This is certainly one way to catch our attention. Vilnius’ mayor, Remigijus Šimašius recently declared, “If the people of Vilnius cannot go to the sea, then the sea will come to Vilnius.”
As of yesterday, Lukiškės Square, the largest square in the city centre, has turned into an ‘Open Beach’ for the summer, complete with all the seaside paraphernalia you could ever want. In response to people siding with holidays away from big cities, the city has brought beach life – one thing that the landlocked Lithuanian capital does not have – to the medieval city.
The #Experientialist notes that the city’s residents have been showing their creativity during the pandemic – by taking dining outdoors from restaurants and cafes into the city’s squares and side streets and launching its own COVID-time fashion week, showcasing mask-couture, among other fun activities.
So perhaps when the powers that be allow us to head to Lithuania again, you might want to go slip your feet into some Vilna sand, grab a free book from the library, or watch a movie under the stars.
Illustration courtesy of Go Vilnius