Black is black

If you have read about the silence and all that i wrote some days ago, you may be able to deduce(is that english?), that lately i have been thinking a lot about people's tongue. About what they say and what they don't say. As christian i have also conclude that words and their meaning have a critic importance for us. At least they should have. In general i think that for humans words should have this critic importance, and that we have to know as well as we can their meaning, and when the meaning of one word is not clear... lets use more than one to make it. For christians i really think this importance should be bigger. First of all because our beliefs are transmitted through the Bible, wich is a compilation of words... the Word of God... and i think that is quite important to understand clearly what God is telling to humanity, what are you basing your life in.

But, there is always a "but", lately i have been thinking that somehow, human nature is to be liars. That's the conclusion that i have found to base why people swear. Is as if people usually lie... but when we come to a serious business, we swear, as if saying, "ok, usually i am a liar, but this word i am going to keep, to i swear by, bla, bla, bla, to bla bla bla, and bla". And usually this vows are very serious, and are taken in front of witnesses, so that if we say "black", everybody hears it, and if we try in two months, to change that black into grey, we can't... and if we do that our word, and our vow, will lose all its value forever.

So, somehow, christians, we don't like to swear, i think is because we all pretend that we never lie, (hahahahahaha:D). But more and more, i am finding christians that when they say black, two months later they pretend to have said grey. And then i ask myself, "why the f**k havent't you said grey from the first time?". It really pisses me off, to see that. And i don't mean someone that drops one opinion, and after some months, something in his life makes his opinion change. I think that is quite normal. He said black, and recognices it, but now he realises that it was not black, it was grey. That is ok. What i mean is people that said black, and after sometime, they pretend to have said grey, or yellow or blue... or at least to mean it. That is nonsense for me. Well... not son nonsense... i have found to reasons at least for this behaviour.

The first one is that people is simply stupid. They drop words without thinking. And aftersometime they realise that what they dropped so happily was not the truth. But their pride doesn't let them say, "hay, i was wrong". No... they pretend to have said something different, or to meant something different from what they said. This is the group of people that never thinks of their words, that can't control their tongue. I think that moreless we all are part of this group, at least i can be counted in it. Not always... but the one that has never spoken without thinking it first, can throw the first stone.

The second reason i have found why people says one thing and really means other, is because they are hypocriticals. They think blue... but they choose to say red instead. Because people will think better of them that way, or something like this. But usually this is the worst thing they can do, cause sooner or later actions speak louder than words... and they will not behave blue if they think red.

I think this last is the worst kind of word distorsion. Cause is a conscious way of lying. But sadly is the one that i am finding more in the church. That church of the people that are suppose not to lie. And i feel that is quite sad to find out of church atheists and people like them, unbelievers, that are more consequent with their beliefs, right or wrong, than christians. And well... how do we want people to believe and understand what we believe if we fail to do what we say?

Why is this? Well... as i wrote some monts ago i don't like to think about the evilness in people. Although i know it exists, and i know that lots of "christians" know perfectly, and sadly, what they mean, what they say, and how they behave. I also find worried how the distorssion of words is made by christian stupidness. People doesn't know what words mean!!! They think that white means blue, and blue grey!!! They don't read bible with a dictionary at hand!!! So most of the times when they find something that they don't understand... they use their imagination(some call their imagination "holy spirit"). They don't try to look in the dictionary what that strange word means. They don't ask wise men, or read wise men books, to study and reach the meaning God wanted to give to several words... They just suppose...

I believe that humans should be responsible for the words they dropp... and christians, somehow have got an even more important responsibility in this... But we are to lazy... How sad... how evil...


James 5:12
"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment. "

Por que los pingüinos.

Porque somos lentos, pero seguros.


Y aunque a veces no somos seguros y nos caemos, siempre lo hacemos con gracia.


Y aunque perdamos el paso siempre nos recuperamos.


Porque tenemos dos modos de desplazarnos: Modo trineo.


Y modo "ganstaz".


Porque somos unos cachondos.


Porque no nos dejamos mangonear.


Porque no sabemos lo que es el dolor.


Porque somos pacientes... pero todos tenemos un límite.


Porque cuando atacamos lo hacemos en grupo.


Porque no tenemos piernas encima de nuestros pies y nos da igual.


Porque protagonizamos pelis que hay que ver.


Porque en realidad si que volamos!!!



No aceptes imitaciones.


Pon un pingüino en tu vida.

Enjoy the Silence

Lately i have been watching how more and more society, and therefore church, hates the silence. At least the "new school" churches. Yesterday i went to a prayer meeting, and i think that when you tell someone you were in a prayer meeting, the idea that comes to mind is a group of peple in reverent quietness. That's the "old school" idea of prayer, and of church. But nowadays, the opposition of this ideas in protestan churches(and others), the freedom we want to preach, has taken us just to the opposite side. As awful as the continual silence is the continual noise. So yesterday i found myself praying, asking God for forgiveness for our horrible, terrible, awful praise. Because is not just that we sang badly... that is quite normal, none of us is Frank Sinatra... but somehow people can't be happy singing awfully... they have to scream, to shout how bad they sing. So we were screaming Jas' song, and at the same time i was thinking, "oh God forgive us for destroying such a nice song." And giving thanks to him for hearing not our voices but our hearts. Well... for sure He didn't hear my voice cause i couldn't sing with so much noise around me.

But this is not an exception. In most of churches silence is a tabu. When a preacher reads a verse imediately starts talking about it, and shooting more verses, and words about them. Without allowing the listeners to think what the verse says(and remember is suppose to be God's Word), or to think what he wants to explain. In praise it seems that we have to play all instruments all the time. I had a little discussion about this with some people from my church band. Is difficult to see a profesional band playing all the instruments at the same time with all their power. most of the time some of the instruments are quiet, or just making little details to complete a song. But in churches all instruments must be played, all the time, as complicated as the player cans. They have to show how good they are. The result usually is a horrible mixture os noises. The silence is a embarrasing thing.

But is a needed thing. At least i need it. I like the reverent silence i feel when i get into one of those old catholic, orthodox or old protestant churches. The peace that reigns inside those buildings. I like to stare at the sea just hearing the waves crashing against the cliffs... I like to walk in silence through the beach walk. I like to pray in silence and just concentrate in what i am saying. I like to think in silence about that friend that i miss, or that girl that i am in love. I like to be with a friend in silence, that probes that we don't need words to be friends, to communicate. It's funny how people get nervous when the silence reigns in a meeting. Can't we be for a moment in silence? Thinking how good is to be with that friend? Thinking what my nexts words will be? What i want to talk about with him? Instead of that most of the time we just say word after words, the important thing is not to be in silence... But I need silence!!!

And the reason why i need it is quite simple. The silence gives a reason to be to the noise. To the nice noises please, such as music. Because music without silence is nonsense and viceversa. I love music, and i love it because i can appreciate it, and the silence is what makes me appreciate it!!! I saw a friend a couple of weeks ago, and she hasen't got voice right now... and her silence made me appreciate my conversations with her, and i missed them even more than ever...

Silence makes us appreciate music, so let's don't understimate it.

About people and mice.

This couple of last months... well... have been a little bit strange i suppose that i am somehow still recovering myself from what people around me call "cultural shock". I don't know. What i know is that i have nearly lost all my lithuanian, and little by little i think i am also losing my english... And i can't permit that, so here i am trying to write not too wrongly in that languaje.

So this last months have been trying to probe one decission i made some years ago about how to live my life. And when everything turns wrong... i try to remember that decission, and somehow it makes me feel... more peaceful? i don't know... Sometimes i think i am just fooling myself to keep my eyes blind from reality.

The thing is that some years ago i read somewhere that is not a shame to be fooled or betrayed by your friends... what is a shame is not to trust in them. So till then, i am trying to live like that. Trusting my friends, or the people that at least, i consider my friend. Trusting in their love for me over everything else that could make them betray me, and even in such cases trying to think that there is a very good reason for their attitude. Of course... sometimes... i can't avoid think that they were not behaving the way that friends should. But... at the same time i think is not my problem. I just can try to be as best friend as i can, trust in them as much as i can... if they betray that trust... i can't feel ashamed anymore... is their problem, their shame.

Moreover, what has been probing that decission this last days has been also something about i read some years ago. It was something like... "never confuse elviness with incompetence". And sometimes i see people harming people and i just think, "ok, they are so stupid, son incompetent". And somehow, although i can't excuse their acts i can give reason for them. But sometimes... i can't see the incompetence... and i would like not to see evilness... so my thoughs about that people just turn to blank.

I don't know... too many things in my head... this entry is a mess. Sorry, and no pictures this time.

For all...

Lituania es como la coca-cola... espero que os guste.

Maps, numb3rs and videos...

Following Sandro's example, now that i have time before i start studying... i was going to say "again", but i think i will leave it without it. So, before i start studying to try to pass the only exam that i have in september, and on wich my future depends, at least my thesis. I will try to make numbers, of this erasmus year that has finished. I would also like to post a video Paolo did, please notice that was Paolo who did it, i have nothing to do with Berlusconi and such fellows.

Numbers:

48: credits i passed in VDU.

23: nationalities of people i met, and some are still my friends!!!

15: countries i visited in ten months, not bad.

12: ryanair flights.

11:trains in the same number or countries.

10:hostels i have tried.

9: courses i passed.

9: gigas of pictures.

7: times i hitchiked.

7: kinds of vodka i tried.

7:houses i have stayed.

5: exams i did, and of course, passed.


If you have any other number you would like to know... ask.

Swansea/Barcelona

Con Simeon y Rachel delante de su pijisima casa en su pijisimo barrio.

Well... after two weeks around Europe, i am finally home. Back to San Sebastian, yes, at last. I started my trip in Kaunas, of course, took a flight from Ryga to Liverpool and there a very expensive train to Swansea, where Drift, and his future wife, were waiting for me.

En el castillo de Cardiff.

Tras dos semanas dando tumbos por Europa por fin he vuelto a casa. Sali de Kaunas hace dos semanas, rumbo a Riga, y de alli a Liverpool, y de Liverpool por fin a Swansea, donde Simeon y su prometida esperaban ansiosos mi llegada(bueno, lo de ansiosos es por darle el toque dramatico). En Swansea y Cardiff no descubri nada nuevo. Dos tipicas ciudades britanicas, con mucha gente, muy civilizadas, muchas casitas de ladrillo, muy caras y muy mal tiempo. Eso si, el mar y las playas entre acantilados molaban. Y la cultura en torno a la musica y el arte alternativo tambien. Cosas que no existen en España, salvo quizas en ciertos circulos en Madrid y Barcelona.

Pues he ahi una playa galesa...

In Swansea i spent five days, hanging out with Drift, Rachel, and their friends. There i understoop how wrong i was when i though my english was good. At least now i know is not good enough for Wales. I also experienced how handsome englishmen are... and girls... girls are... they have a cute english, lets leave it there. About Swansea and Cardiff(cause i also went there), i just can say that is all that you can espect from british cities. With lots of brick houses, rain, nice cliffs, good music culture and a lot of people from all places. I also have to congratulate Drift for his future wedding with a girl, i think, perfect for him.

Con Arnau y Miriam en el Parc Güell.

So, from Swansea i departed in a cheaper train to London, and from there to Barcelona. Where some friends, and some lithuanians were waiting my arrival. Well... i waited for Irma in the airport, but anyway. I spent some days walking Barcelona, the beach, Gaudí, Colón, Las Ramblas, etc... You know... the typical tourist stuff. Also talking a lot with Miriam, and hanging out with Arnau and my lithuanian mates. Ah, we also went to Montserrat... just a nice mountain with a monastery on the top... Nothing we don't have in the Basque Coutry.

Vygas, Irma, Julious, Skeiste and Miriam.

Y hablando de Barcelona, desde Swansea, pasando por Londres, me fui alli. Donde ciertos lituanos, y Miriam me esperaban. Bueno a algun lituano le tuve que esperar yo, pero pal caso es lo mismo. En Barcelona vi lo tipico que se ve, y ademas fuimos a Montserrat... que es como lo de Aranzazu que tenemos aqui, pero version catalan con una virgen negra, pa no ser racistas. Alli tambien pude comprobar que el ultimo gran pilar que quedaba en nuestra sociedad, Maria Vergara, habia caido en manos del amor. Si es que no somos nada.

Julious and me on the top.

And now i am back home... Still unpacking things, arranging erasmus papers, thinking of my next year's final thesis(with a quarter of century on my back i think i am enough old to leave the faculty), and deciding what to do, and where, with my life next course.

Y eso... ya estoy en casa... pensando que hacer con mi vida, desempaquetando aun, haciendo papeles y pensando en mi proyecto fin de carrera, a ver si el año que viene consigo que me den el titulito de marras, que ya me estoy volviendo viejo para seguir en la facultad(un cuarto de siglo, ahi es nada).

En el Hospital.

Pensaba que ya no me quedaba nada mas por ver en Lituania... pues si me quedaba, un hospital. Y es que llevo un par de semanas un poco pocho, realmente lo unico que me pasaba era que tenia la garganta algo cogida. Pero ayer me puse realmente malo, casi hecho la pela un par de veces, con la nariz mas congestionada aun de lo que la suelo tener yo, y tosiendo todo el rato, con la garganta dolorida e hinchada. Asi que hoy decidi ir al medico despues del examen que intente hacer y que no hice porque se les volvio a olvidar mandarlo, pero bueno, eso es otra historia. Ahora el hospital.

Tras muchas vueltas, David y yo por fin lo encontramos, yo esta mañana estaba francamente malo y algo desanimado(mama, estoy mejor, no te preocupes). Asi que alli fuimos David y yo a preguntarle a la mujer de recepcion si hablaba ingles. Esa pregunta se vio automaticamente contestada con la huida masiva de todas las recepcionistas a una esquina, a seguir atendiendo a personas que hablaran cristiano, o sea lituano. La verdad que la situacion era graciosa. Al final David, con sus peculiares maneras les llamo la atencion sobre mi estado de moribundez, y por fin una mujer se atrevio a tomarme los datos. De paso secuestramos a una chica joven que pasaba por ahi, y que si sabia ingles. Asi que medio por señas medio en ingles les explique mis sintomas: tos, dolor de garganta, vomitos(producidos por la tos), nariz congestionada y fiebre(lo de la fiebre lo dije pq me han dicho que si no no me atienden, realmente creo que no he tenido fiebre).

Bien, de ahi a otra oficina a registrarme. Ahi, al principio me decia que tenia que pagar... y yo erre que erre que ni hablar, que yo no pago, que soy estudiante y europedo, y tengo una tarjeta de la seguridad social europea, y que yo no pago. Asi que la mujer hace una llamada... y me dice que no tengo que pagar, que todo esta bien. Asi que ala, vuelta a recepcion a dar mas datos. Por fin me llevan a un doctor, que como no, no sabia ingles. Asi que mediante señas, y respondiendo a las preguntas que me hacia en lituano muy despacito, le volvi a explicar los sintomas, y le dije que habia tenido 37 de fiebre, y que estaba medio pocho desde hace 10 dias, pero que ayer me puse malo del todo. Pues despues de eso, el hombre me ausculta, me lleva a hacer un analisis de sangre y una radiografia... y vuelta a la consulta. Tonces me empizan a preguntar algo... con una mujer que se me habia colado en la consulta. La mujer intenta ayudar, y llama a la nieta, que dice que no sabe ingles, seguro que mentia. Y alli, la mujer, el doctor y la enfermera todos hablando cada uno en una cosa. Al final, me han dicho que vale, me han dado todos los papeles pa ir a la farmacia, y ala, mañana vuelves.

Asi que mañana continua la historia.

24-7Lithuania

Preparing the masterpiece conspiracy.

So long since i last wrote... anyway, let's do it chronologically. Last 19th and 20th of May we had the first 24-7 prayer room in Lithuania ever. At least the only one that i have heard about... and it sounds really good that i had something to be with the first 24-7 prayer room in Lithuanian History(probably is not the first one... but let me have my little moment of fame).
Bueno, ya hace tiempo que no escribo, asi que voy a intentar retomar el blog cronologicamente. Los pasados 19 y 20 de Mayo tuvimos la, creo, primera sala 24-7 en Lituania. Seguramente no sera la primera, pero a mi me hace ilusion eso de decir que tome parte en la primera sala que se montaba aqui... asi que lo digo, porque ademas, no he oido, ni nadie me ha dicho, que se halla hecho algo similar antes... asi que mira.

Davydas, lider de alabanza en potencia.

So, anyway, what it really was, was a 24 hours prayer room. In a very special evening i explained to Dovile, the youth leader in church, what 24-7 is, with Monika's help, monika is my official translator in church. After that nice dinner Dovile took most of the responsability, doing a fantastic job thinking that it was the first time that they were doing such thing in church. She, with the teenagers though about themes, pictures, etc... to decorate the room. And i must say that i didn't expected it to look so cool.
Bueno, lo que en realidad fue fue una sala 24 horas. Para ser la primera vez, no nos daba para mas. Asi que tras una cena muy especial que Dovile y Monika me prepararon, le explique a la lider de jovenes, Dovile, de que iba 24-7, con Monika, mi traductora oficial en la iglesia. Tras esa cena Dovile tomo la mayor parte de la responsabilidad, coordinando a los jovenes para decorar la sala, llamando a lideres para crear puntos de oracion tematicos, etc... La verdad es que pa ser la primera vez que la tia hacia esto, lo hizo perfecto. La sala quedo mas chula de lo que yo esperaba, la verdad.

Ahi pone algo asi como que Dios te ve, escucha y habla.

We could see the wage of our work on Sunday. The walls of the room were full of prayers, one of the leaders of the church went at 9pm, and couldn't leave the room till midnight. I could see teenagers crying in God's presence... It looked like a Mastercard commercial, "candles: 10 litas, strings for the guitar: 34 litas... God moving: priceless". (I know the price of the strings cause i bught them). They liked so much, that they decided to maintain the room as it was, so that the people that couldn't see it during those 24 hours could go there to read the prayers, and also to continue praying during the week. Now we have to pray that this room is not something that people forgets, but something that they are looking foward to repeat. Yes... that weekend was cool.
Pero bueno, el pago del esfuerzo lo pudimos ver el Domingo. Las paredes de la sala estaban llenas de oraciones, uno de los lideres de la iglesia fue a las 9 de la noche y no se pudo ir de la sala hasta las 12, a mi me impacto ver a jovenes llorando en un pais tan frio como este, etc... Parecia un anuncio de la mastercard, "Velas: 10 litas, cuerdas de guitarra(que compre yo): 34 litas,... Dios moviendose: No tiene precio". Les gusto tanto la sala, que el Domingo decidieron mantenerla toda la semana para que la gente siguiera pasandose por alli para orar, leer las oraciones, etc... Y ahora toca orar que esta primera sala de oracion se vea acompañada de muchas mas. La verdad es que molo el finde.


Niiiiiiiiceeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Klaipeda, Nida ir Palanga

Yeva, Monika, yo, Irma y Rasa.

So, last weekend David and me decided to go to Klaipeda, to spend the weekend with some beautiful and really nice lithuanian girls. Monika, one of those girls, came with us, and helped us to hithicke. You need to speak at least russian to hithicke succesfully in eastern Europe. The weekend started with the best pub i have seen in Lithuania. A jazz pub with live music, and of course with a really good jazz band. David and me were all the time asking ourselfes what are we doing in Kaunas having such place in Klaipeda. Anyway, it was a really great place.

Perdido en el paisaje lunar de Nida.

El finde pasado David y yo decidimos irnos a Klaipeda, en la costa lituana, a pasar el fin de semana por alli con unas cuantas guapisimas y majisimas chicas lituanas, de esas que tanto abundan por aqui. En el viaje, a dedo, nos acompaño Monika, una de esas chicas, porque viajar por aqui sin saber ni ruso ni lituano esta dificil. El finde lo comenzamos en el mejor pub que he visto desde que estoy en lituania. Un pub de jazz con musica en directo, con la banda, la peña bailando... la caña vamos. David y yo no se aun que hacemos aqui perdidos en Kaunas.

Con Irma viendo las dunas.

Next day one woman from church borrow us her car, and that gave us opportunity to see Nida, the piece of earth that "protects" Lithuania, and also Palanga, the lithuanian Benidorn. But before that... the race!!! I bet to Irma, our host, that i could win her in a race. So as Atalanta and Hippomenes, we raced... and like Hipomenes i won... but no, we are not getting married, the bet was of other kind. If i would have lost, i would have gone the rest of the day in tighs... as i won, she had to go next day to church with the make up i was going to do for her. It was funny.

Cada uno pa un lado, algo asi le paso a Colon y llego a America.

Bueno, al dia siguiente una mujer de la iglesia nos dejo un coche, asi que nos fuimos a Nida, que es la peninsula de tierra que protege la costa lituana, y a Palanga, que es el equivalente lituano a Benidorm. Pero antes, Irma, nuestra anfitriona, y yo echamos una carrera. Le gane yo, desde luego, asi que en vez de llevar mallas el resto del dia, lo que paso fue que ella fue al dia siguiente a la iglesia maquillada por mi.

Flipado por la colina de ls brujas.

So, that day we went to see Thomas Mann museum in Nida, witches hill, the dunes, and Palanga's beach, with fireworks cause they were opening the summer season. Next day we hithicked back, and two guys from church took us in their car. A really nice weekend, you can read a little conclusions about it, in the post before the russian one.

Fuegos en la playa.

En Nida vimos las dunas,el pueblito, la colina de las brujas, el museo de Thomas Mann... todo muy bonito. En Palanga fuimos a la playa, y vimos fuegos artificiales, porque ese dia abrian la temporada de verano. Al dia siguiente volvimos a hacer dedo y un par de tios de la iglesia nos trajeron hasta la puerta de casa. Realmente un magnifico fin de semana, mas conclusiones sobre en el post previo al ruso.

Aunque al principio parecia que no... la carrera la gane yo. Irma causo sensacion al dia siguiente en la iglesia.

Россия

Moscow/Moscú.Parte del grupito delante de la archiconocida iglesia de San Basilio.

Ok, so it's time, at last, to write something about Russia. The trip route was to go to Moscow alone, i mean, just students, 10 of us. From there we took a train to St. Petersburg, where we had to meet our coordinators. From St. Peterburg Liene, Sarmite and me were going to Tallin, capital city of Stonia, cause non of us had have the opportunity to go before, and this seemed to be our las opportunity in our erasmus to go there.

Philipp y yo delante de la catedral ortodoxa de Moscú.

Bueno, por fin ha llegado la hora de escribir algo sobre Rusia, y de paso poner fotitos mas tipicas. El plan del viaje era, y fue, ir hasta Moscu los estudiantes solos, 10 de nosotros. De alli coger un tren cama para San Petersburgo, donde nos reuniriamos con nuestras coordinadoras erasmus. Y de San Petersburgo, Liene, Sarmite y yo nos fuimos a Tallin, capital de Estonia, ya que esta iba a ser nuestra ultima oportunidad de conocerla en este erasmus.

Dentro del Kremlin, con la campana rajada de Pedro el Grande.

So, there we went, nearly 20 hours of bus, in the horrible, the worst i have ever experienced in my life, russian roads. The best word to describe Moscow is "huge", a huge city, where everything is big. Shops, squares, the underground, streets, markets... everything. Moscow is a perfect picture of the Russia that at least western Europe people imagine. A very soviet city. Full of police, i must say that althoug all the stories of corrupt police that we have heard, the ones that we met were very nice to show us the way to our hostel. They even took the laptop out to show us the way. Once we arrived to the hostel we found that there was no place for us. But thanks to Katja, one of the girls in charge, we could sleep in one empty kitchen. She also took us to have dinner, and to a street market were David and me spent time trying to deal with the sellers, although we really didn't want to buy anything... but it was funny.

La plaza roja, cerrada por las celebraciones del 1 de Mayo.

Asi que palla nos fuimos, casi 20 horas insufribles de autobus por las carreteras rusas. No habia viajado nunca por carreteras tan malas. Ademas, era la carretera principal que lleva a una ciudad de 20 millones de habitantes, increible. La mejor palabra para describir Moscu, es "enorme". Todo en esa ciudad es grande, y la verdad es que es la imagen perfecta de lo que los occidentales pensamos que es Rusia. Una ciudad muy sovietica aun. Con policia en cada esquina, casi toda corrupta. En eso de la policia nosotros tuvimos suerte y no se como preguntamos la direccion del hostal a unos que fueron tan majos que nos sacaron hasta el portatil para buscar el callejero en internet, muy comica la situacion. Tambien fue comico, aunque no nos lo parecio entonces, llegar al hostal y descubrir que no teniamos reserva. Menos mal que Katja, una chica majisima del hostal nos metio en una cocina vacia y ahi dormimos. Tambien nos llevo a comer por ahi y a un mercado callejereo donde David y yo pasamos el rato regateando con los tenderos, aunque realmente no estabamos pensando en comprar nada.

Mi polski y yo en una de las estaciones de metro.

So, my conclusions about Moscow. For me it looked like a huge city in the middle of nowhere. The last civilizated city before you arrive to the great asolation of Russia. Althoug there are more cities in the east, very big also, but that was the idea that i took. I felt like in this movies about a not so far kind of apocalintic future where men live in big cities without connection between then, where chaos reigns everywhere.

La plaza roja de noche, con la iglesia de San Basilio al fondo y el Kremlin y el mausoleo de Lenin a la derecha.

En fin... mis conclusiones sobre Moscu. A mi me dio la sensacion de ser una de estas ciudades gigantes que aparecen en estas pelis y libros sobre futuros apocalipticos. Con ciudades enormes, en medio de ningun sitio, aisladas entre si, y donde lo que reina mayormente es el caos y la corrupcion. Tambien me dio la sensacion de ser la ultima ciudad civilizada, a pesar de que hay mas ciudades por ahi perdidas, antes de llegar a la inmensa y solitaria estepa rusa.

The group, without italians, but with Katja, the nice russian girl.

St. Petersburg/San Petersburgo.

En la plaza de L'Hermitage.

After a night in a russian bed train, this means that we had a room for moreles fifty persons sleeping there together, we arrived in St. Petersburg. The second city of Russia, and probably the most beautiful of all eastern Europe cities, (i don't consider Budapest and Prague eastern eurrope, but center). The city was absolutely different from Moscow. More turistic, less police, the sea,... you didn't feel so inside Russia, as in Moscow.

Dando brincos delante de la iglesia moscovita de San Petersburgo.

Tras una noche en un tren cama comunitario. Eso significa 50 personas durmiendo en el mismo vagon como si fueramos ganado, llegamos a San Petersburgo. La segunda ciudad mas grande de Rusia, y para mi, la ciudad mas bonita de Europa del Este, (si no consideramos Budapest y Praga como Europa Central). San Petersburgo es un poco lo contrario a Moscu. Una ciudad mucho mas cosmopolita, turistica y con menos policia. No te sentias tan en Rusia.

Sarmi y yo delante del intento de Basilica de San Pedro a lo ruso.

St. Petersburg is impossible to see in three days, wich were the days that we spent there. Just because there are more things out of the city, of the zarist age of Russia. The city itself is full of palaces, churches, etc... everything very imperial. Really nice.

El "Aurora" barco historico porque ahi comenzo la revolucion sovietica en no se que region del pais.

San Petersburgo es imposible verla en solo tres dias, que fue el tiempo que estuvimos nosotros. Mas que nada porque fuera de la ciudad hay mas palacios y cosas de la epoca zarista de Rusia. De todas formas la ciudad en si esta llena de palacios e iglesias, todo muy imperial. Realmente muy bonito.

Con mis coordinadoras en el salon del trono.

My conclusions about St. Petersburg, are that this city is moreless a northern Paris. Very similar palaces, they have their own Versalles, and even the style of the buildings and palaces is very similar to the frenche royal style. Apart from that my conclusions of the russian trip are simple. never again a trio with so much peopel and with a clear leader. I would like to make this trip again but with my closests friends.

En el delta del rio, con una de las dos columnas rojas detras y L'Hermitage al otro lado.

Mis conclusiones sobre San Petersburgo son que es una ciudad muy similar, si no igual, a Paris. Es como Paris, pero en frio. Tiene palacios del mismo estilo, incluso su propio Versalles version rusa. Aparte de eso, mis conclusiones sobre el viaje ruso son simples, nunca jamas volver a hacer un viaje con tante gente y sin un lider claro en el. Molaria hacer este viaje de nuevo, pero con mis amigos.

Delante del palacio de Catalina la Grande.

Tallin/Tallin.

Con parte de la ciudad vieja de Tallin, y el mar, detras.

And from St. Petersburg to Tallin with my two latvians. I think that i liked more Ryga than Tallin, but this city was also very nice. Much more medieval that the Ryga. It looked richer. I think that the best of the city is that it's medieval walls still stand there, and because it is build in a hill you have really nice views of the city.

Con Sarmite por las calles medievales.

De Rusia a Tallin, en Estonia, y tiro por que me toca. A mi personalmente me gusto mas Riga, igual es porque estaba menos cansado, pero Tallin tambien molaba. Es una ciudad muy medieval, con pinta de ser la mas rica de los tres paises balticos. Lo que mas mola es que tiene todas las murallas aun enteras, y que al estar construida sobre una colina, tienes vistas muy chulas sobre el resto de la ciudad.

Amazing Grace

So, last wednesday i went to the students dinner/gathering that the guys from Agape organize, here in Kaunas. It was a strange day, just one of the students, apart from me and i don't count cause i am already christian, was there. Coincidence was that that day the aim of the gathering, i think was to try to get more confidence with the students. And just one of them was there, surrounded by six christians trying to convert her. Well... it was funny, but the girl, the student was a girl, was brave enough to share some of her thoughts.

So, when they were giving her thanks for coming, even alone, etc... she just answered that she now enjoys a lot coming to join the group. And that, for her, is a surprise how they show such a love for her. That the main reason why she kept on coming was that, the love that she felt in that house. I think that for them was even more amazing than for me, but i really felt very, very, very happy for my friends. The words of this girl sounded as if God was telling them: "You're making a good job, you're in the right way". I felt so happy for them, knowing that they were goaling the objetive that every christian should have, be witness of God, loving people as He does.


And now, here i am in Klaipeda, the third city of Lithuania, and the main one in the coast. I have come here with David and Monika, spanish and lithuanian. Hitchicking, of course. We have spent all day having a round with Irma and Rasa, two girls from Klaipeda. Something that David told me quite surprised me. He said that the main reason, i think he said the only one, why he was jealous of my choice in life, about God and all this stuff, was the people that i was having opportunity, to meet and to be surrounded by. He said something like: "I envy that you're surrounded by all these people... and they all are so nice!!! Good people." It was strange... i know that when he speaks about the people around me, he just doesn't talk about the lithuanians, cause he had the opportunity to meet Dan, several times when he came to visit me.


And i know that Bible says that we should be proud just to know God... but i can't avoid to feel proud of the people around me, proud of the friends that God has given me, and he is still giving. People that is an example not only for me but for my "unbelievers" friends. And i can't avoid to feel uncomparably blessed by God when i see how people describe the friends of a guy who not so many years ago had any, and still doesn't do anything to deserve them. Amazing grace.

Just in Russia/Solo en Rusia

I am still waiting to compile all the pictures that we took from Russia, and once i have done that, select the best ones to explain how our trip was. But meanwhile i put some pictures of things that you just can find there, at least some.

Aun estoy esperando a recopilar todas las fotos del viaje a Rusia, una vez tenga hecho eso, seleccionare las mejores para explicar como fue el viaje. Pero mientras os pongo algunas fotos de cosas que solo puedes encontrar en Rusia, al menos algunas.

Aparcamiento de limusinas en la plaza de L'Hermitage, de todos los colores y sabores.


Toilettes buses...

Ale, que ultimamente hay mucho mono de boda...

The coolest supermarket i have ever seen... it looked like a palace.



Fotito de estrangis de una misa ortodoxa rusa.


La floristera decidio que le iba a dar suerte y se sento a mi lado.


Que por falta de marcas no sea.


The Kalashnikov is the biggest russian exportation... here the bodka model.


Galleta Maria Fontaneda, version rusa.


Ahi pone "Todo a 100".


El pizza hat.


El ejercito, que venia a por nosotros.


El Lada, orgullo sovietico.

Desde Moscu.

Lo que hay que ver... tengo todas las instrucciones del blog en ruso, flipa. Bueno, es lo que tiene escribir desde un ordenador moscovita. Y eso... estoy en Moscu, este teclado no tiene acentos ni enies... y si que tiene un moton de simbolitos cirilicos de esos tan divertido es inentendibles.

Las primeras impresiones no son malas del todo, nos han hablado muchisimo de la corrupcion de la policia rusa, pero aun no la hemos sufrido, y esperemos no hacerlo. El cirilico es un cisco, y no mucha gente pispa el ingles, asi que el tema esta complicadillo. Venirse aqui sin saber nada de ruso, o sin un contacto es chungo. Suerte que tenemos a las letonas con nosotros. Y ahora tambien tenemos a Katya, la jefa del hostal. Una tia mon de maja que nos ha llevado a comer hoy a un sitio buffet de esos de paga y come todo lo que puedas.

Muy divertido todo, vamos. Maniana por la noche nos piramos para San Petersburgo... ya pondre fotos de todo esto cuando vuelva a Kaunas.

P.D.- Supongo que habreis notado ciertos cambios en el blog... es que ando intentando hacer experimentos con el PHP y el HTML, y la verdad que la cosa es un rollo, pero ya veremos, espero que dentro de poco vuelva a estar bonito. Ala, pasadl bien.

Welcome to "plan B"/Bienvenidos al "plan B"

So, in one of the last posts, you could see in the map, moreless the route that was planned for our european tour. The plan begun correctly, we flew from Kaunas to Frankfurt-Hahn, and from there to the airport next to the lake Balaton, in Hungary. There we discovered that it is the biggest lake in Europe. We slept in one hostel, with a very friendly hungarian guy, and from there, bording all the lake, we took a train that carried us to tha capital city of Hungary, Budapest.
Durmiendo en el aeropuerto de Frankfurt-Hahn. A orillas del lago Balaton, el Benidorn alemán.

I recommend strongly to all who haven't been there to go. They told us that the Buda part of the city was the most nice, but for me both were really beautiful, each one different to the other, but beautiful too. In Budapest we spent two days, watching the parliament, the cathedral, national museum, the imperial palace, the castle, opera and so on. Really incredible city, full of history.

Cerquita del palacio imperial húngaro. Cesar y yo en la plaza de los héroes.

En uno de los ultimos posts podiais ver el mapita con la supuesta tour que ibamos a hacer por Europa. El plan comenzo correctamente, tomando el vuelo a Frankfurt-Hahn, y de alli a un aeropuerto en el lago Balaton, que luego ha resultado ser el lago mas grande de Europa. Ese primer dia dormimos en un pueblecito al lado del lago, regentado por un tipo muy simpatico que nos dio un monton de informacion sobre Hungria, y especialmente sobre Budapest, la verdad es que el tio muy muy majo. Al dia siguiente por tanto, tomamos un tren que bordeando todo el lago nos llevo hasta la capital húngara. Con el palacio Imperial al fondo, en la otra orilla del Danubio.

Y sinceramente, recomiendo a todos los que no hallan estado alli a que vayan, porque la ciudad es una pasada. Dicen que es mas bonito el lado de Buda, pero la verdad, es que tanto ese como el lado de Pest, son muy bonitos, cada uno a su manera. Se notaba que la ciudad tenia muchisima historia a sus espaldas, ya que de todas las que visitamos fue en la cual vimos mas cosas. El palacio imperial, la ciudadela, la opera, los puentes sobre el Danubio, el parlamento...

No, no es Minas Tirith, sino el mirador al lado de la catedral. Desde el palacio Imperial, con el Parlamento al otro lado del rio.

Something bad to say about Budapest, it was full os spanish, and one of those spanish told us that Bratislava was not worth to see. And, stupid of us, we believed him. I say this, cause i truly think that Bratislava was worthy. But... this opinion gave us the opportunity to think of a plan B. The options were to stay one more day in Budapest, to go one day early to Austria... and therefore, to go one day earlier to Slovenia. None of that options convinced us too much. And them... the critical moment. I saw a map. So i shot the possibility to turn south instead of west. And as the idea grew up, we decided to change all our tour. Changing Austria and Eslovaquia for Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia. Welcome to "plan B".

Asi quedo el mapa final del viaje. Homeless totales, es lo que tiene viajar sin un duro.

Algo en contra de Budapest, estaba petadisimo de españoles, y uno de esos, con el cual dormimor en el Hostal, y que estaba de erasmus alli, nos conto que Bratislava no merecia tanto la pena. Asi que alli estabamos, entre la disyuntiva de seguir con el plan, y arriesgarnos a que lo que decia el tipo aquello fuera cierto, o estar un dia mas en Budapest, o ir un dia antes a Austria, y por lo tanto a Eslovenia. Y ahi llego el momento critico del viaje, el primero de ellos... yo cogi un mapa. Y como en los mapas las distancias parecen tan pequeñas... Bienvenidos al "plan B". Vayamos a Belgrado... y alli ya veremos para donde tiramos. Segun la idea crecia en nosotros, fundamentalmente en los tres chicos de la expedicion. Decidimos cambiar Austria y Eslovaquia por Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina y Croacia.

Aprendimos a dormir en cualquier sitio y cualquier postura.

So, that night, we took a train way to Belgrade. We spent two days there, walking through the castle, really nice, eating in a terrace with the Danubio behind us, and going on party with gipsies. Interesting for us, how the serbians all the time tried to give us good image of their country, asking us to speak well of them in Spain. Also curious the greek ortodox churches there. One of then had all its lamps made of bullets.

Al pie de la Ciudadela, en Belgrado.

Asi que esa noche tomamos un tren nocturno rumbo a Belgrado. Alli estuvimos dos dias, paseando por la ciudad, visitando la ciudadela, que estaba muy bonita, comiendo pescado en una terraza a la orilla del Danubio y yendonos de fiesta con unos gitanos, (eso ultimo en concreto solo Monica y Cesar). Dos cosas sorprendentes, la primera los esfuerzos tremendos que hacian los serbios por dar buena imagen hacia el exterios, dandonos saludos para España continuamente, y pidiendonos que hablaramos bien de Serbia alli. Y la segunda cosa curiosa fueron las iglesias ortodoxas griegas, especialmente una cuyas lamparas estaban formadas totalmente por balas.

Comiendo a orillas del Danubio, de vez en cuando nos permitiamos ir de pijos.

Tras una noche en un hotelillo enfrente de la estacion de trenes, tomamos un autobus nocturno a Sarajevo. Tuvimos que coger el bus porque aun no hay linea de tren entre estas dos ciudades.

"A Sarajevo se va por allí." Restos del bombardeo de la OTAN.

After one nigth in a old hotel next to the train station, we took a night bus to Sarajevo. We had to take the bus, cause after the war, they still don't have railway between those to cities.

Sarajevo, lo blanco es el cementerio militar musulman.

Sarajevo was a surprise. The first impression was really bad, because our bus din't left us in the main bus station, but in one lost one, i the outskirts. Our mood changed, once we took a taxi to the center. There, Sarajevo becomes a relly nice and very interesting city. It's situated in a valley, so the natural enviroment is really nice. In the old town, you could think you were in Africa, Turquey or Arabia, thanks to all the bazars, and that 80% of the population is muslin, so the city was full of mosques. But although this, right now three different religions survive in that city in a peaceful way. It was funny to think how, we spanish, always speak about that in our country, lots of different cultures and religions were there along History. But in Sarajevo, not along History, but right now, muslins, catholics, ortodoxs and jewish were living.

¡¡¡Fanta azul!!! Monica estaba intentando ubicarnos.

Sarajevo fue una sorpresa. Llegamos a las 6 de la mañana a una estacion secundaria de la ciudad, en mitad de ningun sitio y con un frio que pela. Asi que se nos cayo el alma a los pies. Pero luego, tras coger un taxi que nos llevara al centro, y encontrar el hostal de turno, la ciudad resulto ser realmente bonita. Esta situada en un valle, totalmente rodeada de montañas. En la ciudad vieja uno puede sentir que esta en algun sitio al norte de Africa o en Turquia, debido al bazar, y a la cantidad de mezquitas que hay, el 80% de la poblacion de Bosnia es musulmana. A pesar de ello, ahora mismo en Sarajevo hay cuatro religiones distintas sobreviviendo mas o menos pacificamente. Me hacia gracia pensar como en España alardeamos mucho de ser un pais multicultural a lo largo de la Historia y todo eso, pero en Sarajevo ahora mismo, estan viviendo, al mismo tiempo, repito, musulmanes, judios, catolicos y ortodoxos griegos.

Tomando te turco.Si que estabamos cansados, si.

Aparte de eso, esta fue la ciudad mas pobre que visitamos en el viaje. Aun podiamos ver las heridas que la guerra habia dejado en las calles de edificios. Y tambien en las personas. Desesperante que los unicos extranjeros que habia por alli eran todos españoles.

En medio del bazar sarajeviano.

Apart from that, that was the most poor city we visited in our trip. You can still see the wounds of the war in the streets and buildings, all of them full of shots marks, and some still destroyed by bombs. Disappointing the amount of spanish we found there. Ah, i nearly forgot Jurgita's postcard. Our erasmus coordinator made her erasmus year in Vienn, so she expected us to send her a postcard from there. We sent her a postcard from Sarajevo telling her how wonderful Vienn was.

"Aupa Patxi!!!" Recuerdos de tiempos pasados.

We spent in Sarajevo one night, and the next day, early in the morning, we took a train to Zagreb. Zagreb looked more like a normal european city. The most representative building of the city was the cathedral, and i think they are working hard to get into the EU as soon as possible. We just spent one afternoon there, not so much to see in Zagreb, but it's a nice city to live. I think that probably is more interesting to go to Croatia with a bicycle and make a tour with it through the coast.

A la catedral le estaban haciendo una restauracion bestial. Haciendo amigas en Zagreb, porque fumaba que si no alguno le pide en matrimonio.

Despues de pasar una noche reparadora en Sarajevo, yo creo que despues del viaje en bus se convirtio en el dia mas duro de todos, al menos para mi, tomamos el tren matutino para Zagreb. Ciudad totalmente europea, moderna y todo eso. La catedral mola, de todas las que vimos en Yugoslavia era la mas grande de todas. Aparte de eso no hay mucho que ver en Zagreb, aunque la ciudad es bonita, y molaria vivir alli. Eso si, lo que molaria de Croacia es pillarse la bici y recorrerse la costa con ella.Delante de la estatua de alquien. Delante del teatro.

Next day we arrived in Ljublijana, were Vanja and Ana were waiting for us... thanks to that we went there, who knows where we should have ended if we dind't had to meet them there. In Ljubijana we tried typical balcanic food, we visited the castle and old town. And at last i got the explanation for the Ljublijana flag, a dragon on a castle. That dragon is supposed to be the one that protected the golden fleece that Jason took.

En la plaza mas chachi de Liubliana, con el poeta y su musa. En la torre del castillo, con toda la ciudad a nuestra espalda.

Al día siguiente llegamos a Liubliana, parada obligatoria porque Vanja y Anna, estudiantes erasmus el semestre pasado, nos estaban esperando. Alli probamos comida tipica balcanica, parecida a la que ya probamos por nuestra cuenta en Sarajevo, visitamos el castillo y la part vieja. Y me entere de que el dragon que figura en la bandera de la ciudad, y que esta por todas partes en ella, es el mismo que protegia el vellocino de oro que Jason robo.

En la fuente de los tres rios. Haciendo amigos japoneses.

Next day in Slovenia we were supposed to go to the beach after a quick trip to the slovenian alps. So we went to Bred, a little village next to a lake, with a castle on top of one of the cliffs next to the lake. And from there, we started our trip to slovenian coast. But... then, i took a map... and said that going to hw italian coast was much easier... so we decided to go that direction... and once i studied better the map... i realise that we were only 140km far from Venice... The idea was clear. Welcome to "plan B version 2.0".

En Bled, con el castillo y el pueblo detras. Con los pinreles en el lago... estaba un poco fria el agua.

Al dia siguente el plan era hacer una visita rapida a Bled, una pueblecito con un castillo la mar de chulo en los alpes eslovenos. Asi que alquilamos dos coches, y nos fuimos palla. De alli se supone que teniamos que ir a la playa eslovena. Pero los conductores y en general todos menos yo, andaban algo tocadillos, asi que tras mirar el mapa decidi que era mas corto tirar pa la costa italiana. Y hacia alli ibamos cuando descubri que en el mapa ponia "140 km Venezia". Esta claro lo que paso a continuacion. Bienvenidos al "plan B version 2.0".

"A Venecia se va por alli." ¡¡¡Venecia alla vamos!!!
Pillamos algo de atasco.

Asi que esa noche visitamos Venecia durante dos horas, y volvimos a Liubliana a las 3:30 am... con nuestro probre conductor Cesar al borde del coma por agotamiento. Suerte que cuando me pongo soy un buen conversador, y que haciamos paradas continuas para descansar. Y eso, aunque estuvimos solo dos horas en Venecia nos dio tiempo ha hacernos una idea de la ciudad, y a ver la plaza de San Marcos, los dos principales puentes sobre el mayor canal, etc... Muy bonito todo.En la plaza San Marcos.Foto homenaje a Paolo, con su misma sonrisa:D David y yo en el palacio del Dux.

So that night we visited Venice for two hours, and return to Ljublijana at 3:30 am... With our poor driver, Cesar, nearly dying. But... Venice was beautiful, we walk through the city, visited the two main bridges over the main canal, and of course San Marcos square. With the cathedral, the palace of the Dux, etc...

El puente Rialto, creo...
Con los cuatro tetrarcas, Monica nos dijo que la estatua es del siglo IX.

And from Slovenia, to Graz, from Graz to Standsted in London, and from London back to Kaunas. In total we visited 5 countries, and we passed through three more.

"Direccion Venecia: No pasa nada chabales, que yo conduzco."
"Llegada a Liublina a las 3:30 am: Muero."

Now, wich is the method to follow when you travel without knowing where you're going to be next day? It's simple. When you arrive to the new city, the first thing is know how, how much, and when, are you going to go to the next stage. Just after that you need to know how is the currency of the country called, and how much it costs in euros. That way you will also know how much the trip costs. From there you have to look for a hostel, just walking through the street, and stopping in information offices, and hostels. Once you have the hostel... the last but not the least, is to learn how to say "thank you".

Tomando el solecillo en Graz antes de tomar el avion de vuelta.

In Hungarian something like "coisinom", and in the ex Yugoslavia respublics, "bala", "vala", "Balá", "Hvala", and so on... just bala with different accents.

Y de Eslovenia a Graz, de Graz a Standsted en Londres, y de alli vuelta a Kaunas. En total visitamos 5 paises y pasamos por otros 3. Me llenaron tres paginas del pasaporte de sellos.

Todos para uno y uno para todos.

Antes de acabar el post es pertinente explicar el metodo seguido en esta aventura. El metodo que has de seguir cuando haces unviaje sin saber muy bien donde vas a estar al dia siguiente. Cuando llegas lo primero es enterarte de cuanto, cuando y como vas a llegar a la siguiente estapa del viaje. A la vez echas cuentas y averiguas como se llama y cuanto vale la moneda del pais en cuestion. De alli vas a buscar un hostal, eso lo haces paseando por las calles y preguntando con cara de turista sin un duro, que es lo que eramos. Y por ultimo cuando todo eso esta conseguido te enteras de como se dice "gracias". Y ala, a verlo todo que mañana nos vamos.

Esta cara se le ha quedado a David despues del viaje.

Por cierto, en hungaro es algo como "cosinum", y en los paises de la ex Yugoslavia siempre "bala", pero con distintos acentos. Nosotros le poniamos el español.

And that's all.

Y eso es todo.