05/09/2023

It was always going to be a longish driving day. In fact, most days in ELL (the Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia part of our PELL trip) as we read and been told there ain’t much scenery. And we’ve fallen in love with Poland and want to max our time there.

Rather than have an all driving day, I had planned to stop at an outside museum of Communist statues … collected from across the country. Having been immersed in the murder of Jewish, I sensed ELL would be more about Communist oppression. However, the price tag of €12, no dogs and J’s lack of enthusiasm meant we didn’t go. Wish I had as the island fortress castle we did visit, was nice but nothing special.

Trakai Island Castle had been formidable but become a ruin. Until, interestingly, the Soviets decided to rebuild. A lot of brick. It was completed in 1987. The castle rooms now houses a museum of fine art; such as some stunning porcelain, glass and bead work.

It was a short drive from here, slowed by rush hour city traffic to the Vilnius City Camping. Basically a car park at the expo centre but with the best ever facilities, despite being porta cabins. And loads of room.