The locals here speak a variety of languages ranging from Malayalam to Tamil and from Telugu to French. French is the official language in the Union Territory, Tamil in the Government. Pondicherry has a lot of Tamil influence as it is near the state of Tamil Nadur. Koel, Squirrel, cannonball’s tree flower and Bael fruit tree occupy special position as the state bird, animal, flower and tree respectively.

A person who visits Pondicherry is bound to come back happy and elated as the whole city is like a fairyland, planned and organized. The Pondicherry Beach is a place where one can go rest and relax in peace. The sound of the waves coming through and the sun setting in the far horizon is a moment that one would like to capture forever. Pondicherry is supposed to be having one of the best beaches in India. The clear waters here and the sands that look like gold are the best attractions here. The beaches aren’t crowded like the other beaches which are overcrowded with too many tourists, vendors and other paraphernalia. One finds the Serenity Beach here and also the Paradise Beach. The Serenity Beach is as good as its name. It is extremely neat and tidy and is full of tranquility. The other beach is the Paradise Beach which is also equally clean and tidy and has water that is absolutely crystal clear. One can have lot of water sports here and a lucky tourist could also see the dolphin here. Here one can see a beautiful creek flowing on one side of the city. The other beach is the Promenade Beach where one can see a lot of monuments which are full of heritage value. There are lots of monuments on the shores of the beach here. WE also have the Auroville Beach which is situated around 12 kms from the main city. This beach is also frequented by people for its serenity.

Auroville is a small township near Pondicherry. Located in the district of Vilippuram in the Tamil Nadu State this was the infant of Mirra Alfassa who found this in the year 1968. She is today called the “mother” here in Puducherrry. Roger Anger an architect designed it and it was built to be known as a town for the entire world. People of all caste, creed, harmony and nationalities were allowed here. The whole idea of building this town was to promote unity. Auroville means the City Of Dawn.

Then we have the Sri Aurobindo Ashram that was founded by Sri Aurobindon in the year 1926. Sri Aurobindo then put Mira Alfassa in charge of the Ashram. Situated in the downtown region of Pondicherry, this is a place which is renowned for its serene and calm atmosphere. One who comes here goes back rejuvenate as the simple silence observed by the people here relaxes the mind and calms the brains. The greenery and the calmness here sets the wheels of progress in the mind rolling and one can get energized for the rest of his life. It has many charitable benefits and serves the public with medical facilities also. Here is where one can find the School for Perfect Eyesight by the very controversial Bates method. This institution guarantees restoring vision without glasses. There are cottage industries activities here and the yoga done here promises to change life completely. There are no rules to join here. Anyone can join the ashram and partake in its activities. Aurobindo Ashram only aims to achieve peace through service and love by spreading service in the world.

In this way Pondicherry with its pristine beauty and its virgin look is every bit a fascinating city. The ride up to this city is very memorable when one sees the policemen here dressed in their unique uniforms. Pondicherry today has retained its past glory and still manages to fascinate all the tourists. Frequented mostly by most of the foreigners the simple principle of live and let live here is the key to enjoy this place to the fullest.

I suspect that even Chuck Norris would quiver a little at the sight of Niagara Falls. I’m sure many turn up thinking they’re about to see one of the highest waterfalls in the world, but that’s a mistake. The Falls at Niagara aren’t particularly lofty, but they sure are powerful. It’s the force and volume of water passing over the brutalised escarpment that are spellbinding, not where the water is dropping from.

The falls at Niagara have the power of four Great Lakes behind them. The water is bottle-necked in the Niagara River after passing through the system in Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie and Michigan. It will eventually make its way to the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River.

And this bottleneck, coupled with the need to drop elevation over the escarpment, has created what is justifiably one of the world’s greatest natural tourist attractions. Standing by the side of the falls, you can feel the ferocity as well as hear it. You’re constantly spat at from the angry, watery snake pit beneath the Horseshoe (or Canadian) Falls, where the river smashes and explodes after being thrown over the edge.

You can forget everything else at Niagara – it’s worth coming just to watch this constant bombardment, which is a reminder of how nature can easily pummel man’s best efforts into oblivion.

The Horseshoe Falls

Niagara’s Fury: The Creation of the Falls

Niagara Falls isn’t a peaceful spot (which perhaps befits the falls themselves). It has been turned into something of a resort town over the years. There are all manner of things to do – some great, some tacky. Fitting somewhere between the two is Niagara’s Fury: The Creation of the Falls. This ‘4D experience’ is divided into two parts. First up, you’re given a cheap plastic raincoat and shepherded into a room to watch a film about how Niagara Falls came to be on a big screen. It’s clearly aimed at the kiddy audience, with far more emphasis on graphics and talking animals than on the science.

Following that, you’re ushered into a separate room, where a screen stretches 360 degrees around the wall. The images flashing up on those screens – glacier, melting ice, lightning strikes and tumbling water – mirror the broad history. But the experience is multi-sensory – temperatures drop, snow blowers create a wintery storm, the floor jolts around in time to the lightning flashes and liberal amounts of water are repeatedly thrown over the mugs in the middle.

It’s good fun, if not exactly great value or what going to Niagara Falls is really about. If you’ve only got a limited time there, it’s probably best skipped.

Journey Behind The Falls

The same applies to the Journey Behind The Falls. Tickets for the two attractions can be bought as a combo, but the timed ticketing system is a shambles. I was given a 12.20 ticket when I needed to be back at the bus for 12.45. I got to the queue at 12.10, and it was so long that I didn’t get to the elevator that takes you down to the fall-side lookout until 12.30. Essentially, I had about three minutes down there before having to queue to get the elevator up again. Selling timed tickets is staggeringly pointless if they’re not limited or enforced.

Anyway, you’ve got a couple of holes to look through where you can see the water thundering down before your eyes, and another viewing platform where you can brave a forceful barrage of spray to sidle up right next to the falls. If you’ve got the time and the money, it’s possibly worth doing, but if it’s a case of picking one thing to leave out, this is probably the option to skip.

Maid of the Mist

On the flip side, if you’re choosing one thing to leave out on a visit to Niagara, it should on no account be the Maid of the Mist boat cruise. It may only last twenty minutes, and the boats may try and fit far too many people on for prime viewing comfort , but the experience is incredible. Again, everyone is given a cheap blue plastic raincoat – it looks disturbingly like a marker for those about to be sent to their death by an evil harbourmaster.

Maid of the Mist at the American Falls

You soon stop worrying about not being able to get room at the edge of the deck as the boat takes off towards the American Falls. These are, in a way, more picturesque. The water rages over the top, then cascades its way through the fallen rocks at the bottom. The boat gets up pretty close, and you get a proper perspective on the ferocity of the water thrown over the edge. But only 10% of the water goes over the American Falls, and it’s when the boat starts inching its way into the chasm created by the Horseshoe Falls that the excitement really builds. Position doesn’t matter, as people soon realise that trying to take photos is an exercise in futility. The angry squall of the fracturing water plumes ensures a good shower for all. Cameras go away to the safety of pockets and the thrill of being sucked into an apocalyptic maelstrom becomes the joy. It’s one of those classic experiences where living in  the moment is far more important than trying to capture it.

Maid of the Mist cruise from above

The journey back to Toronto

It takes ninety minutes to two hours to drive back to Toronto, but there are a couple of worthwhile stops on the way. The town of Niagara on the Lake is everything that the town of Niagara Falls is not. The latter is a mini-Vegas, all giant hotels, casino resorts and rather tacky tourist attractions. Niagara on the Lake is a cute little 19th century time-warp, where no shop can sell too many antiques or too much fudge.

It’s also noticeable that there are a fair few vineyards on the outskirts of Niagara On The Lake. Believe it or not, Canada does have a wine industry and it has to be remembered that Niagara is roughly level with southern Oregon or the South of France. White varietals do best, but ice wine is the regional specialty. This is ultra-sweet and is made when the water inside the grape is frozen – the grapes have to be picked and pressed in the middle of night during the coldest hours of winter.

On the way back to Toronto, we stop at the Niagara College Teaching Winery, where students learn about viticulture and help with the wine-making process. We get three glasses to try, including an ice wine. I can’t say I’m overly impressed with any of them, but I can see who the ice wine would work for. There’s potential there.

Wine tasting at the Niagara College Teaching Winery

Of course, wine is just the ticket to make everyone sleepy for the drive back. It’s a fairly long day, but it’s unquestionably worth it. In fact, it’s worth it just for the falls and the Maid of the Mist Cruise. Anything else is just a bonus.

- David Whitley

Across the world, the festival is celebrated in the countries of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Guyana, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago and Malaysia besides, Suriname and Singapore. Diwali is actually “Deepavali” which in Sanskrit means the row of lamps.

During this festival small lamps are made of clay, painted and then lit with oil. The festival actually celebrates the victory of good over evil. People are replete with celebrations and are filled with joy and enthusiasm as they welcome the goodness to prevail in the society. Everyone is happy and there is lot of exchange of greetings and sweets.

Hindus believed that this is the time the Indian god Lord Rama came back to the city of Ayodhya with his consort Sita and brother Lakshman after their 14 year banishment. The subjects in celebration light lamps along the road to show their joy and also burst crackers. So the time of Diwali sees everyone having a lot of fireworks and enjoying the glitz and glamour that is traditionally attached to this festival.

Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali which all the communities in business respect and revere as it augments the beginning of the financial year. The Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day of the festival of Diwali and it signifies the victory of the Indian god Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. Then there is the third day which signifies worship to the Indian Goddess of Wealth Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed that if one prays to Goddess Lakshmi then the full year would be prosperous. Then Diwali is on the fourth day when it is believed that the king Bali went to Patala and started his kingdom there. The fifth day of Diwali is the Yama Dvitiya or Bhai Dooj and it is on this day that the sisters invite all their brothers to come home.

Diwali signifies brightness so whatever darkness we have seen in the year is believed to have been wiped out by the lights that we light during this festival of brightness. It is believed that these lights will take us closer to God and the sound of fire crackers will announce to the world that we are strong and we have landed. It also signifies that we have to be aware of our inner conscience.

Diwali is a time for forgiveness and happiness. Enjoy it.

Milan Walking Tour

I met my guide Alice and group in the centre of the Piazza Duomo. We start with an introduction to one of Italy’s best-known and most beautiful buildings, the Duomo. For a cathedral that has had 30 kilos of pigeon poo dumped on it each day and was under construction for six centuries, Milan’s Duomo, the third largest church in the world is looking in pretty good shape the morning I see it.

The stunning facade that features over 2,300 hundred statues was put in place by Napoleon during the French occupation. Today we’re lucky enough to see it gleaming white and sans scaffolding, the result of a seven-year restoration and clean up that kept the building covered most of the time.

Alice explains that what we see today is like a dress- the real structure is underneath. Inside, we’re able to view the thick black that coats the soft sandstone inside. Having Alice guide us through allows us to admire the little things we may have otherwise missed on the tour.

Shaney at the Milan Duomo

One example is the stained glassed windows inside the Duomo. During World War Two, all the delicate stained glassed windows were removed and placed in storage in the country to protect them from the threat of bombing raids. However, when they were put back in place, they were put back in the wrong order- an error no one has corrected to this day.

Afterwards we head into the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle, which 176 architects vied to create in the 1800s. Upstairs from the Galleria is Europe’s only seven-star hotel, an establishment so discreet Alice has to point out the unmarked windows and balconies.

We walk though the Galleria past Gucci (strangely opposite McDonalds) to the La Scala theatre, the famous Opera House, and then onto the Castello Sforzesco, a fortress home to seven museums that was founded in 1368. Alice gives a background to the city’s major landmarks but also a sense of what the city was like in the past: fought over by invaders and rimmed with canals just like another more famous Northern Italian city. Now, she explains, most of the city’s beauty is discreet- you have to keep your eyes open to see it.

From the Castello, we head to our final destination, the Santa Maria delle Grazie, the unassuming home of one of Italy’s most famous tourist attractions: Il Cenacolo or as it is known in English, Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Our Guide Alice at the Milan Galleria

Tickets to see The Last Supper are strictly controlled, which means if you don’t book months in advance you’re unlikely to get to see it, but I’d managed to arrange mine by booking the Milan walking tour.

So what’s all the fuss about this painting? Well, for starters, it is considered the greatest work of the Renaissance, and Da Vinci painted it in an experimental way. Leonardo Da Vinci spent 17 years in the city at the invitation of the Duke of Milan and took two years to paint The Last Supper between 1495 and 1497. Apart from being a good 500 years old, the work has also endured a lot of mischief.

At one point, Jesus’s feet were chopped off during renovations so a door could be added to the wall. During Napoleon’s occupation of Milan, the room was used as a stable. During World War Two, it was shot at by rowdy soldiers, and later the convent was bombed during an air raid. Both walls either side of The Last Supper were destroyed, leaving only The Last Supper standing- left alone, some argue, by God’s grace.

After surviving all this, and the queue to see it, The Last Supper is well worth all the fuss. There’s 15 minutes time given to our group in which to view the masterpiece. We’re led through a series of locked, climate controlled rooms with automated doors that we pass through until it’s our turn.

When we all walk in, we’re all very silent and we look up and see it. It is bigger than I imagined, and awe-inspiring. The fresco has perfect proportions, so that if you stand in the centre of the room, it seems to ‘pop’ off the walls. It looks so eerily real. Alice givens us the drama and context for the piece, but I find myself tuning out. It is beautiful and moving, and I’m grateful to be able to view one of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world.

Afterwards, we feel all feel a little light-headed after viewing such a masterpiece. Luckily, however, Alice sticks around and advises on the best places to head for our twilight Apertivo- a Milanese tradition of early evening drinks and snacks. While I’m pleased to have seen The Last Supper, I’m also glad to have had a chance to see Milan and better understand the city.

- Shaney Hudson

The summer is probably the worst time for visiting Venice. During the summer months, the weather of this city remains extremely hot and humid. You will come across irritating things like smelly canals, mosquitoes, flies etc. However, if you come to Venice in spring or falls, you will never feel like going back. During these times the average temperature of the city ranges in between 5 and 15° Celsius. The tourist population in Venice is maximum during these parts of the year. If you want to avoid the rush, you may also plan the tour to Venice between November and January. Traveling through Venice during the winter months will surely be an extremely thrilling experience. However to tackle the extreme cold of Venice during winter months, you must carry a lot of woolens with you. In this time the weather of this city stays damp, windy and cold.

Another feature of Venice, you must be aware of before landing in the city is ‘aqua alta’ or high water. During an aqua alta, the water level of the lagoon rises above levels of streets and squares; it is almost like a mini flood and persist for only for some hours. Such incidents may take place suddenly for several times in a year. There’s no definite time for an ‘aqua alta’, however, it is more frequent during colder months.

So, whether for business, leisure, or familiy vacations, there are many pleasure to enjoy in the city. From dazzling hotels, fine dinning restaurants,  a luctravie selections of entertainment designed to quench your thirst of joy, and great shopping destinations. And of course, that includes the wildest party at most reowned nigth life you can ever imagine.  What a totally great experience you shouldn’t be missed.

Hate gambling and get tired with all that neon lights attractions? Feel no worry, since there are myriad of other entertainments and fun activities you can enjoy here. For instance,  great circus performances for your children, art exhibitions, or even outdoor activities like Red Rock Canyon tours.

Simply put, there is something for everyone here. Therefore, if you are planning to take a Vegas travel, make a plan before fly.  Now, if you have decided to have Las Vegas Vacations, take your budget into consideration.  Make a smart decision on air travel and hotel and accommodations. This will help you spend your budget efficiently which will help you to have enough budget for all fun that have been waiting there.

One of the easiest ways is using Expedia coupons. With Expedia you can save up to $220 when you book flight and hotel. Furthermore, it’s very easy to use. Just a few clicks away and you will have set your Vegas trips carefully.  Therefore, book early is the key. With Expedia you will experience the ultimate travel deal and service including a complete guide of Vegas.  Now, finding the right trip to Vegas in the right place has never been easier.  Thanks to Expedia and its coupons.

But wait a minute, before calling your travel agent for an airline ticket, make sure you are well-prepared, to make sure you will have a great time and portrait a memorable experience in Paris.

First thing first is accommodation.  The choice is apartment or hotel.  Hotel is ideal place if you plan to have a short time trip. If you go to Paris for business travel, hotel provides many facilities that will make your business activities much easier. It’s also ideal to having a meeting with your client or colleagues. However, if you travel with your partner and or family, apartment is a perfect solution.  Fully furnished apartment Paris will be great for short term-mid term family vacation. So make sure to find apartment that meets your budget and needs. There is always a decent cost for quality.

Well, are you looking for another challenge? Why don’t you try to stay in a wooden lodge construction, check cout construction maison en bois for exotic wooden house stay in Paris.

The last, vacation would not be perfect without a great culinary experience.  Be sure to sip the exotic wine of Paris while enjoying a delicious delicacies from Paris’s top restaurant. You can find your favorite restaurant at restaurant Paris 8. There will be a great restaurant for everyone and for every budget.

Anyway, it’s better if you do a few clicks on the net  to have more details about Paris. Have a nice trip and  unforgettable experience in Paris.

How do you save money on a family spring break to Kiawah Island? Book a vacation rental.

To begin planning your family’s spring break on Kiawah, start by researching online listings. I’ve had good luck with Vacation Rentals by Owner. How do you know your choice is a good one? Follow this list:

• Study the map. Google the unit’s address to confirm the location. Is it close enough to the beach for you? How far is the bike ride to Night Heron Park?
• Look for clues in the photos. What are the owners not showing? Why doesn’t the listing show an outside shot of the building? Where’s the photo of the patio? Did you notice a picture of a bathtub in the master bathroom? Maybe there isn’t one.
• Does the rental include the use of resort facilities? You don’t want to arrive only to find out that the unit does not come with permission to frolic at the pool or exercise in the gym.
• Pay attention to the details. Does the rental provide linens, cleaning supplies or free wifi? Is their a housekeeping charge?
• Are extras like bicycles or beach equipment included? This will save you money.
• Read the comments and recommendations. What did former renters like about the property? Did any remarks complement the owners? A word of caution: use your judgment when reading reviews, they can be manipulated.

Bonus tip: cooking your own meals is one of the biggest money-savers when renting a vacation unit. But come on, mom deserves a spring break too. Plan a dinner or two around the prepared meals at the upscale grocery store, Newton Farms, located in Freshfields Village, just outside Kiawah’s gated entrance. Now everybody’s happy.

Milan Walking Tour

I met my guide Alice and group in the centre of the Piazza Duomo. We start with an introduction to one of Italy’s best-known and most beautiful buildings, the Duomo. For a cathedral that has had 30 kilos of pigeon poo dumped on it each day and was under construction for six centuries, Milan’s Duomo, the third largest church in the world is looking in pretty good shape the morning I see it.

The stunning facade that features over 2,300 hundred statues was put in place by Napoleon during the French occupation. Today we’re lucky enough to see it gleaming white and sans scaffolding, the result of a seven-year restoration and clean up that kept the building covered most of the time.

Alice explains that what we see today is like a dress- the real structure is underneath. Inside, we’re able to view the thick black that coats the soft sandstone inside. Having Alice guide us through allows us to admire the little things we may have otherwise missed on the tour.

Shaney at the Milan Duomo

One example is the stained glassed windows inside the Duomo. During World War Two, all the delicate stained glassed windows were removed and placed in storage in the country to protect them from the threat of bombing raids. However, when they were put back in place, they were put back in the wrong order- an error no one has corrected to this day.

Afterwards we head into the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle, which 176 architects vied to create in the 1800s. Upstairs from the Galleria is Europe’s only seven-star hotel, an establishment so discreet Alice has to point out the unmarked windows and balconies.

We walk though the Galleria past Gucci (strangely opposite McDonalds) to the La Scala theatre, the famous Opera House, and then onto the Castello Sforzesco, a fortress home to seven museums that was founded in 1368. Alice gives a background to the city’s major landmarks but also a sense of what the city was like in the past: fought over by invaders and rimmed with canals just like another more famous Northern Italian city. Now, she explains, most of the city’s beauty is discreet- you have to keep your eyes open to see it.

From the Castello, we head to our final destination, the Santa Maria delle Grazie, the unassuming home of one of Italy’s most famous tourist attractions: Il Cenacolo or as it is known in English, Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Our Guide Alice at the Milan Galleria

Tickets to see The Last Supper are strictly controlled, which means if you don’t book months in advance you’re unlikely to get to see it, but I’d managed to arrange mine by booking the Milan walking tour.

So what’s all the fuss about this painting? Well, for starters, it is considered the greatest work of the Renaissance, and Da Vinci painted it in an experimental way. Leonardo Da Vinci spent 17 years in the city at the invitation of the Duke of Milan and took two years to paint The Last Supper between 1495 and 1497. Apart from being a good 500 years old, the work has also endured a lot of mischief.

At one point, Jesus’s feet were chopped off during renovations so a door could be added to the wall. During Napoleon’s occupation of Milan, the room was used as a stable. During World War Two, it was shot at by rowdy soldiers, and later the convent was bombed during an air raid. Both walls either side of The Last Supper were destroyed, leaving only The Last Supper standing- left alone, some argue, by God’s grace.

After surviving all this, and the queue to see it, The Last Supper is well worth all the fuss. There’s 15 minutes time given to our group in which to view the masterpiece. We’re led through a series of locked, climate controlled rooms with automated doors that we pass through until it’s our turn.

When we all walk in, we’re all very silent and we look up and see it. It is bigger than I imagined, and awe-inspiring. The fresco has perfect proportions, so that if you stand in the centre of the room, it seems to ‘pop’ off the walls. It looks so eerily real. Alice givens us the drama and context for the piece, but I find myself tuning out. It is beautiful and moving, and I’m grateful to be able to view one of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world.

Afterwards, we feel all feel a little light-headed after viewing such a masterpiece. Luckily, however, Alice sticks around and advises on the best places to head for our twilight Apertivo- a Milanese tradition of early evening drinks and snacks. While I’m pleased to have seen The Last Supper, I’m also glad to have had a chance to see Milan and better understand the city.

- Shaney Hudson

My tour of Vilnius starts at the Panorama Hotel, where the bus arrives from Kaunas Airport and ferries in passengers on Ryanair flights. A friend drives the short distance to Downtown Market Guesthouse, with charming market themed animal, flea market or flower rooms, whose hosts bring you breakfast in bed. Located just past the Gates of Dawn, where you can find a bizarre museum featuring the Last Supper in wax figures.

We walk down the hill into the old town, along the park where a fleamarket is held on Sunday mornings, past the music library where my friend performed on the stairs with his band back in the day, and Jaunimo Youth Theatre. My first taste of Lithuanian cooking is the chicken potato pancakes in rock’n’roll Bix Bar, which I’m happy to recommend! Another local dish is delicious white cheese with spices, best enjoyed with beer, or a sweet version baked with honey.

My personal guide takes me on a meandering route, determined by important kicker (foosball) bars, past and present, along the edge of Užupis (Artist’s Republic), across Fluxus Bridge past the former youth park – now Sereikiškių Park. He tells me the stories of the church. Napoleon wanted to take home in the palm of his hand, the statue of Adomas Bernardas Mickevičius, famous Lithuanian poet – claimed as a national poet by Poland – and three crosses up on the hill, which have a surprisingly relevant presence even today, as noted the theatre posters we find along this route.

Since his interest in monuments and old buildings is equal to mine (which is to say hardly any, as regular readers may know, I prefer to learn more about local personal history than the official version), we eschew actually going to any of these historic places. Although he does tell me the legend of the guy on the statue, Grand Duke Gedimina (1316-1341), who founded Vilnius based on a dream. Legend goes that he heard a lone iron wolf howling in a dream, which sounded like hundreds of wolves bellowing in unison. He summoned the High Priest to interpret and decided this was an auspicious place to build the city.

There’s a “miracle stone” in front of the cathedral where legend has it you spin three times and make a wish. I think you’re meant to be barefoot and I’m not sure in which direction, but guessing clockwise as usual in pagan rituals. Lithuania has a strong pagan tradition, being the last country in Europe to become Christianised, with many associated contemporary feasts and festivals. In Lithuanian mythology, the Moon is masculine and receives prayers for healing, while the Sun is the feminine Saulė, one of the most powerful goddesses, she provides the warmth of nature and fertility. The word for “world” is “pasaulis,” translated as “under the sun”.

Wandering along Gediminas Avenue, the main axis through town, we head up Vilnius Avenue and stop for refreshment at the White Elephant Cafe – very cosy and home to a fine variety of tea, chai and Indian inspired vegetarian food – past the famous Lithuanian boys choir and music school, and the V2 Concept Store which stocks an excellent range of Hunter gumboots and beautiful sweet smelling Melissa rubber shoes, including the Vivienne Westwood collection.

Next door is the Centre for Contemporary Art where we indulge my nostalgia for the tasty deep fried black bread with garlic and a local beer. My favourite dining experience is Jalta, where the delicious regional menu is elegantly presented on the covers of old records, and the atmosphere of faded glamour perfectly matches the slow food philosophy, offering recipes for preserved apples and caramel.

Fluxus, Art & Games

Vilnius is the birthplace of Fluxus founder George Maciunas, and the city has a lively history of philosophical debate and playful interrogation of the established hierarchies of culture and art, in the spirit of Fluxus: ‘all life is art’. That explains the references, from CAC’s Fluxus Cabinet, to the cultural centre and studios in a squatted ex-government building aka Fluxus Ministry, and the Fluxus Bridge, where the sign ‘Art in Space and Space in Art’ offers a moment of esoteric contemplation on my initial journey of discovery through the city.

Next day I have an appointment with Vytautas, Artistic Director of Nida Art Colony who gives me a guided tour of the Vilnius Art Academy, housed in a sprawling complex of ancient buildings next to the monks still in charge of the famed Napoleonic-lusted after church. Highlight of the tour is lunch at the spectacularly beautiful vaulted ceiling canteen. Artist Isabella Rozendaal has a book about Vilnius canteens, you can join the tour for lunch in a different canteen every Thursday. We check out the new building of the Academy across the road, their gallery presenting the painting prize exhibition, and visit the film and media department where the rooms have panoramic views of the city and brand new equipment. Another colleague, Rasa takes me for afternoon tea at the Shakespeare Hotel, where the bar features overstuffed armchairs along with decadent cakes and whisky.

The evening includes a trip to Briusly (Bruce Lee, Islandijos 4) club for experimental Lithuanian poetry and avant-garde night as part of Tarp Festival. The sonic experiments drift into territory closer to minimal techno than the abstract sound I’m used to hearing in this context, one group mixing theremin, didgeridoo and techno beats. A night visit to the bridge my friend has found for me over the River Neris leading to Vingis Park, in order to hear the intriguing sound of the cables. One day I may be lucky enough to find a Lithuanian husband, as traditional calls for the man to carry his bride over a bridge, symbolising the start of their new life together!

The night ends with a visit to Play Club for a few games of kicker, which I’ve find myself enjoying with a beginners enthusiasm! The vibe of this seriously cool indie bar is low key and friendly, and when the music kicks in there’s likely to be some dancing going on.

A romantic yet haunting cemetery

Cemetery & TV Tower

The weekend features a trip to romantically crumbling Bernardinu Cemetery, along the Vilnia River from Uzupis, where Movilas talks me through his virtual cemetery, lastsleep his equally romantic and elegant burial site for anything or anyone you’d like to remember or forget.

Our next destination is the TV Tower, which I find strangely and inexplicably beautiful, a minimalist concrete column reaching elegantly into the sky, with a magnificent view from the Milky Way cafe. The tallest structure in Lithuania, the tower played a significant role in regaining independence from the former Soviet Union during the ‘Singing Revolution’, linking arms and singing in the face of tanks and bullets. My friend tells me that he, aged 8, and his grandmother joined the thousands of people who held the line here in the 1991 blockade against Soviet troops and tanks. She was there earlier on the day in which 13 unarmed civilians were killed and 600 injured, as the courageous Lithuanian citizens linked arms and sang to defend national independence and oppose Soviet military seizure of the tower. There is a small museum on the ground floor dedicated to the January 1991 battle, with striking images of the tanks surrounding the tower and damage to the controls, while outside memorials indicate places where Lithuanian citizens died.

A happy wedding celebration

Contemporary Art & Underground

Next day I visit the exhibition of recent Lithuanian Contemporary Art from the past ten years at the CAC. The show provides a comprehensive overview of work presented through a selection of intelligent categories, from documentary to institutional critique, fictions and other realities. The activities of the Pro-Test Lab offer an intriguing entry to local politically engaged art practices, as do the Kultflux, a nostalgic history of Baltic sea resorts is presented in view finders, a collection of stolen soap is another small relic of the passing of time, while video documentation of people dancing in the street to impromptu radio makes me smile.

I take a long walk across the river to the National Gallery, with an overview of Contemporary Lithuanian Film and Video Art. The buildings along this side of town are the Wall Street of Vilnius, a strange architectural mix from dilapidated and crumbling houses to the sparkling skyscraper of a bank and the unfinished office block that curves into the air with eerie holes open to the sky. Following Tautvydas’s directions on the bus through town to find the decrepit cable factory Kablyje, where art festival, Absurdo Meno Dienos Baigėsi ‘absurd art days are ended’ features a memorable video work juxtaposing four different funerals, including one voodoo dace and the far more solemn cortege to the final resting place of Princess Diana. A lovely girl offers me a cup of tea, brewed with fresh Lithuanian herbs, which helps against the damp and chill air, then we head down the road to the Snekutis bar, famous for locally brewed beer (Sv. Stepono g. 8). After that it’s party time at the art academy sculpture studio with Jurij’s Moldovan beats!

- Jodi Rose