People sit down for a “white dinner” imitating the experience of an Italian vacation in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius
Vilnius, Lithuania:
With virus movement restrictions preventing summer vacation abroad, the Lithuanian capital offers a low-cost alternative by mimicking the looks and feel of different countries on weekends.
France, Japan and the United States are among the more than half a dozen nations that the people of Vilnius can taste without leaving the Baltic city.
Last weekend, Italian music filled the old town, while local restaurants served Mediterranean dishes while green, white and red flags fluttered nearby.
Aurelija Baniulaitiene, a Lithuanian official who came with a friend to an open-air restaurant, said that the atmosphere of southern Europe had helped her “leave the cocoon of isolation”.
In the coming weeks, the theme will change for India, the United States, France, Spain, Germany and Japan.
Rasa Kliostoraityte, a translator who presented three books by contemporary Italian writers as part of the initiative, hoped that it would allow “people to enjoy the Italian spirit without leaving the city”.
Her husband, the singer of Italian origin Mario Di Pasquale, had mixed feelings before bringing his guitar on the stage near the bell tower of the 17th century Saint-Jean church which dominates the city skyline.
“I had to think if it was good to celebrate Italy now, when it is suffering so much,” the 44-year-old told AFP.
In the town hall square, hundreds of Lithuanians have admired a collection of emblematic Alfa Romeo cars.
“I have not forgotten the victims for a while and I pay tribute to my songs. The Italians themselves started to sing folk songs from the balconies at the beginning of the epidemic,” he added.
A few steps away, in an old Jewish quarter, jeans designer Milda Paukste used pieces of denim to embroider an outline of the Italian peninsula on a sheet placed in the street.
“In addition, I put all the Italian I found at home, spaghetti with a Versace flavor and a cup of espresso. I see it as a creative way to educate people,” said Paukste, 35 years.
In the neighboring town hall square, hundreds of Lithuanians have admired a collection of iconic Vespa scooters and Alfa Romeo cars.
“Ideal for children”
Lithuania itself reopened to tourists from most European countries earlier this month after controlling the spread of the disease.
The COVID-19 deaths reported amount to only 71, with a number of cases of 1,720 in the euro area nation of 2.8 million people.
Many European countries are starting to reopen their borders, but health problems are hampering efforts to bring back visitors and the travel industry fears significant losses.
In the Bernardine gardens of the capital, the front door invited visitors to enjoy “Italian vacations in Vilnius”.
Inside the park, a children’s artist was disguised as a video game character Super Mario, an Italian plumber.
“It’s great for kids after their forties. A great opening for the summer season,” said Justina Sapokiene as her five-year-old daughter played with the character in her red jumpsuit and blue shirt.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
