The right to have a cat

Day 8 - We have the right to be lazy!😎

All these rights apply at least in the Rebuplik Užupis, a district of Vilnius that is only 0.6 km2 in size. Until Lithuania gained independence, the area was very run-down and poor. Then artists discovered the area and founded their own 'republic'.🎭🎨 The downside of this upswing: gentrification is in full swing, prices are rising, and the local population can increasingly afford to live in Užupis.🙄

Of course, as a tourist, it's fun to cross the 'border', get visas, and visit the parliament (located in a café😊).😎

The founders of the Republic are also taking the matter - as far as it goes - quite seriously...😏

Užupis has its own flag, constitution, and president.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia on this bizarre matter:🤓👨‍🏫

'The twelve-man army has since been disbanded because Užupis, in its constitution, has committed itself to a complete renunciation of violence, making it the world's only country to do so. Despite its lack of international recognition, the Republic of Užupis is increasingly visited by foreign statesmen. ...

Independence is celebrated annually on April 1st. On this day, Užupis holds elections and parades, appoints ambassadors, and awards honors. In addition, there is only its own currency and border controls on this day. ...

The Republic of Užupis is represented worldwide by over 200 ambassadors and honorary citizens such as the Dalai Lama.'

There is so much out there...😁

In Paupio Gatve, the constitution is posted - in 23 languages, including Esperanto. Among them are some interesting, sometimes thought-provoking paragraphs.😳 But my favorite is number 13!!!😁😺

1. Every person has the right to live by the River Vilnia, and the River Vilnia has the right to flow past everyone.
2. Every person has the right to hot water, heating in winter, and a tiled roof.
3. Every person has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
4. Every person has the right to make mistakes.
5. Every person has the right to be unique.
6. Every person has the right to love.
7. Every person has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.
8. Every person has the right to be unknown or famous.
9. Every person has the right to be lazy or inactive.
10. Every person has the right to love and take care of a cat.
11. Every person has the right to take care of their dog until one of them dies.
12. A dog has the right to be a dog.
13. A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help him in difficult times.
14. Every person has the right not to know whether they have any obligations.
15. Every person has the right to doubt, but this is not an obligation.
16. Every person has the right to be happy.
17. Every person has the right to be unhappy.
18. Every person has the right to remain silent.
19. Every person has the right to believe.
20. No person has the right to exercise violence.
21. Every person has the right to understand their insignificance and greatness.
22. No one has the right to strive for eternity.
23. Every person has the right to understand.
24. Every person has the right not to understand.
25. Every person has the right to belong to different nationalities.
26. Every person has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.
27. Every person is obliged to remember their name.
28. Every person is allowed to share what they have with others.
29. No person can share what they do not have with others.
30. Every person has the right to have siblings and parents.
31. Every person has the right to be free.
32. Every person is responsible for their own freedom.
33. Every person has the right to cry.
34. Every person has the right to remain misunderstood.
35. No person has the right to blame another.
36. Everyone has the right to personality.
37. Every person has the right not to have any rights.
38. Every person has the right not to be afraid.
39. Do not covet.
40. Do not resist.
41. Do not give up.

That's all about Užupis! What else is there to discover in today's pictures:😊

We took a bus. And no, it wasn't a nostalgic ride! The bus, which seems to be from the 1970s, runs completely normally in public transport. There are many of them rumbling around, they are apparently indestructible!😊🚌

The white building that looks like a Greek temple is the cathedral with a freestanding bell tower.🏰🏛 In front of it, in the ground, is the plate 'Stebuklas' (=Miracle) embedded. Make a wish and turn three times around the plate!💫 If it doesn't help, it's at least a nice story.😇 There is also an 'urban legend' about the plate: From here, as part of the 'Singing Revolution' (the illegal singing of Baltic folk songs as a sign of the struggle against the Soviet Union and for the independence of the three Baltic states), a singing human chain was formed on August 23, 1989, the Baltic Way. Around two million people, over a length of 650 kilometers, from Vilnius via Riga to Tallinn!👫👫👫👫👫👫👫👫👫👫👫

Then, on the pictures, you can also see frescoes from the anteroom(!) of a university institute. Only about 40 years old, but pretty brutal representations (are supposed to represent the seasons???).🙄 Art...😳

And we also visited a room made entirely of chocolate, exhibited in a confectionery. Mmmmh, it smelled delicious!😋🍫

The last picture shows a sign from the supermarket checkout. Lithuania doesn't mess around with alcohol!🍺🍷😐

After this day, we are thoroughly tired.😴 Tomorrow we'll be heading back to the countryside or across the countryside, back to Latvia. Almost 400 kilometers lie ahead of us, hopefully not all on country roads!🙈

But if so, we'll be thinking of Article 41 of the Užupis Constitution: Do not give up!😁