Issue 2004/2

To Nida by Nemunas

Milda Manomaityte

Action place: Nemunas ship jetty, Kaunas
Action time: 7 o'clock in the morning.
Participants: a group of sleepy people, in the faces of which one can clearly imply the desire: "give us cooooffee".
Goal: as pleasant as possible navigation from Kaunas to Nida by a renewed route of Nemunas river
Historic facts: earlier the ship Raketa used to serve the legendary passenger route Kaunas-Nida. I think every high self-esteem citizen of the former Soviet Union has navigated with this ship. And myself (a 2 year-old girl) left the new shining red "boots" bought by my parents and a plush teddy bear during my first trip in Raketa in Kaunas. With this vexation I did not navigate anymore…
Beginning of the trip: After the captain's command, the group of people neatly take up their seats in the ship, clink glasses of champagne filled on the occasion of route renewal and turn hopeful looks through the window to the shore of Nemunas covered by blossoming olive-trees.
The first hour: There is a desire to take a picture of every meter of the navigation, because of fear that later will be too late. Some "suck in themselves" the views of the sunny morning, some pressing themselves to the windows fix them by various apparatus, some try to wake-up, some on the contrary - enjoy their sweet dream.
The second hour: the first acquaintances are set…
The passengers begin to bustle about and make a din, out of Nemunas curve Zapyskis church appears standing of the shore. This small building is the monument of Gothic architecture built at the beginning of 16th century. Its walls laid by hand-made bricks, in some places is one meter wide. The cameras sparkle.
The third hour: new contacts have already been strengthened by the memories of earlier trips and joyful stories. The most intimately associated travelers swarm in a tiny room near the captain's cabin. The braver got out on the miniature deck of the ship and barely standing up against the strong wind, take pictures of Nemunas bends.
The other historic object, that attracted the passengers' attention, is the small town of Raudondvaris. The monument of the Renaissance architecture stands out there - Raudone castle. Unfortunately, we had to be satisfied only with historic knowledge and admire the towers of the church risen over the town.
The fourth hour: Among the associates din ripples again - we approach to Lithuanian-Russian border (Tilze-Sovetsk). Cell phones send greetings "welcome to the Russian Federation". Again the stories about experienced adventures while crossing this border poured in. We appreciate the unique possibility to visit and perpetuate ourselves in a neighboring country without passports and visas. With our eyes we follow the bridges joining two countries and return to Lithuania with a relieved heart.
The fifth hour: we sail up to Rusne! The goal of the trip is already so near. After taking the opportunity to land on solid soil, we stop near Rusne lighthouse, which was built as early as 1876. This settlement is one of the oldest in the Nemunas delta. Rusne was established in the 15th century and it is the only Lithuanian town founded on an island.
After exercising our legs a little, urged by the captain, we return to the ship. Before us the Nemunas delta, Vente cape, and a wide, severe Curonian lagoon. By the way, before digging Wilhelm canal which joined the Nemunas with Klaipeda city, on this spot many ships wrecked. Such stories provoke adventurers' excitement, because the wind is getting stronger, and the waves become still more restless.
The sixth hour: after rocking o the waves of the Curonian lagoon finally we arrived to Nida! Small houses of the resort, cozy jetties, and the shining sun - a real reanimation to the heart.
The goal has been reached - a weekend in Nida…
The organizers of all this action: The Inland Waterways Authority.
Strengths: To travel in such a way is much more interesting than by bus. During the voyage you get to know your travel friends quite well. But the greatest strength for travelers desiring for romance is still ahead. The organizers promised to launch a new, much more comfortable and faster ship to serve this route.
Weaknesses: It was a great pity to navigate through such interesting places and not to stop there. But as Mindaugas Simkunas, the Production Director of Inland Waterways Authority, said, if there is a demand, in future a long navigation with survey excursions will be organized.
Conclusion: I was lucky not to leave my "boots" this time. Hopefully it is a sign, that I will navigate this route in the future.
Some figures: the ship navigates at the speed of 45 km/h, there are 40 seats for passengers in it. One-way ticket for one person costs 59 litas, round ticket - 90 litas. Trip duration, depending on wind's direction and speed, is about 6 hours.
Those who wish to order the ship only to themselves, would have to pay about 5000 litas for one day.