Lithuania; they disappeared after World War II, but a group of individuals revived them, and now they have become a beloved food item. I came across an article about this story and became excited about it, which made me crave a bagel.
Uzupis
A trendy and artistic town covered in snow with plenty of street art. Despite being more lively in summer, I find it charming during winter. Užupis has a constitution that guarantees pet rights, including cats not obligated to love their owners but must assist in emergencies. Founders were cat and dog lovers, evident in the constitution.
Castle Viewpoint
Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the viewpoint because it was under construction, which is a common occurrence in Europe.
Vilnius Clock
An animated clock, displaying the countdown to the villainous 700th birthday, is quite massive.
Vilnius Cathedral
The Vilnius Cathedral, appearing to be situated in the center of the square, where the Christmas markets are being set up.
Etno Dvaras
Our Airbnb host recommended a traditional Lithuanian restaurant, which we decided to visit. This restaurant has been around for 100 years, and its cuisine is steeped in history.
Fried Breadsticks
This is heaven! The fried breadsticks are amazing - crispy, greasy, and the cheese sauce is incredibly creamy. I'm surprised to discover that the cheese sauce also has garlic in it, which apparently is the more traditional version. Now that I'm tasting it, it's a perfect complement to the breadsticks, which are so crispy and delicious. This would be my go-to movie snack - I could eat this all the time!
Potato Dumplings
The traditional national dish of Lithuania is the potato dumpling, which we had in the traditional style served with a sour cream and crackling sauce. It is amazing - a tender meatball surrounded by creamy mashed potatoes and topped with a delicious sour cream and pork crackling. Apparently, there are different variations available, such as cheese, but we went with the traditional one with the sour cream and crackling. It's an unusual combination of potatoes, dumplings, and meat, but with the addition of sour cream, it's like nothing we've had before. It's similar to Bosnian dumplings, but much bigger and tastier.