It is very understandable why Palanga is such a popular resort town in the summer or early Fall but today was windy and cold on the beach. Even so, the less than one hour spent here was most definitely not enough. The town of Palanga is a short distance from Klaipeda…View image, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and functioned as Lithuania’s main port from the 15th-17th centuries. The coast stretched as far as the eye could see, well over 10 km/6.2 miles and is backed by a pine forest and dunes. Almost half a million visitors visit Palanga and settle into one of the many guesthouses, hotels, resorts and even sanatoriums with thermal and mineral baths that operate year-round.

The bus dropped the group off on a corner along with directiol instructions and “what to see.” The old town pedestrian area with historic buildings that date from the 13th-18th centuries. Check that off as a miss with too little time. The Palanga Botanical Gardens, designed for Count Tiskevicius with over 300 plant species and considered to be Lithuania’s most beautiful botanical garden. The Tiskevicius Manor House is located in the center of the Gardens and houses the Amber Museum (closed for the day). Check that off as a miss with too little time.

Palanga Beach on the Baltic Sea, Lithuania 

Palanga Dunes, Pines and Church, Lithuania
I was determined to walk on the beach since Palanga is famous for Amber gleaned along its coast. Not that I would know a piece of raw Amber if it jumped up and bit me but I dearly love beach combing. By the time we walked down to the Baltic Sea and back again, it was time to leave Palanga. We did manage to admire a few of the brightly painted old houses and groves of Birch Trees…View image…View image… before gladly returning to the warm bus.

bright green Palanga wood house, Lithuania 

Palanga, Lithuania
Three words about the Explore tour bus driver. Morris was terrible. He had to have had the proper license but he was forever getting lost, Klaipeda, today’s destination was a perfect example. He could not find the Reval Inn Hotel, had the heaviest braking-gas foot and was S-L-O-W. Both Merelyn and I had many nauseous moments from his… start, stop, start, stop…for no reason at all. (I heard other comments from the group.) Tomorrow is another very early day with even more to see and do…if that’s humanly possible.

 

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