Have you ever seen or photographed something without really knowing what it was. I was spending the day in Kaunus specifically to visit the 9th fort and the Daviel Musuem when I came across this rather curious yard with three very distinct statues. There was no explanation for it so in case you come across it, which is more than likely given its central location... 
This rather extraordinary museum in Kaunus is the only one of its kind in the world dedicated to devils. The museum was initiated by Antanas Žmuidzinavičius who was an ardent painter and collector. The museum houses more than 3000 exhibits, many of which were presented as gifts from every corner of the globe. At the time of his death in 1966 the collection totalled a... 
This neo-baroque style synagogue was created from a plot bestowed to the Kovno community from a well known family of Jewish heritage; the Minkowski’s. Oscar who was the main benefactor was the father of Oskar Minkowski, a well know researcher into diabetes and his brother Hermann Minkowski, a well know mathetician. The synagogue dates back to 1871 and today is the... 
The Ninth Fort in Kaunus started life in 1902 as one of the city of Kaunus’s fortifications and was built during the days of the Russian Empire. It was completed in 1912. From 1924 it was turned into Kaunus state prison. During the Soviet occupation of Lithuania between 1940-41 it was used by the NKVD who used it for political prisoners, many of whom were sent to... 
I spent a day in Kaunus, specifically to go to the 9th fort and to see the world’s only Devil Museum (more about that in another post) so just wanted to say a few words about the city. It is Lithuania’s second largest city with a population of about 350,000. Kaunus history can be traced back to the 14th century by Teutonic Knights sources who captured the town... 
Ok I hadn’t heard of him either but in so far as there is a monument, which I passed on a fairly regular basis dedicated to him I though I would give him the courtesy of a few words. It turns out he is a very important figure in Lithuania. Kudirka was born in 1858. He studied medicine at the University of Warsaw. At one point of his studies he was expelled from the... 
A few words on this momentous event and where you can see its origins in Vilnius. Fifty years earlier on the same date in 1939 the Soviet Union and Nazi Gemany signed what was effectively a pact which divided Eastern Europe under communist control and led to the occupation of the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia by the Soviet Union. The chain was...  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||
