Today was one of those long travel days. I got up at 5 a.m. to catch my 6:47 a.m. train from Vilnius to Siaulai.
Now before I begin I’m going to tell you that this particular trip planning kept me up at night in the months and weeks before my trip. I tried every way imaginable researching how to get to the Hill of Crosses. And I found that there’s no easy way to get there. It just requires precise planning. Hence the early morning train from Vilnius to Siaulai.
As I came down to check out from the hotel I noticed the front desk lady was laying in a cot out of view. She must have heard me coming as I could hear her stirring and getting up from whatever light sleep she was trying to maintain. I apologized to her for having to wake her up in order for her to check me out.  she didn’t seem to mind although I could tell that she might have been awoken suddenly.
I grabbed my bags and walked to the McDonalds near the train station.  Google has this McDonald’s as being open 24 hours however this was not the case when I got there as a head to wait until 6 a.m. for the restaurant to actually open. When the restaurant opened I ordered my food that is a sausage and egg sandwich in English. However the worker had to find the visual menu so that she could determine what I was ordering. And who could blame her since she was working at McDonald’s she probably did not study English well enough to find a better job therefore she was stuck working at McDonalds. This is all mere speculation and she could have been a genius but just not good at English.
I have a tendency to get anxious whenever I have a deadline to make a train. It was already 5 after and I was already starting to get nervous about my train ride which departed 42 minutes later. I ate my egg and sausage biscuit as best I could but it’s really too early in the morning for something heavy like that yet I still needed the heavy breakfast in order to have the strength to carry on a long tenuous day like this.
After finishing my breakfast I headed out to the train station. Since Siaulai was not mentioned on the marquee I had to go by train numbers that is 781. The Message Board said that it was at platform number 1 which is where I’m headed. They had not yet put down the steps so that passengers could enter the train whenever I got there. But soon after they did lower the stairs and we boarded.
Well I was waiting for the train to disembark a man smelling of alcohol in the car. I began to grow very weary of him and even felt I needed to check my wallet and stuff again and again just to make sure that everything was still there. I had wanted to use my GoPro suction cup to view the scenery from the train but my seat was not near the window and what portion of the window I could see had getting across it to where it would not have been a clear picture.
I probably should have slept along the way but it was way too paranoid that someone would grab my suitcase and backpack. So I stayed awake listening to News podcast and my mp3s from my iTouch.
The train arrived in Siaulai on time. I disembarked and made it a personal goal of trying to find the left luggage office. Now mind you that every other trip planning discussion board had mentioned that the left luggage office was away from the main train station. They made it sound like it was a separate building. However through a bit of searching I found the office was in the same building as the main train station. And I kind of a key above a suitcase indicated that it was the left luggage location. This should come in handy for those of you reading who would like to do a day trip to Siaulai well on your way to another destination. For the great low price of one Euro you can leave your luggage there all day and have someone lock it up and not give it to anyone else. The lady gave me a plastic token to use when retrieving my luggage at the end of the day.
Having overcome one of the big stressors for this particular Journey – that is finding the left luggage office – I decided to head to the bus station in order to catch the 9:45 bus to the Hill of Crosses.
I waited at platform 12 as I had been instructed to while researching this trip in the forums. I had written down Hill of Crosses in Lithuania in order to give to the driver to make sure he knew where I was going. I presented it to the driver of the bus setting in platform 12 but he said that he was not going that way or at least indicated as best he could and Lithuania in order for me to understand. I looked at the schedule posted on platform 12 and none of them had buses departing at 9:45. However on another platform there was a bus that was departing at 9:45 so I thought I would try to check that one out. That bus arrived and I showed my note in Lithuanian to the driver. He seemed to be confused and even indicated that he could not take me all the way to the Hill of Crosses which is what I expected anyway. I pointed on my Note to the actual bus stop Dominati, which seemed to satisfy him in my understand of his expectation and limitations.
As I boarded I noticed there was a shoe box sitting on the front seat. This was the seat I wanted because he could easily show me where we were at so that I could signal the driver and ordered it for him to pull off and let me out. There were two other stops before mine. And The shoe box’s placement soon came to mind at one of the stops. An elderly lady was catching the bus at the second stop in the shoebox was there to save the seat for her because she had trouble walking. The driver removed the shoe box and helped her up the stairs as best he could in order for her to sit down on the front seat. We made it to the hill of crosses bus stop quickly. It was even earlier than the expected 10:39 a.m. on the time schedule. As the driver let me out he pointed to the road beside the bus stop and said that it was two kilometers away. I signaled that I understood and got out to walk to the hill of crosses. Had this been July it would have been a really difficult walk but the weather was good enough to where it wasn’t too hot and I was able to make it without too much trouble. It had help that I have purchased a water bottle at the bus station before departing. During the first few hundred feet you cannot see the hill of crosses therefore some people who did not plan or did not look at Google Street View might have thought that the hill of crosses with just a myth and turned around and went back to their hotel. As I walk to the hill of crosses a tourist bus passed me. The wheel started turning in my mind to see if there was any way I could maybe catch a ride back to Siaulai buy sweet talking the driver or tour bus operator and allowing me to do this. I thought the chances were slim but always was trying to keep myself open to the possibility.
I could see the tourist office parking lot before I can see the hill of crosses. Obviously Siaulai was trying to make it a bit easier for tourists and to promote the town by using the hill of crosses.
The road leading to the turnoff for the hill of crosses is marked with crosses itself.
Now comes the other stressor of my day. That is taking enough pictures and videos before needing to head back to the bus stop to meet the 12:12 bus. But I figured that since the bus was early to drop me off there was a chance that the return bus could also be early. There was really no way to plan.

There were thousands and thousands of crosses in all shapes and sizes and ages. I managed to get a GoPro video and regular flip video in before a large group of Turkish students invaded the hill of crosses. They weren’t ready or anything but I really wanted to get an empty view of the crosses without so many tourists. In one portion of the hill of crosses there is I’m recording being played over some hidden speakers. Since the crosses obscure the view in a way it almost sounded like a religious Spoken Word by someone physically at the hill of crosses.
Now mind you the Hill of Crosdes is amazing. I’m glad I went but after a while you can only see so many crosses. It’s kind of like when I go to decoration at my mother’s Hometown in Sparta, Tennessee. At first you’re excited to see the gravestones but after a while it kind of leaves a bad feeling in your soul. It’s kind of like the mortality of man. This is the only way I could describe being at the hill of crosses and that after a while it kind of reminds you of death after all many of the crosses contain crucifixes of a carved replica of Jesus. Plus in a way the crosses themselves are very much a Catholic thing. That is somehow worshipping or valuing a man-made replica of a religious act. that’s one thing the Catholics seem to have lost that is putting stock and carved images rather than what is in one’s heart.
I decided to head back at 11 a.m. having spent about 30 minutes at the Hill of Crosses itself. On my way out I asked some German motorcyclist to take my picture so that it would be less like a selfie and more natural. They obliged and I tried my best to use some respectable German phrases.
I then walked back to the bus stop. I made it back at around 11:20 which is a good 45 minute buffer zone from the 12:12 bus.
Now this is the part of the trip that stressed me out the most. That is how to get back from the hill of crosses without being stranded in a rural part of Lithuania indefinitely. Plan B If no bus arrived I was going to walk back to the tourist centre to ask them to call me a taxi. I had also entertained the idea of asking for a ride back to town by fellow tourists at the hill of crosses. But I realize that this is extremely dangerous depending on the person giving the ride even though I had read before that hitchhiking is frequent in Lithuania.
I managed to do a video while I was waiting. At 11:30 a.m. the bus arrived.I wasn’t even sure if it was the 12:12 Bus running early Or completely different bus. Regardless Of which bus it was I am glad that it stopped and I gleefully paid the Attendant the 1.44 Euro for bus fare. I indicated that I needed to go to Siaulai bus station, which another passenger was able to loosely translate In order to get the attendant to understand what I needed.
We made it back and a sense of relief Filled my worrisome head.I thought to myself I can handle this. I can kill four hours in Siaulai Until my 16:45 bus.
About the only fast food place in Siaulai Is a local chain called “Hesburger.” I ended up getting a cheeseburger fries and large Sprite. Had I gotten the small size it would have just been a step up from the cup they give you at the dentist office for rinsing.
Also I had to pay 0.10 Euro for ketchup. Why? Because this is Europe and they always have to want to make a dime off of someone. And don’t get me started about the pay toilets in Europe.
As I ate there was a country music song on the radio which made it seem like I was back home eating at a McDonald’s.
Siaulai’s Bus station is unique because it is attached to a mall. The mall is mostly cell phone carriers and resellers.
I decided to head out to look at a church and a fox sculpture. The church Easy to spot as its power dominated the skyline when you came close to it. I took some pictures on the outside and entered very quietly on the inside. The thing about Europe is if you’re looking for a place to cool off Sans liquid beverages, go into a old church.There always very well air-conditioned and provide a seat. In short when I’m on vacation in Europe I always look for churches.
While I was there I could see old women praying silently. I try not to disturb them whenever I enter a church have her my camera can be somewhat loud when clicking the shutter.
Next using my Google Map Locator I attempted to find the fox sculpture.I came across an amplitheatre theater and a pillar with a golden archer on top of it. I later found out that this golden archer is actually the mascot of the city’s regional basketball. I spotted the Fox from further away. Along the side around the mouth of the fox couples had left locks on it symbolizing their unending love for each other.

The fox has an interesting history. It mysteriously appeared one night – I believe Christmas Eve or similar holiday. It was finally revealed that a local artist had built it. Within the Heart of the box contains a time capsule for future generations. I managed to get a few selfies and with the help of a mother with a small child who took my photo with my camera. Whilr my photo is being taken a small child ran past me who I tried to stop which provided a unique candid photo of the scene.
Afterwards I went to a cemetery nearby to rest and cool off. While I was cooling off I looked at the Selfies and discovered they weren’t my best pose therefore I’m just vain enough to go back to that fox and take a few more selfies. Which I did.
I walked back the way I came pausing to capture some artsy photographs of tulips with the church in the background.
I walked around the commercial area of the city. It was an area where cars are allowed to travel in. Here’s a hit whenever you’re traveling in Europe. If you need something to drink always look for a supermarket as the prices will be less than at your usual tourist attractions. And this is what I just did. I went to a supermarket and got a popsicle and Sprite. I sat down and ate them on a park bench near a vegetable stand.
I went by the tourist information Centre at the town but the lady working the desk did not seem very friendly. I noticed a shirt and flag which I would very much like to have but I decided at that point not to get it. I continued walking around getting way past the tourist area. I decided to head back to the tourist information center and get the T-shirt. I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. I bought the t-shirt and flag. The lady at the tourist information Centre gave me much more pamphlets than what I ever could use.
I decided to head back to the train station to retrieve my bag. I got to the train station and gave the lady my plastic claim ticket and she retrieve the bag for me. I then headed toward the bus station with my bags in hand.
I waited at the bus station for the Eco lines bus but after a while it was apparent that the bus had not shown yet. I went into the bus station to inquire about it. The lady at the bus counter for international travel spoke in broken English but indicated the platform which the bus will arrive at. After several minutes the bus still hasn’t arrived and I begin to ask those around me about the situation. A lady said that the bus would arrive and I asked her if it was late. She said yes. In my state of confusion guy from Hong Kong ask me if I was going on the bus to Riga. I said yes he said that he was on the same bus and was a little worried that it was late. I was glad to find someone else who spoke English who was on the same bus. It’s always good to find someone else in the situation that you’re in so that in case you get lost you can find a solution together.
The bus finally arrived 20 minutes late. I gave the bags to the bus driver who then marked it and my ticket with a particular number so that I could retrieve my bags later.
When I got on board the bus my seat was taken by someone’s stuff. This person was asleep so I did not feel like waking him. I ended up sitting with my new single serving friend the Hong Kong guy. As it turns out he had been studying astrophysics in Scotland. He made for some good conversation while we were on the bus.
We had difficulty finding the plugs to charge our cell phones. When we ask the stewardess instead of answering our questions she felt the need to go into the whole spiel about the features of the bus just like she had practiced.
On the monitor on the seat in front of us there was an option to watch the buses current location or watch movies or play games. I had wanted to use my GoPro on the buses window but I realized there was too much mud on the bus at this particular point late in the day. I managed to see the border crossing into Latvia which was a big thrill to me.
We arrived in to Riga at the bus station. I said goodbye to my single serving Hong Kong friend and headed toward my hotel using Google Maps. After going down the wrong Street. I found my hotel. My hotels name was the Monte Cristo. It had a sea theme to it. It was almost as if I was sleeping in a Long John Silver’s. Each room door had a porthole with a mirror in the center.
I headed out to Pizza Hut just down the street. Has an incredible Stroke of Luck I found that it was buy one get one free pizza night at Pizza Hut. Therefore I got 2 pan pizzas for the price of one. One of the pizzas was supposed to be a to-go order however I was able to eat them both in one sitting. I briefly walked around the old town before heading back to my hotel for a restful night’s sleep before exploring the town of Riga tomorrow.