We really didn't want the summer to end so quickly, so we allowed ourselves one more week to travel and, together with Evita Eidina and the young people, we headed to the Lithuanian town of Palanga, enjoying real summer warmth without the large crowds that are present during the summer months!
We've only been here for half a day, but we've already experienced a huge amount of positive emotions. The warmth outside, even in the evening by the sea, makes you feel like you're not in Lithuania, but somewhere like Cyprus or Spain.
We came here via Liepāja, because we hadn't seen our good and great friend, Māris Sveiduks, for a long time; the other friend, Roberts Vītols, it turns out, is tearing it up in Riga, we'll see him next time!
On the route from Dobele to Palanga, we've also hidden a secret prize, and on Friday, a lucky winner will receive a @AirGuru.lv gift card worth 50 Euros, if you watch, of course, the latest Thailand series!
We're traveling to Palanga with our excellent travel car, a KIA Sportage, and we've put bicycles on the car, the same ones we used in the Slovakian mountains. We have a small dream of cycling through Palanga and the Curonian Spit, but how that will turn out, we'll see tomorrow!
Thanks to @Forum Auto, @KIA Latvija and @Velooutlets
This time, we've chosen an apartment-style hotel, @Mana suites & spa, Mana Palanga, right in the center of Palanga, just a few meters from the main pedestrian street. Here, everything has been thought of for guests, from convenient parking to spacious rooms with their own kitchen and a large balcony. Guests have the opportunity to relax both in the pool with 2 saunas and in the Jacuzzi on the roof, with a magnificent view towards the sea!
But this evening's sunset over the sea painted the sky in such enchanting colors that it felt like we had stepped into a fairytale!
May everyone have a lovely and sunny September!
Our second day in Lithuania begins with morning exercises at 6:30 AM. We go for a bike ride and don't notice two hours passing. Here in Palanga, there are fantastically beautiful bike paths that are a real pleasure to ride, but every now and then you have to stop by the sea, then check out some beautifully maintained camping areas - there are many of them here - and finally, you just have to swim in the sea. That's how time flies.
Back at the hotel, we have breakfast, put the bikes on the car, and head to the Dolphinarium. To say that we all had fantastically positive emotions watching this show is an understatement; it was more than magnificent. After the dolphin show, we go to see the sea museum, but we quickly rush back to the car because we want to make it to Nida today and climb the Curonian Spit along the way. The ferry crossing cost 23 Euros, round trip, and entering the Curonian Spit territory, which starts about 7-10 km from the ferry, costs 30 Euros, but after the warm season it will cost 5 Euros, and entrance to the Curonian Spit territory cost 5 Euros per adult.
Climbing the sandy hill of the Curonian Spit, it was +27 degrees, but it felt like +35, we really worked up a sweat, but it's definitely something you need to see.
Next, we head to Nida, where we find an excellent restaurant called Maxima, have lunch, and then get on our bikes to explore this beautiful town. Of course, at +27 degrees, we start sweating again, ride up a few hills, some sandy paths, and then head along the sea back to our car. But, wanting to show the young people how I can ride a bike, I accidentally fall and ride into the sea. Soaked to the ears, but happy about the failed trick, we decide to go to the beach where we can all swim!
To our slight surprise, after descending the stairs to the beach, it turns out we've stumbled upon a nudist beach where everyone is sunbathing naked. Having found our own, clothed, we swim and sunbathe a bit, but we don't get to relax for long, because we have a booked rooftop jacuzzi this evening, so we hurry back and are already on the roof at exactly 7:30 PM, enjoying the hot tub and the magnificent sunset!
But in the evening, we still gather our strength and go out into the streets to listen to Italian music!
Such was our day's adventure!
Of course, we also filmed all of this and will soon show it all on our YouTube channel Gold Barbell.
Third day in Lithuania and a summary of our little trip to Palanga!
On the third day, we had planned an active morning workout, we wanted to cycle 20km, but we took pity on the children a bit and only woke them up at half past seven. We had breakfast and we had the opportunity to see other hotel rooms, and it turns out that all the rooms here are different, but one common thing is that they are really very spacious, with 2 bedrooms, large terraces and even two floors, and you can book them on Booking.com starting from 86 Euros. The hotel is called Mana Suites & Sea
As this is also our final day in Lithuania, before heading home, we decide we want to cycle a bit, and our "a bit" ends up being 30km and 3 hours. There are truly fantastically beautiful bike paths here that make you want to cycle more and more, and every now and then we stop by the sea, both to swim and to swing on large swings, and to relax on wooden benches.
Although we are noticeably tired, as these 30km are a record for all of us in one go, we are also fantastically recharged and satisfied with what we have done, seen, and experienced!
With our suitcases in the car and bicycles on the rack, we slowly make our way towards Latvia, discussing this great adventure. It turns out that even in less than three days, you can experience so many lovely and wonderful things that it's hard to even remember all the best things that have happened to us in the last 72 hours.
Palanga will certainly remain in our memories as a great place to relax with family, to be active, and to enjoy such great diversity!
One great tip to save a little money! While still at home, at least half a year in advance, occasionally buy your children instant noodle soups, thus getting them used to them. Then, in the evening, when you let them choose what they'd rather do, go out to a restaurant with you or buy instant noodle soups, there's a good chance they'll choose the soups! Well, at least it worked for us!
But summing up this trip, we rate it a 10 out of 10! Everything worked out great for us, the weather was fantastic, the sports activities were just enough, the sea was awesome, the dolphins and other animals were super, our company was cool, and Lithuania is unique! But the music at sunset deserves even more than 10 points; experiencing this magical cocktail of piano sounds with the colors of the sunset in person, you just want to savor this moment longer and longer!
Thank you for reading this and pressing Like, it's a pleasure to try! See you in Estonia!
