I’m excited to bring you an interview with Meg Stafford, avid traveler and local author! She recently wrote “Who Will Accompany You?” a book chronicling her travel with her young adult daughters, and one I’d recommend as a holiday gift for anyone who loves travel! (Full disclosure: I provided a back of the book review for her book!) Meg also has previously published a book about her breast cancer journey.

After her recent trip to attend a youth music festival in Vilnius, Lithuania, I asked Meg if she’d share her experiences with our readers. I’m grateful she agreed! Enjoy the interview, and if you decide to pick up one of her books, I think you’ll enjoy her warmhearted and humorous look at the world! -Kathy Go See It Travel

GSIT: How did you decide to go to Vilnius?

Meg: I was invited to go to Vilnius to attend the Vivace Vilnius Music Festival, and write about it in order to bring more attention to this wonderful event. Egle Jarkova, a Lithuanian born violinist, now living in the Boston area, created this festival 11 years ago as a way to bring more access to up and coming musicians to world class instruction and concerts, all for free. There were students of violin, cello, and piano from Lithuania, Latvia, United Stated, Italy, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Ukraine participating in this year’s festival. Instructors were from Berklee Conservatory, and Italy (Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia). I may not have otherwise made my way to Lithuania, so I’m grateful for this invitation to get to know this lovely European city.

GSIT: How did you plan your trip? Did you work with a travel agent?

Meg: I bought my own plane ticket, and stayed at the same hotel as many of the students and instructors, as we were all given a special rate because of our involvement with the festival. Two of the major donors since the beginning of the festival were attending it for the first time, and Ms. Jarkova created an itinerary of museums and restaurants and a castle for them to visit, and included my daughter and myself in these activities. The museums centered mostly around World War II, and the atrocities to which Lithuanians were subjected, including being the site of the first mass killings just outside the town proper. On the days when we were not with the group, we visited art museums, and spent time walking around this beautiful city, including making our way to the highest places for views overlooking the entire town. So we explored during the day, and attended tremendous concerts in the evenings.

Scenes around Vilnius

GSIT: What surprised you? What’s not to miss?

Meg: I didn’t realize how beautiful the city would be (and is now actually a World Heritage Site), and how great the food would be, even in the smallest cafes in the park, or on the outskirts of town. Fresh, interesting food, ( my favorite was a raspberry gazpacho) plus of course the traditional Lithuanian fare of beet soup and potato dumplings.

We also never expected to find an enormous statue of Tony Soprano by the train station. We had to go see it, and how incongruous it looks there. No signage or explanation. And how did Tony rise to this level of importance there?!

Street Art (click on image to enlarge)

We loved the Illusion Museum. Such unexpected fun and delight. We also sought out the pedestrian lights that featured women for the Stop and Go signals, and it made us wonder why this has not been adopted in more places.

More visual magic at the Illusion Museum

Ladies represented in the walk/don’t walk signs!

Lithuanians love classical music, and every concert was well attended and greatly appreciated. It was remarkable to see the turnout each night. Since Lithuania is so far north, it is light well into the evening, (til nearly 11) and it was lovely to wander past my typical bed time at home.

GSIT:Are there tips about packing? Other tips for visiting?

Meg: Temps were warm during the day at the end of July (high 70’s and on my last day it hit 90), and there was rain at least part of most days. The weather was mercurial, and it’s important to have an umbrella or a light raincoat. It cools off during the evening, but was not cold.

There were not many Americans, which was kind of a treat. It is a city that is visited by many Europeans, so there is some catering to tourists, meaning lots of cafes and restaurants, and opportunities to purchase goods made in Lithuania. Amber is a huge export and you can find all kinds of jewelry made from it, and also a museum, and they make beautiful linens, so there are many options of treats to bring home.

Many people speak English, and it is easy to get around. It is a very walkable city, with lots of delightful alleyways and doors adorned with vines and flowers, which make it very appealing visually. I’m so glad to have been able to visit this part of the world, as well as attending the compelling and captivating concerts of the festival each night.

Meg Stafford is a traveler, social worker (psychotherapist) and author of two books as well as numerous columns that have appeared in a variety of newspapers. Several pieces about Lithuania and the Vivace Vilnius festival can be found on her website, www.MegStafford.com

For more information or to support the festival, contact Vivace Vilnius.