Rules to Live By and Moving Right Along

Today started with part 2 of the Vilnius walking tour with Jurate. We crossed the lock bridge (covered in locks from couples to symbolize their love. I wonder how many of these exist...hmmm...) into the Republic of Užupis.

It's like a whole other world in there...

Užupis is an artsy neighborhood that went rogue and declared its independence in 1997. It's got its own flag, currency, president, army (with 17 soldiers), and even a 41-article constitution (that has been written out in 8 different languages and affixed to the walls of the city)

Chloe, studying the constitution

The Articles are as follows:

Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, while the River Vilnelė has the right to flow by everyone.

Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.

Everyone has the right to die, but it is not a duty.

Everyone has the right to make mistakes.

Everyone has the right to individuality.

Everyone has the right to love.

Everyone has the right to be not loved, but not necessarily.

Everyone has the right not to be distinguished and famous.

Everyone has the right to be idle.

Everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat.

Everyone has the right to look after a dog till one or the other dies.

A dog has the right to be a dog.

A cat is not obliged to love its master, but it must help him in difficult times.

Everyone has the right to sometimes be unaware of his duties.

Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not a duty.

Everyone has the right to be happy.

Everyone has the right to be unhappy.

Everyone has the right to be silent.

Everyone has the right to have faith.

No one has the right to violence.

Everyone has the right to realize his negligibility and magnificence.

Everyone has the right to encroach upon eternity.

Everyone has the right to understand.

Everyone has the right to understand nothing.

Everyone has the right to be of various nationalities.

Everyone has the right to celebrate or not to celebrate his birthday.

Everyone shall remember his name.

Everyone may share what he possesses.

No-one can share what he does not possess.

Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.

Everyone is capable of independence.

Everyone is responsible for his freedom.

Everyone has the right to cry.

Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.

No-one has the right to make another person guilty.

Everyone has the right to be personal.

Everyone has the right to have no rights.

Everyone has the right to not be afraid.

Do not defeat.

Do not fight back.

Do not surrender.

And a Kate has the right to stop talking about the walking tour now that she's covered her favorite part of it (ok, so that's not really in the constitution, but I'm still moving right along)
Post-walking tour, we loaded up the bus, bid a fond farewell to Vilnius, and were on our merry way to Riga.
But, what's this! One more stop in Lithuania? Oh, Frabjous day! The travel crew decided that we should visit "that place on the cover of the Lonely Planet guide"

Ain't it Pretty?

So we were allowed a scenic pit-stop at the Trakai Island Castle. It certainly did not disappoint.

Yup, just as pretty in person.

After some more driving, we got kicked out of the bus and were forced to walk to Latvia, leaving all our luggage behind.

It's hard out here for a Franklin Student

Really though, I kid, we just took pictures at the boarder.

I get really excited at boarder crossings...And, let's be honest, all the time, really :-)

 We got in to Riga and had dinner at a soviet-style milk bar (at least that what they call it in Ukraine/Russia/Poland). It really has very little to do with milk...It's just a tasty, inexpensive, buffet-style eatery.
We all went to bed full and happy.