I could have shared about one of the nicest dinners I had with my ex-flatmates in Diemen tonight... But it is not describable, it was fun! Good food, good bullshitting session, getting a bit tipsy and just happy... And there is one song that is in my head recently... and the video is also very very nice. I am sure you know it, and here it is... lovin` it
That amazing feeling, when you feel so small and so powerful at the same time, when the whole world is all around you and you're trying to suck it into yourself, all of it, as fast as you can, as you know it will dissapear soon. When the things you do and peopleyou meet just fit together so perfectly in the time and place, and your eyes become wide and shining as the ones of a curious child... When amazing ideas suddenly occupy your head and don`t let go - you do what they tell you... You shall not sleep - you have to be where you have to be, you shall not miss what is meant for you!
I have to tell you about my last week that I`ve spent in Lithuania. Going home is always nice, especially when you have just one week, then you just choose the best things that are available only in Lithuania…
Best food.Cepelinai, Koldunai and Fried wheat bread with cheese sauce. I know most of the foreigners in Lithaunia and many locals put those things on their black list marked FAT FOOD, but it is soooo nice to have those things once in a while :)
Best shows.PLAID was there live in Gravity. For the ones who know what is Intelligent Dance Music or WARP records, I think no more explanation needed. Maybe Intelligent has worked for me better than Dance part, but for sure there`s something worth my attennion. Thanks to Goda and Gintare for reference and also being a great company!
Best music. Lithuanian music is gaining back my trust and appreciation! Good taste revolution is definitely coming not only with Sobieski Uogos, but also with some great performers who are coming out from the underground: fusedMARc, Milky Lasers, RyRalio. Some intelligent radio stations like zip FM or Opus 3 really make me happy. Even the newest reality show “the way to the stars”, which is still a bit tacky and still a lot mass-oriented, it does have some talented voices over there! Two Lithuanian bands nominated for MTVs “Best Baltic Act”, and the fact of existence of MTV in Lithuanian itself! The new music magazine Urbanation, which does go furether than celebrity gossip topics, and lots of other things show that finally we`re getting somewhere with this!
Best jazz. This is not music, this is a separate complex form of art. I don`t have many jazz records, but I love going to live jazz shows, seeing how the players put all their heart and soul into the intstrument, where they create a miracle! A freejazz session at Neringa, performed by Lithuanian jazz geniuses the quarted of Janas Maksimovičius. Magic, it blew my mind. That just reminds me, that I should plan my next holiday in Lithuania for jazz festival season.
Best bars. The Café of Contemporary art centre, staying exactly the same as I left it… same artsy atmoshpere, bohemian people and the ones who are just sympathizing the free life of artists, as well as so many friends around. I was not expecting to meet them, but they always happen to be there!
Best discovery. A bar called Briusly (Lithuanian transcript of Bruce Lee), which I`ve seen but now finally went to. Awesome place with good cocktails and hip crowd.
Best club. Rock bar-club BIX, which always stays the same. Punks, goths, rockers mixed with general crowd, music for less dancing and more head shaking. It seems to stay the only place for music like that in Vilnius, and I heard that on Fridays and Saturdays it`s packed like it was during the first opening month years ago (luckily we went on Thursday)
Best people. Apart from seeing my family which I have missed so much, it was great to catch up with friends, some of them not seen for two years! some of them, not seen for more than a year with great stories (New Zealand, UK, works, studies...) , my dearest classmates (one got married, one got a marriage proposal, another to become a journalist, another had so many news that wouldn`t fit here, sooo amazing!), university mates (good music lovers!!), aiesec guys (nice time and challenge to keep up with male standards of consumption), relatives (news, changes, but still the same peaceful life!)...
Best city life. Vilnius is changing. It is growing like crazy, you find new businesses, the city is becoming prettier - the houses in the old town are being renovated, some of them are already shining with new look! I feel that I have become a bit of tourist in my city, but that just makes me realize that it definitely is beautiful!!! None of the grachts of Amsterdam can be compared to the tiny streets of Vilnius old-town. Even more, so great to understand what is happening around you, what are the randomly heard talks about and accidentaly meet many people you know for a long time! Small world, small city. Even Sigis happened to be in the shopping mall at the same time as I was - and we both live in A`dam now!!
Best of arts. I happened to find our about an exchibition about photography. Interesting concept, big brochure. For more you can check their blog, in Lithuanian unfortunately.
Best of relaxation. I have never watched so much TV in the past year! Dinners and lunches with friend long time not seen also were one of the best things to do. My brain got so much rest and inspiration came with it! I am fully re-charged!
Now I am already whole week back in Amsterdam and life goes on over here. Work again, play again, dinner at Harlemmerweg`ers, new fridge in the house, Jennifer`s birthday and Lithuanian karaoke duo stealing crowd`s hearts with "Breakfast at Tiffany`s", Club 8 (my discovery very close to our house), hanging out with friends and soon welcoming more of them - Niek, my mate from times in Brussels is about to move to Amsterdam. Apart from that, today was a beautiful sunny day so I spend all day on a bike cycling around the city! I love it. Life is good!
