How many weekends have you stayed in the dorm or in your shared flat, doing nothing but moan about your hangover? Please, do it, give yourself a moment to count the days and think about it. Aren’t you tired of the sedentary life? Aren’t you sick of hanging out only in the city centre or Akropolis? And what is more, aren’t you willing to discover in a different way the place where you are living such an important moment of your life? If you have answered yes to at least one of these questions, I have a solution for you: Join the Vilnius University hikers’ Club and explore Lithuania!
Vilnius University hikers’ club?
Yes! Vilniaus Universiteto zygeiviu klubas (VUZK) is a non profit seeking organization for Vilnius University students who like traveling and active recreation…
Please, you look like a travel agency. Tell me by your own words… What is this about?
Oookay. Basically it consists on a weekly excursion somewhere around Vilnius region or further in Lithuania. Depending on the event, you can spend a day walking…
Walking?
Haha, yes, walking. It’s not such a big deal. You walk through lush forested hills, and at least you can see one of the Lithuanian lakes, out of the thousands that lay on this country. But it’s not just walking. Hiking with the VUZK will lead you to discover Lithuanian culture as well, because in almost every single hike the local people sing traditional songs and show you how to dance traditional dances around a bonfire. Of course, everything with live music that they play with their own instruments. But yes… don’t worry about walking. We do several stops to enjoy the beauty of the landscapes and to have lunch around a bonfire as well… You can keep your own rhythm. Especially talking into account that our guide, Tadas Šidiskis, was born in the 1940s.
Wow, that seems so old…
At least that’s what is saying in Facebook. Yes, Tadas is 75 and he has Facebook. And what is more, with more than a thousand followers. He is very friendly and loves seeing old and new faces. Without exceptions, if you talk to him, he will remember your name and nationality. And for example, if you are Italian, he will sing out loud Bella Ciao in a crazy charming way. Just to steal you a smile. Hold on, I have some pictures that they took in one of the lasts hikes.
Haha, I see… And there are lots of people!
That’s it. Indeed, VUZK it’s a really popular club. And they have a really good organization. Lithuanians are coming every weekend and from my personal point of view, having a chat with them can help you to break the “Lithuanians are cold” stereotype. Oh, and don’t worry about the language. Most of them speak really good English, so you will have the chance to have nice chats.
From your personal point of view.
Well, expecting this from you I took a while to with Kamilė Navardauskaitė, who is the minister of foreign affairs in the hiking club, and she told me this: “Everyone can come to the hiking club - young, old, students, senior citizens- really everyone. So it’s a great chance to meet more Lithuanians, have conversations with them. Most of the people who come to our club are interesting and unique, so you may hear some exciting stories. I don’t know anyone who regretted coming. You should try this!” Anyway, if you are not convinced yet, come and see it on your own :)
Okay… so let’s say I am considering joining next weekend… how should I do it?
The easiest way should be through Facebook. The first thing you should do it’s to follow the club page, and click on the option “see first” to receive the notifications when they upload a new event. They usually write first the information in Lithuanian. If you cannot wait, you can use Google Translator, but don’t worry because in a couple of hours they will translate it to English so that you will be able to have the information about where and when to meet.
Could you please tell me some more technical info about the hikes?
Normally we meet in Stotis around 9-10 in the morning of a Saturday or Sunday. When we arrive to the forest and we start walking (remember, it’s not just walking!). Depending on the hike, we can come back to Stotis around 6pm. But it’s not over yet, because Tadas is a lover of Snekutis, so after every hike you will have the opportunity to join as well and continue the conversation that you were having with your new friend.
Nice. And what should I bring to the hike?
Your clothes and your backpack. It’s useful to check the weather, It won’t be the same going hiking on winter than in summer. But now that the spring is coming you will just need a pair of shoes that you don’t mind to get dirty of mug and a waterproof coat. If you don’t have it, a small umbrella will be enough, just in case. In your backpack you just need to bring some food and water or tea/coffee. Then it will depend on you if you want to bring something else… for example a camera if you want to take some nice pictures.
And what about the price… Did you say how much does it cost?
I didn’t. All, all of the hikes are totally free. The only thing you’ll need to pay is for train/bus ticket and food for yourself. And even if you don’t have food, you’ll find friends there who will be happy to share Lithuanian traditional food or sweets and warm tea. These are the cool things about hiking: you connect with nature, you connect with people.
:D When is the next hike??
https://www.facebook.com/events/787286801376595/
Meet a hiker!
During the second week of my erasmus I casually knew about the vužc. At the beginning I was a little bit skeptical about it but I joined the first hike and I enjoyed so much that I continued going during the whole year. For me was a different way for exploring Lithuania, the landscapes, the lakes, the swamps, the forests.. I was not habits to its type of nature and I really got addicted on it.
Usually the hikes are during the weekend and after a week in the city is a really good way for relaxing and stay outside in the open air. The guide Tadas is a well of knowledge about the place visited and about their traditions. So the excursion is not just treckking but also knowing something about those wild places, having some traditional dances and songs together or just chilling with a group of friends.
Usually the hikes are one day excursion and the path is not so long, between 10 and 20 km distributed for the whole day. So physically is not so hard and you will have time to eat, talk, dance, take photos and so on… Sometimes there are also two days excursion, the hikers are going to sleep in homestead in the forest or just in tent. If you do not have any technical equipment you can rent it on the main building in Sauletekio 31 for a brunch of euros. The excursions are totally free, you just need to pay for the travels by train or by bus and in some case for the night in the homestead. Generally I've never spent more than 5/6 € per hike.
What about the weather?! in Lithuania during the winter time is quite cold and sometimes in the forest is even colder than the city, so get ready and have good and warm clothes with you. But generally walking and dancing can easily help you on warming up. Bonfire are always made in the breaks during the cold days. So I did excursion with snow, rain, fog, wind or just sun and was interesting seeing how the Lithuanian nature looks different with different weather conditions, you just need to be prepared about those.
The people that I met in this club were super friendly, funny and always ready to share stories, food and knowledges… and this is how I got also some good friends!:)
So what else?! take your backpack, a bit of food and your explorer spirit and try these amazing little trips! :D
- Alessandro Usai
(Fun fact from the writer: Lithuanian hikers laugh about him because Ūsai means mustache in Lithuanian).
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