Don Curry on Three-Country Tour

Don Curry enjoys driving. He has no fear of long distances, whether on the highway or country roads. And since he can enjoy audiobooks while driving, it has become even more relaxing and exciting.

During his car trips, there are always days that are mainly about covering distances. On these long-distance days, Don Curry usually has a few sights planned along the way, but whether he really has time for them usually depends on the traffic, unforeseen construction sites and detours, and other events that can delay travel.

Today's long-distance day should take him through all the Baltic states to just before the Russian border. Early in the morning, Don Curry left his cozy apartment just as a young flutist took up position at the music square in front of 'his' house. The otherwise busy tourist street was still relatively empty, so Don Curry was able to leave the old town of Vilnius quickly and with millimeter precision.

His first destination was the Peter and Paul Basilica on the outskirts of the old town, a powerful Baroque church whose interior is completely covered in white stucco. At the beginning of the sanctuary, there is a large glass sailboat as a modern addition to the church decoration, which is meant to remind people of the fisherman Peter and Paul.

Already in the far north of Lithuania is the classical wooden church of Stelmuzes, in front of which stands a huge, ancient oak tree whose branches now have to be supported by wooden poles. Don Curry had been here two years ago, but found the church locked. Nothing has changed today: once again, his visit was unsuccessful.

From here, he traveled on narrow dusty roads and entered Latvia after a few hundred meters. Don Curry's destination here was the pilgrimage basilica of Aglona, which he already knew from his last visit. The beautiful white church building and the pastel-colored interior still attract Don Curry.

After that, he took new routes through eastern Latvia. He had planned to have lunch in a typical Latgallian restaurant, but it was already too late for that. So he just made a short visit to Hesburger and then continued.

Don Curry had not anticipated that he would have to cover long distances on unpaved roads in Latvia, with beautiful but difficult and time-consuming landscapes. So he skipped any further sights and drove directly to his pre-booked hotel in Võru, Estonia.

He reached the medium-sized city in southeast Estonia with absolutely gloomy rainy weather. But the weather was not the only thing that brought his mood down. The city itself seemed unattractive with its gray panel buildings on the outskirts and the not much more attractive city center. The hotel itself had a wonderful location by the lake, with its own beach - but the cool, damp rainy day made this advantage insignificant. Was it busier here during the high season? But if not in July, when else?

Even the young woman at the reception seemed somewhat gloomy and melancholic. When Don Curry asked about a possible dinner, she frustratingly replied, "We only serve breakfast here." After Don Curry had settled into his room with a damp balcony facing the lake, even the Wi-Fi seemed demotivated: no signal! And that in Estonia!

Don Curry decided to look for a restaurant in the city. Thanks to GoogleMaps, he made his way to the only Asian restaurant in Võru. But even the village Chinese had disappeared: they were on holiday in July. In the city center, Don Curry found only a burger joint, but it looked so sterile and empty that he decided not to try their products.

So he went back to the hotel, got in the car, and drove to Hesburger on the outskirts of the city. Don Curry didn't feel like having another standardized burger, but this gloomy city in the oppressive shadow of nearby Russia left him no other choice.

Don Curry looked back on the result of this day with disappointment: he had traveled through three countries, but had experienced nothing more than two Baroque churches and one stubbornly closed wooden church. He began to look forward to tomorrow: tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow he would go back to Russia - this time to the real Russia!