Lithuania is located in northeastern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordering Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russia, with a land area of 65,300 square kilometers. 为了探秘立陶宛的真实现状，前段时间去立陶宛玩了半个多月，想通过这篇文章分享一些我在立陶宛了解到的最新情况，希望能让你认识到一个最真实的立陶宛！
1. Lithuania is a small country, but it has amazing economic power. The GDP per capita is as high as 17,300 euros, which is the highest among the former Soviet republics, and people can't help but look at this small country with admiration. Today, Lithuania is not only an important member of the European Union and NATO, but also often plays an important role in the international arena. However, in the face of a big country like the mainland, it always seems to be a little self-sufficient. Some time ago, Lithuania acted as a pawn of the United States, frequently provoking the mainland and trying to make its presence felt in international affairs.
2. Lithuania once had a glorious history, its territory once reached more than 1 million square kilometers, and even united with Poland to become a powerful country, ruling today's Ukraine, Belarus, and even expanding to some parts of Russia. However, with the passage of time and the continuous provocation of neighboring countries, Lithuania was repeatedly annexed by the neighboring power Russia, and in the event of a major war, it was also a tug-of-war, which gradually reduced its territory to more than 60,000 square kilometers today. In fact, Lithuania often provokes incidents and does a lot of things that "lift a stone and shoot itself in the foot".
3. Lithuanian beauties are known for their passionate and unrestrained personalities and outstanding appearances. They usually have a tall figure and long legs, as well as long eyelashes and three-dimensional and delicate facial features. In life, they are usually more casual, many girls become mothers at the age of fifteen or sixteen, and it does not matter who the father of the child is, because it is more common for them to have multiple lovers. In addition, Lithuania has a divorce rate of over 70%, making it the highest divorce rate in the world. This is not because people like frequent divorces, but because marriage is not very important to them, and they are more focused on personal freedom and independence.
4. Lithuania, although its per capita income is quite high, looks like a high-income country, but in fact, the internal gap between the rich and the poor is very large. Unemployment in this country has always been high, and people can't find good jobs and have to run out. Think about it, in 1992, Lithuania had a population of 3.8 million, and at that time people were busy in the country, and life seemed to be very lively, but now, 1 million people have chosen not to mix in the country, and the whole country is facing great pressure of population outflow.
5. The people of Lithuania, their quality is indeed a bit interesting. They always seem to have a "I am the center of the universe" look, and they will not hesitate to take it for themselves as long as they feel the slightest benefit. You imagine that in Lithuania, some people even go to the jungle to pick a few bouquets of wildflowers and sell them on the street. The most outrageous thing is that they still sell a bouquet for one euro, which is simply a typical representative of "seeing the world through the eyes of money". Of course, we can't kill everyone with one shot, maybe this is only the behavior of some Lithuanians, and it cannot represent the whole of Lithuania. But this kind of behavior does make people feel that their quality needs to be improved.
6. Lithuania is really a paradise for women, the proportion of men here is relatively small, the ratio of men to women has reached 0.8 to 1, and the situation of more women than men is indeed quite common in European countries. When it comes to the body of Lithuanian girls, it is really hot and dizzying, and like girls from most European countries, they have curvy and sexy bodies. Moreover, the character of the Lithuanian girl is also very enthusiastic and unrestrained. When you walk down the street and pick up random conversations with them, they will respond with a giggle, which makes people feel very kind and friendly.
7. Lithuania is a country that on the surface gives the impression that its per capita income is quite impressive, but the reality reveals a very different picture: the gap in per capita income in Lithuania is staggering. Imagine a white-collar worker sitting in a comfortable office who can easily earn nearly 2,000 euros a month, while at the same time, the hard-working waiters in a café can barely earn more than 600 euros a month. Despite the fact that the income is not very good, it is surprising that the level of consumption in Lithuania is not low at all. In the bustling capital city of Vilnius, for example, even if you choose an average star hotel, a night's stay will cost at least 70 euros. And if you want to walk into a café and enjoy a moment of tranquility, a cup of coffee will cost at least 5 euros. This level of consumption is undoubtedly a heavy burden for many Lithuanians.
8. Due to the geographical location of Lithuania, it is necessary to face a grim reality: the winter is not only cold, but also long, taking up almost half of the whole year. You can imagine that for months on end, the sky was gray, the snow was falling, and people were shrouded in cold and darkness as if there was no end. This environment is a huge test for a person's mental health. During the cold winter months, it is easy for people to feel heavy and lack energy and interest. Prolonged exposure to harsh climates can have a negative impact on people's moods, leading some people to fall into despair and loneliness. As a result, Lithuania has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, which may be related to long winters and harsh climatic conditions.
9. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, can be said to be a sea of churches, and the number of churches here is one of the best in the world. It was nicknamed "European Jerusalem", a nickname that speaks volumes about its importance in religious architecture. Orthodox, Christian, Catholic...... Churches of various religions can be found here. Among them, the most famous is St. Anne's Church. The church is a Gothic building, built in the 15th century, with a height of 22 meters and a width of 10 meters, which looks magnificent. And the most amazing thing is that it is all made of red bricks. You may be thinking, aren't all red bricks the same? But there are as many as 33 different shapes of bricks here, and each brick is unique, just like the story of each person in this city is unique. So, if you have the chance to visit Vilnius, be sure to visit St. Anne's Church and feel the charm of this "European Jerusalem".
10. The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania is a place full of history and stories. Located 10 kilometers north of the city of Surai, the mountain was originally built in 1831 and has a staggering number of crosses, at least 200,000. Each cross represents a piece of history, a story. These crosses are not only a symbol of religion, but also a testimony to the history of Lithuania. Many important stories of wars and revolutions in Lithuanian history are engraved on these crosses. Walking on the Hill of Crosses, it is as if you can hear the echoes of history and feel the weight of history. Each cross seems to tell a heroic story, and people can't help but be moved.
11. Lithuania, a European country that seems to be far away from China, also has some unexpected "Chinese elements". One of the most surprising things is that there are so many Chinese restaurants in the country. However, the "Chinese restaurant" here is a veritable "mash-and-match style". From the dishes to the décor to the service, it's hard to believe you're tasting Chinese food. Cuisine-wise, these so-called "Chinese restaurants" are more like a hodgepodge of Chinese and other Asian cuisines. In terms of decoration, although there may be some Chinese decorations, the overall style is still biased towards Western or local Lithuanian style. Of course, since it is a Chinese restaurant, the taste is naturally the focus of people's attention. Unfortunately, the taste of these restaurants can only be described as unsatisfactory, far from the taste of traditional Chinese restaurants, not to mention the "color and flavor".
12. There is a peculiar phenomenon that few people know about in Lithuania - the smoking rate of women here is extremely high, and many people even regard smoking as a fashion and personality, especially women. Imagine that in the streets of Lithuania, you often see groups of elegant and confident women holding cigarettes, spitting smoke and emitting a strong smell of smoke that many foreign tourists and locals may find unbearable. To alleviate this embarrassment and dissatisfaction, Lithuanian female smokers often choose to use strong perfumes to mask the smell of smoke on their bodies.
13. Lithuanians' love for basketball can be said to be deep-rooted in the bone marrow, and they regard basketball as their "second faith", which is almost comparable to the passion of Brazilians for football. Basketball is not just a sport here, but a cultural tradition that is deeply rooted in people's hearts. In Lithuania, almost every household has a basket, whether it's an outdoor park or their own backyard. The basketball courts and facilities are also very complete throughout the country, which is enough to see how much they attach importance to basketball. Every time there is an international basketball tournament, Lithuanians fall into a state of national frenzy. They not only pay attention to the results of the game, but also pay more attention to the spirit of unity, hard work and perseverance that basketball represents. So, if you have the opportunity to travel to Lithuania, why not go to the local basketball court to get a feel for their basketball culture, you will definitely be infected by their enthusiasm.
14. Lithuania is a country ruled by Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union for a long time, so many Lithuanians can speak Russian fluently. However, the long period of rule in the former Soviet Union left more memories of pain and darkness for the locals. For Lithuanians, it is a great offense to equate Lithuania with the former Soviet Union, so when dealing with them, it is better not to show any compliment to the former Soviet Union. When talking about historical topics, especially sensitive topics such as World War II, you need to be very careful with your wording, and it is best to avoid mentioning these topics directly, so as not to touch the sensitive nerves of Lithuanians.
16. Lithuania's social welfare system is like a fairy tale. Imagine that education from kindergarten to high school is free, and college is also only half of the cost for individuals. What's more, medical care is free of charge, which allows every Lithuanian citizen to have access to high-quality medical care. In addition, every Lithuanian citizen is entitled to at least 28 days of paid leave, and even more if you add all the holidays, at least 150 days! Interestingly, Lithuanian prisoners are not restricted in their personal freedom, they can even work in the community in the prison and receive a minimum wage. They can shop in the community and even enjoy a short vacation or go home to live with their family for a while.
16. Lithuania is like a time machine of European culture, leaving the charm of the Middle Ages intact. You can't fail to mention its capital, Vilnius, and you're bound to be amazed by the architecture as you walk through the streets. Imagine the Gothic minaret, the baroque ornate decorations, the elegant structures of the Renaissance, these architectural treasures from different periods are all gathered in one place, it is really dazzling, as if walking into an architectural museum.
17. If you are a history and culture lover, then you must not miss the event that takes place every August at Trakai Castle. At this time, fans of medieval culture from Lithuania and neighboring countries gather here to dress in ancient costumes and recreate scenes of medieval life. You can see knights on tall horses and spears in hand, and beautiful ladies in gorgeous dresses dancing on the grass. All this will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Middle Ages and experienced the atmosphere of that era.
What do you think of Lithuania as a country? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss!