*Editors Note, this is a shortened post because blogger decided that it didn't need to save a lot of my work
Uginus "Want to go on a helicopter tour of the city?"
Me "Hell yes I do!"
Uginus is the big man on campus here, and an amazing guy. He took me with him on a press junket for the KG Group, a grain processor in Lithuania...one of the biggest. Owned by the wealthiest man in Lithuania.
The setting for this trip was a restaurant just outside of the city (if the lowly term restaurant can be applied to a perfect imitation of a 15th century country manor and its grounds), Vandens Malunas.
The helicopter's arrival also signals the arrival of our host. He is a large, light-haired man, who's casual bad taste in clothing, and tendency towards a certain girth, is the kind of thing only the truly wealthy can manage.
We board the helicopter with another group of journalists, four in all, and the pilot. And we are off on an aerial tour of the ancient city of Vilnius.
The heli ride is amazing, and we return to a spread of delectables and more entertainment.
Our post-heli ride entertainment turns out to be some ballet mixed with ballroom dancing and a little drama...enjoy.
After the entertainment was over, we made our way to the door...ready to leave. Uginus made the rounds, saying goodbyes and thank-you's, and i wandered aimlessly behind him...full of good food and good wine.
Just before leaving i was surprised to find myself being handed a gift bag and a large, oddly-shaped, box. I thank them for the gifts and Uginus and i walk out to the parking lot.
I begin to examine the contents of my gift bag and the accompanying box. With a lot fo help from Uginus I learn what i have received.
In the bag was a bottle of Ruginė, a variation on vodka that is uniquely Lithuanian.
In the box was the strangest confection i had ever seen. Uginus explained that is was the national cake of Lithuanaia, the Šakotis. It is made by a slowly spinning cake wheel (read potters wheel) and very patient cake-maker dripping a little batter at a time as the funnel cake-on-steroids takes form.
Skanus!
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| Ugnius Jankauskas, Managing Director of Verslo žin |
Me "Hell yes I do!"
Uginus is the big man on campus here, and an amazing guy. He took me with him on a press junket for the KG Group, a grain processor in Lithuania...one of the biggest. Owned by the wealthiest man in Lithuania.
The setting for this trip was a restaurant just outside of the city (if the lowly term restaurant can be applied to a perfect imitation of a 15th century country manor and its grounds), Vandens Malunas.
The helicopter's arrival also signals the arrival of our host. He is a large, light-haired man, who's casual bad taste in clothing, and tendency towards a certain girth, is the kind of thing only the truly wealthy can manage.
We board the helicopter with another group of journalists, four in all, and the pilot. And we are off on an aerial tour of the ancient city of Vilnius.
The heli ride is amazing, and we return to a spread of delectables and more entertainment.
Our post-heli ride entertainment turns out to be some ballet mixed with ballroom dancing and a little drama...enjoy.
After the entertainment was over, we made our way to the door...ready to leave. Uginus made the rounds, saying goodbyes and thank-you's, and i wandered aimlessly behind him...full of good food and good wine.
Just before leaving i was surprised to find myself being handed a gift bag and a large, oddly-shaped, box. I thank them for the gifts and Uginus and i walk out to the parking lot.
I begin to examine the contents of my gift bag and the accompanying box. With a lot fo help from Uginus I learn what i have received.
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| Ruginė - Lithuanian vodka |
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| Šakotis - cake |
Skanus!
Well told. What an adventure! I've got to get my friend Aurelijus, from there, to see your aerial pix.
ReplyDeleteI was wishing i had a better camera the whole time. Also, does every Lithuanian have an overabundance of vowels for a name or what? I can feel my jaw re-shaping the more i talk to people here.
ReplyDelete