Other business wanted me in Olecko in Poland’s far North-East. That other business requiring the carriage of a lot of luggage, flying was out of the question, but still I managed to get in a few aviation-related visits.
The principal business, and the real reason for making this trip, was a folk dance festival in Olecko. I drove my famous campervan there, some 1600 trouble-free kilometres. Roads in Poland were much better than reputed, only in a few villages there were cobbled roads but even those were quite acceptable. Speed limits are not much respected in Poland, except where speed cameras are present – and these are very clearly announced. Diesel fuel was about the same price as at home but petrol seemed to be cheaper, barely more expensive than the diesel. Eateries were abundant and quite affordable, generally 7 or 8 euro’s for a solid dish of meat or (river)fish and two side-dishes (to be ordered separately) and half a litre of quite good lager. Czechia beats the Polish in this respect though: the beer is better, and the food generally even cheaper, while not worse of taste or quality.
After the festival, I had a couple of days to spare, and I decided to spend these in Lithuania, a country which I always liked, for no particular reason. I visited the airfield at Marijampole, sleepy as expected on a Monday morning but looking very nice; then it was off to Kaunas, where the national aviation museum had long been on my wish list. This was not a real success though: the place obviously suffers from lack of funding, many of its displays in a sad state of disrepair, and still breathes the ugly memory of socialist government. The aerodrome “Aleksotas” seems nice enough, though, there was some training going on, all very much ok except for one plane that took off in one direction than landed the other way, and repeated the performance a couple of times.
Driving in Lithuania was much less enjoyable: many stretches of road were in poor condition, and the speed bumps are really bumpy. To top it all, some wearers of silver buttons fined me for not carrying a motorway “vignette” which is only required for trucks and coaches anyway. I am considering forgetting about it. Mind you, they have a one-day vignette on offer, must be unique in Europe, but even that one goes for 6,00 euro’s.
Here is my real business: playing the accordion for folk dancers, here in a kind of Morris dance, with two fellow musicians. Observe the nyckelharpa at the far left – a bit of an exotism, but a very fine sample, built by my friend who plays it.
That same weekend, there was an airshow on a lake near Gyzicko, a rare opportunity to see seaplanes in continental Europe. That part of Poland (Masuria) is full of lakes, though. It must be a great country to view from above.
At Marijampole aerodrome, this Latvian-registered meatbomber can join our collection of naughty registrations
But far more interesting was a minimalistic glider, with not a single flight instrument! – in the background the ubiquitous An-2, observe the oil collector under the engine and the solid reserve of fresh oil.
This exhibit in the Kaunas museum reminded me of the farcical “Why come to Slaka” booklet – a parody on the communist era tourist guides. The pictures begin numbering all right, but the good order is soon lost – that’s to confuse the enemy?
This corner of the world is apparently the home of minimalist gliders, here’s a nice one in the Kaunas museum, with remarkable double-slotted wings.
Not a syllable of explanation about this canard, its propeller curiously between fin and rudder – rudder authority must be impressive!
After a member of staff showed me the way to the open air exhibits, I came across another exhibit that merits better show – or were they wanting to tell some story?
Good though, to see that they used aviation grade stainless steel safety wire ;)
On the far left, a Wolga limousine like I used to drive in the late 1980’s. The building must have been very nice at one time.
And a little quiz to conclude: what city is this, and whose is the statue? (the bar’s name may be of help, if you can make out the ill-placed Gothic characters) (and don’t be fooled by the beer publicity – need I travel that far to be reminded of the good stuff produced only minutes away from my home?)
If you could answer the quiz, you’ll also know what song I am playing here – this pilgrimage had long been on my to-do-list.
