The Famous Polka

This is a gate.

Famous Polka. A rockin' TMBG tune.

In high school we had a cult-y organization called the Polka Studs. It was supposed to be ironic.

We didn't really do much. Of anything. Just talked about being in the club -- and we passed down the mini Polish Flag to the next generation of Polka Studs at the end of each school year.

During my reign, however, I introduced the first anthem of the Polka Studs. That would be, of course, TMBG's Famous Polka.

Considering all this, one might think I'd choose to spend more time in Poland on this trip.

Well... back to that in a sec.

This is an alley.

Last day in Lithuania.

Train to Vilnius, the capital. I've got an afternoon flight to Berlin, so I only have an hour or two. And I'm tired. So I barely do anything.

I had taken early bus from Panevezys. Greater Vilnius scenery was meh. Got to bus station. Asked info booth person how to get to Old Town. She said walk through those doors and there you are.

Wasn't quite that simple, but close enough. Went to Old Town. Carrying luggage, was moderately painful walk. Took some pics, stopped at a cafe, got lost on way back, confused locals by asking where bus station was. Then asked for train station (it's adjacent, more or less). "Oh, train!" They point the way.

KMFDM.

As I walk away I hear them saying, "bus station? eh?"

It's the next building over! The iPhone was two feet away! I'm calling from inside the country!

Anyway...

The Old Town looked Old Town-y with some groovy architecture, but my very small sample size didn't measure up to Tallinn or Riga. Might be a great place -- I just didn't see much of it. But there's a Depeche Mode tribute concert on the calendar. And there was a DM bar (for Depeche Mode) in Tallinn. Apparently they are huge in the Baltics.

Let them stay there. (Sorry, MG)

Your own ... personal ... Baltic.

A lot of plane.

Back to station, bus to airport, plane to Berlin -- with layover in Poland. Does that count as me having been in Poland? Originally was going to train through and perhaps spend a day in Warsaw or Gdansk. Then, well, just didn't feel like it. Landed on a fly-by plan instead, with layover.

Sorry, Polka Studs. My Polka Emeritus status clearly is in jeopardy.

I did buy some Coke Zero in the airport and got a receipt that clearly identifies the establishment as being in Poland, so I'm going to say it counts.

And then to charming little Flughafen Tegel in Berlin, where the airport practices opening and closing its front door.

Or... the original ...