Bees, Basketball and Independence

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Klaipeda, Lithuania

At first blush, Lithuania is just another country in the middle of the Baltic formerly occupied by Russia with a colorful old town in the port city of Klaipeda. We feel like we’ve seen a lot with similar descriptions and frankly my ankles can’t take many more walks on cobblestones!

But there are a few fun facts about Lithuania to set it apart:

The Curonian Spit is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site shared with Russia: a slender, 98-kilometer-long sand dune peninsula that stretches between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon

In 1989, nearly 2 million people formed a human chain across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to protest Soviet rule

Distinctive Easter Traditions: Lithuanians decorate eggs with intricate patterns called margučiai; a true folk art form

Basketball is practically a second religion. Lithuania has won multiple Olympic medals and world championships

White storks are the prized national bird and storied in local mythology and superstitions

Internet Speed: Lithuania ranks among the fastest internet countries in the world—perfect for digital nomads

National Scent: Lithuania has its own perfume, blending wildflowers, raspberry, and ginger to capture its essence — we didn’t get to experience it tho

The Lithuanian language is nearly impossible to learn, few speak it and many residents speak Russian since they were located here after WWII. They fear if the of the war in Ukraine is not favorable, Russia will come after Lithuania next. Frightening.

We visited a family-owned bee apiary in rural Lithuania and learned how their delicious honey is produced. This thriving bee farm with 260 hives all started by a Lithuanian grandfather who started with a small beehive — a fun, fantastic excursion. Maybe we can start a beehive and make our own sweet, wholesome honey?

White storks are welcomed to mate and raise their young in the Lithuanian countryside