Independence

I made it back to the U.S. right around midnight on July 4 after an amazing trip to the Baltics. I managed to rally for a bit yesterday, just long enough to get some laundry done and unpack the bags, before I crashed around 4:00 pm and slept through all of the fireworks and celebrations. Oops. I guess the trip – and travel – wore me out more than I realized.

A typical street view.
The widest waterfall in Europe.
Old Town Vilnius, Lithuania

The cities were absolutely beautiful. The structures ranged in age from medieval to modern, with a persistent sense of stepping into a history book. I quickly gave up on not looking like a tourist and walked around with my mouth gaping open as I took in all of the sights.

The Baltic Sea.
Cesis Castle, originally built 800 years ago.
Two perspectives of a piece from a 3D art exhibit on a trail in Riga.

 

But as often happens when I travel, I was even more taken with the people than with the physical beauty of the place. The three Baltic states first declared their independence after World War I. Soon after, they were faced the first Soviet occupation, where their religious and cultural freedoms were threatened. The Soviets only left when the Nazis moved in, destroying the large Jewish population of the area. After World War II, the Soviets again occupied the region until 1991, when independence was again achieved.

An elevator in the former KGB prison in Riga, Latvia. This building was brutal to see as it made the history tangible.

At every turn, I was amazed at the spirit that the Baltic people showed. At their dedication to their culture and their community. After so much oppression, it would be so easy to give up. But that never happened. Instead, they kept living in spite of and persisted in what they believed in.

Flowers are very important to the Latvian people. I never learned why, but I like to think that it was because it was a little bit of beauty they could bring into their lives on even the darkest of days.

Two perspectives of a piece from a 3D art exhibit on a trail in Riga.

One of my favorite experiences was visiting this little neighborhood in Lithuania that declared its independence in 1997 (I even have a passport stamp from there!). Check out their constitution – I think they have the right idea!

A neighborhood within Vilnius declared its independence in 1997 after tiring of being neglected by the city.
The constitution of the Republic.

My world has been expanded yet again 🙂 And now I think it’s about time for another nap…

Thank you for sharing!

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