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My other home - Lithuania. A wonderful, glorious country where personal space is ignored, buses look and sound like they are about to break down, food is generally fried and covered in cheese, and beer is always cold. I am so pleased to be back.
I have been very lucky to be able to stay with my friend Vaidas, who has been a great host showing me the all the sights around Vilnius (capital city) including the old castle on top of the hill, Treki castel, old town (and the pubs in old town), and, of course, the impressively tall TV tower built by the Soviets in the late 70's. We also had dinner at a restaurant/park just outside the city where we had probably the worst pizza in Europe. It is great to be home.
On Sunday it is back to London and off to the airport on Monday to meet Sharelle and Brenda and help them get their European adventure off to the right start.
So here are some pictures of me pretending to be Lithuanian, and Vaidas actually being Lithuanian, for you to enjoy.

Help...

I have a problem.  The problem seems to be further compounded by my mom's presence, she enables me, perhaps because she suffers from the same addiction.

 

I bought another pair of shoes today.

 

Shoes I started with in Europe:

 

- Merrell walking shoes

- Nike walking sandals

- Brown flip flops

- Black flip flops (but only for dirty hostel showers so not really in the count)

 

Shoes bought since arrived in Europe:

 

- Black flats (The bargaining is half the fun of new shoes)

- White flats (but sent home via post in box from Athens, so not really in the count)

- Red glittery sandals (I love the Turkish bazaar, mom bought a brown pair)

- Silver flats (Thank you Marks & Spencer)

- Beaded sandals (memory of the fantastic city of Rhodes)

- White Pumps (yes White Pumps)

 

Total Shoes:

10 pairs (minus 2 for reasons noted above = 8 pairs)

 

Still 8 pairs is a lot for a so called backpacker / traveller.  I am buying another bag tomorrow because all the shoes do not fit in my backpack with all my other stuff.  As I said, I have a problem.  And I am going to Germany and Lithuania this week and really could rationalize a new pair of dressy winter boots. 

 

I am seeing amazing thing and have just spent the last four days on a cruise of the Greek Islands and I post about shoes....

Just one

And so it turns out...

Mavi jeans are not that much less expensive in Istanbul. However, I still think Istanbul is one of the most wonderful cities in the world. Yes, it is not entirely safe for women to be alone in the city, and yes, ome random man grabbed my butt in the market, and yes it is crazy hot and you must dress modestly (long skirts/pants and t-shirts), but really it is awesome.
Yesterday, we went to the Turkish bath, which I highly recommend for the incredibly high relaxation factor, and then did some shopping. I bought three pairs of shoes (somethings never change). In the evening we climbed the galata tower which overlooks the city and watched the mosques light up as the sun set, while the ships all came back into port from the sea. It was so beautiful.
I have been finding fun in bargining at the markets. My mom just wants to pay almost full price, but I will have none of it. One of the carpet sellers that I was bargining with actually remarked to my mom "she is a difficult girl". Ha! you bet I am.
Today we arrived in Athens. We have been resting today because we did not sleep much in Istanbul (due to arguements on the street outside the hostel, garbage trucks, snoring austrian boys, the heat, and the 5:00am call to prayer from the mosques), yet we still went out to dinner to enjoy some wine and greek salad. Tomorrow we are doing a walking tour to see the Acropolis and the other ancient sights. It is just crazy that I am in Greece.