Day 12

 Day 12  Saturday Aug 23

VILNIUS.....REST DAY.

A day of rest and some gentle wandering about. Quite warm all day.

The map of Old Vilnius with my hotel marked by white dot. Just 15 mins to walk down to the river.

In my morning walkabout I was taken by the large number of churches...more than in Rome.

I first passed the Church of St Catherine (closed)

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Next I came on the Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Catholic), a place of pilgrimage.

In the Church of St Nicholas (Orthodox) a service was in progress.

Down the hill, around a corner stood the Orthodox Cathedral of the Mother of God and again it was holding a service.

Nearby stood the Church of St Anne, an impressive brick structure.

Back up in the large city plaza stood the Catholic Cathedral of St Stanislaus with Vilnius Castle perched on the hill behind and with the stand-alone Bell Tower.

While I was in Town Hall Square the Portal was actually at that moment in link-up with Dublin (at the Spire). I waved to them all.

Around town also there are almost as many Ukraine flags flying as Lithuanian flags. Flying in support.

In the early afternoon I attended to the bike. No need to clean it, but to oil the moving parts and check all bolts.

I had dinner this evening down in a Rabbit Hole...and it really was DOWN, down a steep winding stairs to a cellar. But it was worth it. I relished the Aged Beef Burger.

After dinner (8pm) I attended  Mass (in Lithuanian) in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. A fine crowd there.

All set now for the last section to Poland with a promised hilly day tomorrow.

Thank God for a lovely day.