NEWS worthy Clips (2/2)

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Historic Vilnius---Europe’s Latest hot Spot

Q: What exactly is Lithuanian-ness?

A: It’s Catholic, like Poland. Also, Lithuania was the last non-Christian part of Europe---you can feel it---and still has touches of pagan* traditions. For example, the woodcarvings here---of , oddly enough---are now in the shapes of religious icons.

Q: Vilnius isn’t on the Baltic Sea; what are the climate and land like?

A: The word Lithuania literally means “l(fā)and of rain.” The land is flat; the highest hill is maybe 1,000 feet high. Birch and pine trees predominate*; there are a few maples or oaks. [While Vilnius isn’t on the coast], it’s still a maritime* city.

Q: Estonia is known for hot springs. What about Lithuania?

A: Absolutely. Those have been developed quite a bit. The most famous is Druskininkai.

Q: Who visits?

A: Germans, by far; then Scandinavians. Once in a while, you’ll hear a bit of English, both British and American. I was told by my British colleagues that when they have a contest in Britain, the winner frequently gets a trip to Vilnius, the latest hot spot.

Q: What makes Vilnius a hot spot?

A: It’s a walk-able, do-able city. The food is good, the people are pleasant and the history is outstanding. The landscape is dominated by a castle on a hill. The old part of Vilnius is a little meandering, with alleyways and surprises. Churches are literally…on every corner. They range form the beautiful St. Anna’s---a gothic* Napoleon wanted to and take back to Paris---to the cathedral, which is like [Paris’] Notre Dame.

Napoleon had his headquarters here when he fought his disastrous* 1812 campaign against the Russian czar. What Vilnius got out of that were a few straight streets---they had none before Napoleon---and the cathedral and town hall. They are neoclassical* jewels.

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Vocabulary Focus

pagan (adj)--- belonging to a religion which worships many gods, especially one which existed before the main world religions

predominate (v)--- to be the largest in number or the most important

disastrous (adj)--- extremely bad or unsuccessful

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Specialized terms

maritime (adj)--- 沿海的；航海的 connected with human activity at sea

gothic (adj)--- 哥特式的 relating to a style of building which was common in Europe between the 12th and the 16th centuries, with pointed arches and windows, high ceilings and tall, thin columns

neoclassical (adj)--- 新古典主義的 made in a style which is based in the art and building designs of ancient Rome and Greece

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