I arrived in Vilnius yesterday and immediately felt the efficiency and convenient workings of this city.

My host, also met thru CouchSurfing, picked me up from the bus station and we got on a trolley-bus to her workplace so that I may drop my heavy bags before heading into the Old Town for an early evening stroll and something to eat. My host works for a well-known online news company and her office, with all the latest high-tech equipment, was very well secured.

We headed off for the Old Town (my third "Old Town" in 2 weeks!) and ate at an affordable pancake house. Upon my host's suggestion, I ordered a 'traditional' Lithuanian dish of potato pancakes (this particular one with mushrooms). It arrived, quite greasy, with sour cream - delicious! - but not something i would indulge in every day...

The woman I am staying with lives with her parents and this morning I met her mother. She was so excited to see me and quite friendly though she was surprised to hear that I do not speak more than a word or two of Lithuanian! This, of course, does not prevent her from speaking to me (entire conversations in Lithuanian), but the conversation is more like a monologue as I can only nod dumbly and smile.

Vilnius is full of large magnificent buildings that have the effect of making you feel very small. Apparently Riga is a larger city than Vilnius but you wouldn't know it, from walking along its many (both wide and narrow) avenues. Catholic and Lutheran churches, along with some synagogues, abound and one can feel the weight of religious obligation in the physical structure of the buildings alone.

As it was Monday, the Museum of Genocide Victims and the Contemporary Art Centre were both closed. I decided to go to the Lithuanian State Jewish Museum of Vilna Gaon (open on Mondays) only to be told that it was under construction. Instead I had a chance to view the "world's only memorial to American rock and roll legend" Frank Zappa! (Thank you, Lonely Planet). This apparently is one of many quirky eccentricities one can find in Lithuania... or so I've been told...