The Curonian Spit stretches from Russia in the south to KlaipÄ—da, Lithuania in the North a distance of 60 miles, at its narrowest it is only 1,300ft at its broadest 2.5 miles. A single road runs its length.
It was an interesting re-visit to the spit, remembering the words, "over there is Lithuania". This time it was "over there is Russia"
In Russia the storm clouds were gathering, the rain bands on the horizon
The promenade at Zelenogradsk, soon to get wet and windy
As I recollect it was time to get indoors
The weather this time was way more pleasant, April 2025.
Created as a National Park in 1991, to protect the unique ecosystems of the Curonian Spit and Lagoon. It has Since 2000 been on UNESCO's World Heritage List
Apparently there are four villages and two old cemetery sites that are hidden under the sand.
Entry to the reserve is restricted to scientific observations. (Does that translate as spying and espionage?) There is one trail, the Nagliai across the Parnidis Dune; a drifting sand dune, which rises to 180ft above sea level.
At an observation deck at the top stands a large granite sundial that was built in 1995. The stone pillar, the sundial's gnomon - the pointy but that creates the shadow - stands 45 ft high. the steps on the ground are subtly carved into hour and half-hour notches.
The "Windward" a bronze sculpture unveiled in 2018, depicts French philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Sartre during his 1965 visit to the locality. How bizarre
This guy was a pretty good fiddler, he must have walked miles to get here and there were only a couple of dozen people out and about.
Clever bloke only started playing when he saw folk approaching, then as soon as they had chucked him a few euros and passed on: he stopped.
The Curonian Lagoon, a lovely clear clean stretch of water. It covers an area of just over 625 sq. miles, it is a freshwater lagoon and is relatively shallow making it popular for all manner of watersports,
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