We’d return to Latvia today and make our way to Rezekne, another one-nighter by first driving through simple villages and backroads. It was disappointing not to have had enough time to really explore Vilnius in depth. With another day, or at the minimum, half day, the group could have squished in at least one museum and we would have walked to Uzupis, found Frank Zappas grave, and the Central Market would have been open. Instead, on the bus with a stop in Labanoras Regional Park to visit the Church of Labanoras dating from 1522…View image.

Church services were going on in the church when we arrived and the group waited until little, old ladies began toddling out the Church door…View image… before visiting the inside. The always gallant ex-Marine escorted one of these septuagenarians (whose feet were moving in slow motion) down the steps. Those of us watching held collective breaths hoping she would be able continue on her own steam without falling down. (Watch the video below…)

Church of Labanoras, Lithuania 

inside the Church of Labanoras, Lithuania
Inside the small Church of Labanoras were paintings recognized as art monuments…View image…while outside was an old tepee shaped toilet that sent several of us into the bushes after one whiff. Labanoras village was written about in old documents from 1373 and life seemed to have stopped. Small and colorful houses where inhabitants still earn a living by farming, hunting and fishing.

Labanoras village house, Lithuania
Aukstaitijos National Park is the oldest of Lithuania’s National Parks and located almost on the border of Russia. Signe led those who wanted on a botanical walk through the park famous for its biodiversity. Close to 60% of all Lithuania’s plant species in Lithuania can be found in this park including 64 species of plants, eight different fungi, and 48 birds. Aukstaitijos National Park also has 126 lakes that are interconnected and popular during the summer.

A cold, windy, raw day, ex-Marine and I spent our time visiting Paluse where the walk began. Park administration is based in Paluse, and Labanoras looked like a city compared to eensy, weensy Paluse with the oldest surviving wooden church in Lithuania dating from 1750. The church was closed but its surroundings were beyond picturesque. Old wooden crosses…View image…sculptures, and houses…View image, tombstones covered in moss, while the changing leaves adding color to a drab and grey day.

Paluse wooden church, Lithuania 

sculpture on the grounds of Paluse Church, Lithuania
We crossed the border between Lithuania and Latvia…View image… where a border guard came on the bus to inspect passports. Then, a fast stop in Daugavpils, once part of Russia and only 33 km/20 miles from Belarus where many of the early settlers came from. According a Russian census in 1897, Jews constituted 44% percent of the population and one syngogue still remains in Daugavpils. Almost 90% of the population still speaks Russian. (We heard many Da’s inside the RIMI Hypermarket, our next stop.) Into a RIMI Hypermarket…View image… for “goodies” if anyone so desired (Do bears #*!# in the woods?) and to change money from Lits to Lats. This particular RIMI had the largest bagels I’ve ever seen!

gigantic bagels in RIMI Hypermarket
One more church to go, the Basilica of Aglona built in 1780…View image. This Catholic Church houses what is supposed to be an icon, uncovered only during religious celebrations, of “Miracle-worker Virgin Mary of Aglona” who performs miracles. There is a big celebration every August when thousands of pilgrims come to celebrate Ascension Day. The very ornate Baroque-style Basilica has been added onto and changed since 1780 with extensive restoration throughout…View image.

Aglona Basilica, Latvia
Three churches in one day was a little over the top and I think everyone was looking forward to dinner and good nights sleep in Rezekne, Latvia…