And even though I don\u2019t live in a remote village and I work\u2014almost in the center of Vilnius\u2026<\/p>\n
On days like yesterday, I realize how much we miss by looking at everything through the window of a passing car or rushing headlong from point \u201cA\u201d to point \u201cB.\u201d<\/p>\n
I live. I work. I raise children and run a business here, in Vilnius.<\/p>\n
And only when I pause for a moment and push aside the work\u2014does it feel like I open my eyes.
\nHow beautiful Vilnius is! And cozy!<\/p>\n
So many stylishly decorated streets, little shops.<\/p>\n
Such a cluster of inviting restaurants, offering dishes that yesterday Patricija rated: \u201cMom, this tastes better than in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the mindset of \u201cwhat you call is what you get,\u201d or if Lithuanians have finally cleared the cloudy service attitude from their heads, but yesterday, traveling with my daughter through our planned \u201cstrategic points,\u201d we noticed again and again\u2014how kind people are!<\/p>\n
For example, the waiter at one little restaurant, probably just out of school, asked if the \u201crequesting\u201d pigeons bothered us and told a sweet story:<\/p>\n
You see the one with the white spot on his head? That\u2019s Vincas.
\nVincas?\u2014Patricija asked.
\nYes, this is our Vincukas, he\u2019s been living with us for eight years and is our \u201cpet.\u201d
\nOn the way to Patricija\u2019s cosmetics store, we stopped at an ice cream kiosk with an unfamiliar name. The moment we walked in, we couldn\u2019t help but smile\u2014the milkshakes were made with such a joyful mood that \u201csourness\u201d seemed like it came from another planet.<\/p>\n
The hotel we stayed in deserves a long story on its own\u2014but if you have the time\u2026
\nSince childhood, our family has had this \u201cquality scale\u201d:
\n\u201cWell, this is like Stikliai,\u201d we say when we want to praise delicious food, beautiful presentation, and everything that feels fancy and luxurious.
\nEven though none of us has ever actually been to Stikliai. Ever.<\/p>\n
So this time, continuing the lovely tradition of gifting ourselves, just the two of us, a girly day in the city once a summer\u2014we chose Stikliai.<\/p>\n
And we didn\u2019t regret it!
\nHow beautiful and cozy!
\nWhat attention and service!<\/p>\n
When the doorman opened the doors for us, Patricija whispered quietly:<\/p>\n
Mom, why can\u2019t we open them ourselves?
\nThen she shared the first thought that came to her mind\u2014that the man probably didn\u2019t want us to accidentally break the beautiful handle.<\/p>\n
What a cozy winter garden and courtyard.
\nWhat respect for guests and a genuinely warm desire to delight them.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not a fan of marble or glittering luxury.
\nIn that kind of environment, I feel out of place.
\nBut here\u2014where the old Vilnius reaches out to the present\u2014it\u2019s something completely different.<\/p>\n
I left knowing that our family saying, \u201clike Stikliai,\u201d was worth every letter and I can now use it with a completely clear conscience.<\/p>\n
P.S. And it\u2019s not as ridiculously expensive as I imagined. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a beautiful day with my daughter\u2014to tuck into the memory box with the added sweetness of \u201cwhat a wonderful city we live in\u201d\u2014it\u2019s worth every cent.<\/p>\n
We return to everyday life.
\nAfter just one day.
\nBut having visited all the \u201csomeday we should go\u201d places\u2014not urgent necessities, but ones that have lingered in memory, waiting for the right time\u2014they were well worth it.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not advertising.
\nOr maybe I am!
\nV i l n i u s!
\nAnd what we often miss while rushing through the daily frenzy, over the same streets and places, waiting to be enjoyed slowly and mindfully.<\/p>\n
V.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-17778","istorija","type-istorija","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/istorija\/17778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/istorija"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/istorija"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/viktorijos.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}