Baltica is an ancient continent. Baltika is a terrible Russian beer. Baltica is the name of a mighty country I invented, which exists in an alternate universe, consisting of what are now the three nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. I thought it was unfair that these places get so little international recognition, and that perhaps in their unity they could hold their own against other European giants like Britain, France or Germany. My idea didn’t take into consideration any geopolitical realities whatsoever, nor the uniqueness of each nation. Frankly, it was kind of stupid. It was just one of those things that I daydreamed about as I looked out the window of the Eurolines bus at the flat expanse of Baltica, er… Lithuania.
Like most tourists, we only visited the capital cities (and Trakai, Lithuania). Nevertheless, each stood out distinctly. Tallinn’s historic old town is beautifully preserved, almost hermetically sealed off from the rest of the city. Though if you want to get something to eat without breaking the bank, it’s best to wander outside of it. Riga’s German Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) is stunning. Unlike the sort of Medieval World feeling of Tallinn, the old and new parts of the city blend together a bit more. It also has fantastic pizza. Vilnius’ Catholic history mixed with its apparent absurdist sense of humor creates a dynamic mix of the tragic and comic.
While I hope to emphasize the distinct character of each country. That isn’t to deny their solidarity and shared history. But to point out the obvious, it’s precisely their individuality and well, smallness, which makes these places special. I am no longer a believer in a united Baltica.
Tallinn, Estonia
Riga, Latvia
Vilnius and Užupis, Lithuania
