2015 is on its way out, 2016 ready to burst onto the scene.
How’d it get so late so soon? This time of year we like to take a look back at
the year that was.
January 2015 – a
visit to Trakai Castle – a half hour drive out of Vilnius.
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Joann and I are celebrating our second Christmas in this apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania. That in itself is a bit unusual. It hasn’t been very often that we’ve been living in the same country two years in a row.
Vilnius has been great place to spend some time. Centrally
located in northern Europe (the geographic center of Europe is actually in
Lithuania, just 16 miles north of Vilnius), this Baltic country feels like it
could be somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. The climate is similar to western
Washington/British Columbia. We really haven’t needed much air-conditioning.
Having just spent two years in China and Vietnam before moving
here, being back in Europe was a refreshing change for us. And bonus, we can walk down the street here and
be mistaken for locals, something that never happened in Southeast Asia.
June 16 - Launching from the park by
the Neris River. The launch site depended
upon which way the wind was blowing
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The Queen on her throne in the Sculpture Park |
Catching Huy on the fly between supersonic laps on the Curonian Spit. |
Joann returned home in July
to what turned out to be a horrible fire season in Northeast Washington. I
watched events unfolding from Vilnius while Joann dealt with the smoke and
approaching fire danger at home. Our log cabin, snuggled into the trees would
never survive if the forest fire reached it.
What to take? What was
important? In the end it was decided that very little was so important. Photos,
artwork, computerized records, vehicles – all were easy to move. Everything
else could be replaced. It was just stuff.
The hardest part turned out to be the smoke that filled the air for
weeks at a time. The only cure for that was to leave.
We are fortunate to have good friends who extended an invitation to Joann and another neighbor to join them at their house on the Washington coast for a few days. In spite of the difficult circumstances the ladies managed to make the best of it.
Bloody Mary Breakfast with Captain Jack |
We are fortunate to have good friends who extended an invitation to Joann and another neighbor to join them at their house on the Washington coast for a few days. In spite of the difficult circumstances the ladies managed to make the best of it.
In August Joann flew to Italy. I flew in from Vilnius at the same time and we met up in Naples for a visit with my brother Doug and his wife, Lezli at their home in Petruro Irpino. What a nice place and a great few days together. We experienced rural life in their small Italian town, toured a winery (of course!) and drove the Amalfi coast. Joann returned to Republic and I flew back to Vilnius.
In October I was able to fly home for almost three weeks of vacation time. It was another meeting up with Joann on the fly. She flew in from visiting her mother in Illinois. We met in Spokane and drove home together. We wouldn’t be there for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Halloween was our holiday event and we made the most of it.
I managed to get some logs cut into beams for the new front porch, and we got the cabin ready for winter. In the midst of all this activity we also found time to spend valuable time with our kids and friends. By the start of November it was time to close up the cabin, so Joann and I could fly back together to Vilnius. After being apart all summer, it was good to know we would both be together again.
Lithuanians don’t celebrate
Thanksgiving, but the Americans working on the project here gathered at the
Marine House and hosted the usual turkey dinner with all the fixings and good
company.
In some countries it is difficult to find turkeys, but not here. There were plenty of turkeys, stuffed, smoked and baked - and all the sides, as well.
In December we finally made it to Prague, Czech Republic for a four day weekend. It lived up to all our expectations - and then some.
Up in the clock tower |
The Christmas Market below in Old Town Square |
Huy, the Best Elf Ever (he says) waits for Santa |
Right before Thanksgiving we
bought an artificial Christmas tree, lights and ornaments. It sits in our front
window overlooking the entrance to our apartment building. It’s a pretty tree
and, who knows, we might get a chance to use it again next year if they keep adding
more work to this project!
Great update. Lots going on for you too, err, three as 2016 spools up for another exciting year.
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