Thursday, September 19th

Vilnius is known as the Baroque beauty of the Baltics 

It warmed my heart to mix Baroque with Bauhaus
(Baroque isn't a favorite) 

Vilnius possesses many churches
Including Gothic-style St Anne's and Bernadine behind

They appear to overlap

Bernadine was used as a warehouse during Soviet times
St Anne has roots in 15C

Rode the elevator in the belfry at Vilnius University (founded 1530) for great view of the city

Did I mention we got a parking ticket, after finding a really great parking spot?

Paid 8 Euros for 3 hours (ouch) only to find we'd parked in a taxi zone

Sandy emailed the Administrative Violation Unit of Vilnius City Municipality

They responded with an address - the short squat building among a palette of gray

Found the office and noticed an election in progress 

An official pouring ballets into a cardboard box

Since we were first time offenders, the ladies in the office let us off with a stern warning

They said the fine would have been 60-90 Euros

Avis would have tacked on another 35 Euro handling fee

 It was a very nice municipal office - natural lighting, art, helpful people

Sandy asked the Information desk young woman, "What are all these offices for?" 

In a voice like Natasha on Rocky & Bullwinkle, she replied, "Why do you want to know?"

Vilnius was founded in the 1320s by Grand Duke Gediminas

Who dreamt of an iron wolf howling with the voice of a 100 wolves

It was a sign to build a city as mighty and strong as the wolf

Small drawings, miniatures, by school children were outside the violation unit office

With their ideas about the iron wolf 

Sandra - "Birth of a thought"

Karolis - "What did the wolf do?

Aaron - "Wolf legend

    Greta - "Conjuring dreams"

We leave Vilnius tomorrow,

 feeling satisfied with our stay

happy to save 100-120 Euros 

The ladies in the municipal office said no one has ever stopped by their office to pay a fine

We were the first