Vilnius, Lithuania

I got a good feeling from this city as soon as I got here. The city is built on hills, with a wonderful cobblestone Baroque city center. Even though I ended up having to walk across the entire Old Town with my big backpack on in order to get to my hostel, I didn’t mind.

That tells you a lot about the city.

Kainu Park's paths. This park is 85% of the way to being the Chatauqua of Vilnius, but that last 15% is very important for realizing this dream. As in, it's not enough to have only 8.5 steps up a steep hill where you really need 10, and it's not enough to build 850 meters of a trail loop but leave the last 150 meters as a steep, muddy slope.

As soon as the Russians left Lithuania in 1991, the people turned the KGB headquarters into a museum. They didn’t know what would happen to the records of the crimes commited by the Soviet Union in other countries, but they took it upon themselves to remember here. And now, for a small pittance of a fee, you can go in and see the prisoners’ cells, the chambers for solitary confinement, the padded rooms that would drown out the sounds of the torturees screams.

Independent Republic of. This place kind of reminds me of a Lithuanian Boulder, and not just for its независимый status. They've taken it one step farther though - they have a president, a constitution, and even a standing army (12 guys at the pub). Fun arty place to wander and spend a day.

A couple of great spots to do it, right in the center of town.

Until I get to tonight's destination. Slovenia, here I come!