Don Curry is lazy

Don Curry recalls that on the first trips he planned, there was always a day without an itinerary: a day to relax, to rest, or to do something that was unforeseen during the planning. On later trips, the itinerary became more packed and the lazy day disappeared.

Don Curry thought about this when he woke up today in his cozy apartment in the Gothic house and immediately heard the pouring rain outside. Did he really want to walk around the city in such weather? Did he even want to get out of bed under these conditions? Don Curry considered both questions rhetorical and simply turned around; it was quite cozy in the nice apartment. And he had already visited Vilnius twice, the last time just 2 years ago. There wasn't much new to discover anymore.

He didn't really get up until noon. By now, the rain had subsided and an extremely talented cymbalom player had taken position in front of the house to perform classical and folk tunes of all kinds. Free live music all day! That should actually be mentioned in the description of the cozy apartment; even with all the windows closed, the rich sound of the cymbalom still seeped through.

Since there was no obligation for a Kaliningrad-style breakfast in his vacation rental, his stomach was audibly growling by now. Don Curry would have liked to go directly to the Lithuanian restaurant next door, but it was currently fully occupied.

So he walked on to 'Lokys', which he had visited on every trip to Vilnius, his regular place. For the first time, he couldn't sit outside in the courtyard due to the changeable weather, but instead chose one of the cozy interior rooms. This was the only restaurant he knew of where you could eat beaver meat; he had already done so twice. But this time, he felt like something more ordinary: a hearty creamy hunter's soup with plenty of mushrooms and minced game, followed by roast venison with forest mushrooms, apples, jacket potatoes, and green chimichurri sauce, accompanied by a dark Lithuanian draft ale.

He had spent almost two hours in this wonderful establishment, completely immersed in dining and enjoying himself. Afterwards, he strolled through the Old Town, visited familiar churches, and finally decided to climb up Gediminas Tower for the first time. Two years ago, the access path had been closed due to construction; it was still closed this year. There was a cable car on the back of the hill, but Don Curry felt too lazy today to take this long detour.

So he went to the cathedral, which he didn't particularly like. A wedding ceremony was taking place and the groom was giving a long speech. Don Curry understood nothing except that he couldn't visit at the moment. Slightly frustrated, he continued on to the bell tower, which would also be a novelty. At the ticket booth, he was told that the booth had already closed: 10 minutes ago.

Hmm, Don Curry thought, it seems like this day is condemning me to do nothing. He went to a nearby coffee shop and got a refreshing hazelnut-flavored mochaccino to go. While sitting outside in the sun, indulging in idleness, exotic music approached. A group of young men and women dressed in simple garments walked through the Old Town singing. Accompanied by various rhythm instruments, they melodiously and cheerfully repeated the Hare Krishna mantra, revealing their religious origin and intention. Don Curry was surprised that such a sect would openly and actively promote themselves in deeply Catholic Vilnius.

But he didn't feel like thinking today, so he returned to the cathedral, where the wedding was already over but a parish mass had just begun: not possible to visit.

Resigned to his fate, Don Curry made the following plan: he would get 2 takeaway burgers from the Finnish fast food chain 'Hesburger', retreat to his cozy apartment, listen to the sounds of the cymbalom player, and lazily greet the following day...