Life's Adventures

Klaipeda Trip: Day Two - Lithuanian Sea Museum

Sunday, 12/30/12
Lithuanian Sea Museum

We awoke to a beautiful sunrise, had a nice breakfast at the hotel, and decided to take the ferry across the bay. From there we hopped on a bus for a short ride up to the Lithuanian Sea Museum. Being the off-season, there weren't many people, which was great for us! We got to have some experiences we might not have had. Like meeting a penguin and getting to pet it, and having an up close and personal experience with a larger than life character I like to call Boris.

In front of our hotel, this grim reaper crawled up from the water's edge.

Rob thought Hollis would fit. She did.

Taking the ferry across!

Oh mom... one too many milks... I feel seasick!

At the entrance to the Sea Museum. It was built into an existing fort.

Main building houses aquariums and penguins

Well, hello there, friend!

We got to meet a penguin!

Hollis taking a look at this new friend.

The penguin liked the fur on Hollis' gloves and kept trying to peck at the fur. LOL!

I got in on the action too! This little guy was so soft!

This is the building that holds the aquariums - center of fort. The remainder of the fort is a museum to maritime things such as anchors, boats, etc.

On the outside of the central ring is the seals.

This is the big boy I nicknamed Boris. Hollis and I were the only two people there watching him, so of course, I was clapping and asking him to get out of the water. He did and he was HUGE!

After making this LOUD growl/belching sound, he mounted the platform, much to my delight!

More belchy/roar noises...

After this picture, he promptly dove back into the water soaking Rob's and my legs with water!

On the upper level of fort area

Big anchor!

Klaipeda Trip: Day One

Trip to Klaipeda, Lithuania
Saturday, 12/29/12

We left Saturday morning by train and enjoyed a scenic 5 hours of Lithuanian countryside. We wanted to go out to the coast (Klaipeda sits on the Baltic Sea) and do some exploring. This is Hollis' first train ride "All Aboard... chugga chugga choo choo..."

Upon arrival, we found a hotel down near the pier and took a walk to see what was around us. Right across the canal was the small passenger ferry which will take you over to the Spit (basically a long narrow piece of land separating Klaipeda from the Baltic Sea).

Fisherman doing their thing off the dock.

We walked over to Klaipeda's Old Town area and found this square that had some fun holiday decorations.

This is our hotel, the Old Mill Hotel, that we stayed at for 2 nights.

Walking back to the hotel, we were surprised as a loud bang went off literally next to us. Made me jump out of my skin! Turns out they were doing a fireworks show this night, and we walked right on top of the launch pad without realizing! These shots were taken standing in front of our hotel, no safely out of the way!

Paper Lantern FAIL

While up on top of Gediminas Hill, this couple was lighting a paper lantern and getting ready to launch it. Apparently, they didn't notice the wind. I present: Paper Lantern FAIL.

Gediminas Hill and Upper Castle

We spent a day in Old Town and did some shopping and then walked over to Gediminas Hill. Vilnius was founded on Gediminas Hill and has been topped since the 13th century by a red-brick tower. Its walls were ruined during the Russian occupation, but was restored in 1930 to house the Upper Castle Museum. You are able to take a funicular up to the top of the hill and tour the museum and enjoy the beautiful views.

A church decorated for the holidays in Old Town, Vilnius