Talk:Lithuania

Formatting and language conventions For articles about Lithuania, please use the 24-hour clock to show times, e.g. 09:00-12:00 and 18:00-00:00. Please show prices in this format: €100 and not EUR 100, 100 euro or 100€. Please use British spelling (colour, travelled, centre, realise, analogue, programme, defence).

This page is for discussing the corresponding article or guide. For more about using talk pages check out Project:Using talk pages.

Comments

Gypsies?

This is especially true in the poor neighborhoods with large Gypsy populations.

This statement makes no sense. Roma people make up less than 0,001% of Lithuanian population - one of the smallest figures among European states. There are no neighborhoods (except one village near Vilnius) - be it rich or poor - with noticeable Roma numbers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people_by_country

--212.117.16.24 10:10, 3 February 2011 (EST)

Define respectable distance

two male visitors to a straight nightclub should sit a respectable distance apart - define! ha! -- (WT-en) Johntinsley 06:27, 8 April 2008 (EDT)

Far enough to not appear to be an "item". I would suggest about a metre apart. My Lithuanian friend was quite adamant on this. I am gay but he is not, and he said it still didn't make any difference. 62.249.253.222 18:09, 5 August 2008 (EDT)

External research link removed

Removed this entry:

• www.vilnius-hotel-guide.com - Vilnius Hotels Guide - Wide range of hotels, pensions and apartments in Vilnius and Lithuania.

May be good for data mining. -- (WT-en) Fastestdogever 23:46, 21 March 2007 (EDT)

Tendering large denomination banknotes

I was wondering about the accuracy of this statement: You will draw a lot of attention to yourself if you try to use one of the larger banknotes for a small purchase such as a beer Isn't it a little exaggerated? (WT-en) Jamboo 05:34, 20 March 2008 (EDT)

It is exaggerated a lot as it is not uncommon both for foreigners and Lithuanians to pay in 100 or 200 notes.

It is accurate in my experience. In a nightclub (in fact the one where men sit at arm's length from each other) I tried paying for a drink with a 200 lt note and the "hostess" showed it to two of the bouncers before proceeding into the back room to get change. This was in late 2007 when the cost of a beer was between 4 and 6 lt, depending on the venue. 62.249.253.222 18:09, 5 August 2008 (EDT)

Because there are many counterfeit banknotes in Lithuania. Especialy 100 lt.

Best/worst education system

Lithuania has one of the best educational systems in the World - that is simply not true. Lithuania's educational system is one of the worst in Europe. --78.60.47.216 18:15, 2 September 2008 (EDT)

Hmm, are the two characterizations mutually incompatible? --(WT-en) Peter ^Talk 22:09, 2 September 2008 (EDT)

Regions

There is a shortage of regional articles for Lithuania. Wikivoyage lists 5 regions (a) Aukštaitija - literally Highlands, northeastern and eastern region, (b) Žemaitija - Samogitia, literally Lowlands, north-western region, (c) Dzūkija or Dainava - south-eastern region,. (d) Sūduva or Suvalkija - southern and south-western region, (e) Lithuania Minor - sea-coast region. While the CIA Factbook and Wikipedia divide Lithuania into 10 counties (or apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus. How do these two devision methods work together? Or do they? -- (WT-en) Huttite 07:17, 29 December 2009 (EST)

The regions are a division based on culture and history, not on administrative/political borders; in fact, borders are not even clearly defined. The apskritys, on the other hand, were political subdivisions with clearly defined borders – every city, town or village was part of one apskritis. They have been abolished only recently (in 2009 I think). I'd suggest sticking with the five historical regions. --(WT-en) Stanton 15:55, 15 June 2011 (EDT)

---

"In general, Lithuania is a safe country. But you should take basic safety measures: "

Haha that's funny, yet somewhat true.

U-turn on highways?

The article reads "on highways the u-turn is possible". Is that really true for autostrados/automagistralės (green signs)? I don't remember seeing it there – and I've recently driven down both autostrados (Klaipėda–Kaunas and Vilnius–Panenežys) in their full length. I do remember seeing some on dual-carriageway greitkeliai (blue signs). On the A1 between Vilnius and Kaunas it seems some have been removed recently (OpenStreetMap shows them, but I didn't see any in reality), this is a greitkelis that is being converted to a full autostrada. --(WT-en) Stanton 12:22, 19 August 2011 (EDT)

When I was there in 2008 I travelled on the A1 several times, between Vilnius and Klaipeda, and didn't notice any U-turns taking place. In fact the road was being fitted with crash barriers on the central reservation, which would serve to physically prevent U-turns except at the occasional gaps which are used by the emergency services if there is a pile-up. The road was comparable to British "expressways", which are A-roads that just fall short of motorway standard. I wouldn't be surprised if U-turns were acceptable during Soviet times as I have heard of Ukrainian drivers in Britain being stopped by the Police for doing this on our motorways. During the Soviet era, private car ownership was much less common, and the speed limit was 90 km/h, therefore the risk posed by U-turns would have been far less. Whether or not U-turns are still legal, I strongly recommend that visitors who need to turn round do so at the next junction, and drive defensively in case another vehicle does a U-turn in front of them. 84.93.157.1 17:08, 11 March 2012 (EDT)

What definitely still exists (as of last week) are U-turns in connection with junctions (saves the cost of building an overpass), I have seen several of them on the A2. Some are equipped with an interactive speed limit sign which reduces the limit to 110 when a vehicle is in the U-turn line (otherwise the general limit of 130 applies); others have a general speed limit of 110. --Michael-stanton (talk) 16:58, 2 September 2019 (UTC)

While the main railway connecting Lithuania and Poland is now crossing a piece of Belarus ?

What is this? What does this nonsens means? This connection physically does not exist already more than ten years. If you need a proof try to buy a ticket and see what happens. Or go to the border and see. (WT-en) Local

If you see inaccurate or obsolete information, don't complain; just plunge forward and edit it! (WT-en) Ikan Kekek 03:20, 2 July 2012 (EDT)

Thanks for the effort. I didn't complain but tried to draw someone's attention. So no need to complain about my complaints :D . Idea to edit is good but i didn't and won't edit anything as in my opinion all texts must be in proper english, i didn't learn english, i don't speak english and i'm not a native english speaker. Those who are fluent in english - those must care about editing "physically". 6 July 2012 (WT-en) Local

Some things about "Eat" and "Drink"

Quatation from "Eat": "Some fast food in Lithuania, such as .... Cheburekai (a Russian snack)...". Čeburekai (Chebureki) is not a Russian snack. Here is an accurate description in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiburekki . Of course, it is a Tatar snack. In case it's not clear how Tatars are related with Lithuania, there is another accurate article in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipka_Tatars . Somehow it seems to me that our Tatars are rather depreciated in the western sources, although it could be an interesting complement for the potential visitors. I mean, from the tourist viewpoint. Though that may be because of the recent "antimuslim" obsession in the West. Don't know.

Quatation from "Drink": "Also, every region has its own home-made speciality of which "Samane" is most famous/notorious and is best avoided". One should understand that there are many ways to make at home a "home-made vodka", and there are many raw materials suitable for the production of such vodka. So this statement about "famous/notorious" and "best avoided" may be somewhat colourful or interesting, but from the practical point of view it is misleading. "Samanė" (i.e. genuine Samanė) is famous and better than Cognac. "Pilstukas" (or fake Samanė and fake Vodka in general) is notorious. If this website is intended to help the western tourists, i to be honest don't see how such colourful but misleading statement like "Samane is most famous/notorious and is best avoided" can help? Civilized drinking of alkohol is normal for all tourists in all countries. In Lithuania, drinking (or "testing") of Samanė may be one of unforgettable (in a positive sense) experiences. On the other hand, drinking of Pilstukas may be the last time when the tourist is dinking alive, so advice to avoid it is wise. It may be useful to provide some needful details and explanations or may be some examples or something. I don't know. Lithuanians do not need any explanations, it's potential visitors who need it. (WT-en) Local.7 July 2012 .

Currency

The euro was introduced about two years ago. We should be removing prices listed in litas, which are no longer useful for travellers. 78.186.244.6 05:13, 13 November 2017 (UTC)

Agreed. Or even better, go to the websites of businesses and update the prices (the prices in litas may have been added ten years ago and aren't necessarily accurate if just converted to euros). ϒpsilon (talk) 05:56, 13 November 2017 (UTC)

Yes, converting doesn't make any sense: it most countries, adopting the euro has had significant impact on prices, so the old prices are no longer a good indicator. I have updated prices where possible on Klaipeda. Ground Zero (talk) 07:04, 13 November 2017 (UTC)

I've completed this, although I may have missed a price or two. Ground Zero (talk) 16:46, 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Blood alcohol limit for drivers?

Any source for the 0.2 limit? According to https://www.keliueismotaisykles.info/pamokos/kas-gresia-uz-vairavima-isgerus, the limit is 0.4 as of September 2018, and the subsequent update of the KET (effective November 1 of the same year) does not mention any changes regarding alcohol. There is a 0.0 limit for novice drivers as well as drivers of motorcycles (including trikes and quads) or heavy vehicles. I am aware, though, that there have been long discussions about lowering the limit to 0.2 or even 0.0 for all. --Michael-stanton (talk) 17:07, 2 September 2019 (UTC)