This and That

Good Afternoon, Everyone! Laba diena!

Well, I've already lost this post once - when I thought I had already published it.
So I don't know how much patience I have to do it over again! But at least I'll get started.

This photo is taken from the atrium of our building, looking out at neighboring buildings.

They've done a nice job of bringing lots of light into the building. The windows extend the entire height of the building - about three floors. Officially, we're on the top floor or fifth floor, but the floors seem to be half-floors, really. So the whole building isn't really that big.

There are places, as here in the lobby, where they've left the old stones exposed so you can tell what the old construction might have been like.

Here is more of the old construction on view - the basement laundry room, with steps heading straight down!
The stones and bricks are decomposing nicely - a delicate patina of dust on everything.

And here is our washing machine. You have to plug it in and turn on the water. The first time I used it I forgot  about the water, so, when Liz came down later to check on it, it hadn't even started. A kind passerby told her what the problem was.
We haven't seen anyone else using the machine. But since the building is for seniors there's probably no one else foolish enough to try the stairs. They probably have bought their own machines.
The dryer is currently broken, so we use a drying rack in our bathroom.

Across the street is our nearest grocery store, Iki, so small that you can barely turn around in the aisles, especially if you're wearing a backpack, as we usually are. Another small store, Rimi, is about two blocks away, on the other side of the Town Hall.

At the other end of the spectrum is MaXima XXX - meaning extra extra large. Kind of a Wal-Mart, but mostly groceries. Good selection and we're lucky to have it so close - although it is uphill about eight blocks, and the return journey, with full backpacks, seems even longer (because, of course, one can't help buying an extra bottle of wine or beer!)

Liz took a walk this afternoon in some softly drifting snowflakes. Nursing a cold, I stayed home. She walked down to Gediminas Hill, the fort, which you can just see off to the right. (We'll get some better pictures later.)

And this is Grand Duke Gediminas himself, with his horse, whose name I do not know. Apparently he is indicating that this is the place to build his new capital, having been thus instructed in a dream by an iron wolf.

Here you see another view of Gediminas and horse, near the Vilnius Cathedral, originally built of wood in about 1380, with this version dating from 1800 or so.

And this is another view of the cathedral square, looking west, with the bell tower which, in a much smaller version, was long ago part of one of the city gates. And the Christmas tree, very pretty although artificial. The lights are nice, although they do a little zipping around, and, toward the top, the zippiness intensifies so that it looks a bit like fireworks. Can't exactly explain - come and see for yourself.

Well, I think I'll stop with this and see if I can save and publish it - wish me luck!!

We send our good wishes for health and happiness in this holy and busy time of year.

Mike and Liz