Romas exchange to Augštaitijos nacionalinis parkas and Žagares regioninis parkas.

I spent nice exchange time in 2 parks of Lithuania and I visited my EVS colleagues there. For Augštaitja National park host was Vincent from France and for Žagare park Pierre, also from France. I choose this parks because I haven't been there before.

In Augštaitija at first day I see a bit of Ignalina city, and saw a bit how Vincents colleagues prepare new exhibition in Ignalinas culture center. Later we went to Palūše (Palūšė) and we he walked a  bit around the Lūšiai lake. Next days I explore a bit of his park directorate life – their new information center and a bit from office. Vincent showed me his drawings and projects what he is working for in the park. But I didn't had a chance to introduce with his colleagues, so that is a bit sad for me that some other parks are too busy for that. I got the chance to see also their new building for conference rooms and exhibition halls and old wooden church near office.

Third day I was more lucky with the weather so I saw  more tourist sites around the lake. We took bicycle and we went for 35 km trip. I saw villages in the forest with old traditional houses, we bought some snacks in to the „auto-shop” (it is small bus which delivers food to places where is no shops), also went to bee keeping museum (Senovinės bitininkystės muziejus) in the middle of the forest. I was touched by quietness there and meditative atmosphere. In my tour around the lake I saw also watermill, castle and sacred hills, peninsula with small authentic villages, villages with empty houses because people are leaving countryside every year more and more, traditional farmers, lots of nice autumn sights. In evening with Vincent we discuss ecological problems, culture differences and similarities, made some traditional Latvian and French food, met locals and tourists in the hostel he lives in. I think Vincent made a good trip for me and thanks to him for that. Without him I wouldn't see all the nice places in Augštaitija. 

Another part of my exchange I spent in the Žagare (Žagarė). This was also very interesting experience. Žagare is much bigger than Palūše, it is historical town on border with Latvia. Location and mixed history, different ethnic groups (Latvians, Lithuanians and Jews), also religions, made this place very special in the Lithuania. I can see that Žagare has lost its shiny side of the medal, but still they have so much left from the past, just need to develop it and once again this place could attract different types of tourists. Because it is nice to walk in this very old town with small houses and see how history was changing its direction. I was also lucky to hear that some people speak both languages - Lithuanian and Latvian in the same time.
I have spent most of the time with Pierre in Žagare regional park and he show me his office in the old manor, located in the park, also told me about the parks daily work and his duties. He show around all the town and took me to the most interesting nature objects. As Pierre is landscape designer he show me his work - he designed park for cherry trees. Now it is possible to see the park with small cherry trees but in the future there will be beautiful garden.  

I got to know that in Žagare are many horse stables and many farmers keep horses and we went for a walk to see horses in one farm. In evening we watch interesting movie about Žagare and its forests, full of animals and wild life. For more information I was lucky to see big photo book with pictures from old times in Žagare and that was one of the most interesting photo book for me I ever seen. This place left a good impression to me because of its location and history, and I am sure this place deserves some more attention from visitors and travelers in the future. Thanks to Pierre who is also one of the volunteers who works for the park from all of his heart!

Some pictures from my trip to Žagare:

More information:
http://www.anp.lt/
http://www.muziejai.lt/ignalina/bitininkystes_muziejus.htm
http://zagaresrp.am.lt/VI/index.php
http://www.zagare.lt/

                                   T-Shirt Party!!

   

Participation in Research in Dzūkija

I am very glad I can share with you my EVS exchange experience in Dzūkijos nacionalinis parkas. It was a salutary experience. I could help David; Spain, Catalonia, Tarragona; who works for park as EVS volunteer. David's research deals with examination of fire traces in the territory of park.  David chose several plots from all the park territory to serve research purposes. Our job consisted of daily pursuit of the plots once affected by natural self-ignition. Our task was to observe the plot and take samples of the affected trees. In this respect the trees possessing charcoal remains kept the evidence of past forest fire. The park territory covers vast area. Sometimes to find the plot according to map was not the easiest thing to do. To check period maps was partly confusing. New tracks and forest routes during the time passed have been made. But what can be more heart-comforting than trip in the forest. No matter all the obstacles we did the job with all the effort necessary for the job. Here I propose you how the work in action looks like etc.  

Tomas

 Pic1. Examination of the trace

 Pic2. The plot of sampled trees

Pic3. The charcoal remains on the pine tree sp. Pinus sylvestris

My exchange in Kurtuvenai regional park !

My exchange in Kurtuvenai regional park !
Really nice  five days,we spent good time are together with all volunteers there. The most important we  were useful , really strong girls me and Berta))) Almost one day we spent  outside we were helping   gardener so we worked hard  but  we were  strong!    Also we made excursion  for two italian guys ,we told for them  all information which we got  the day  before     about regional park. Proud of Ourselves!!!
Also riding horses, some nice dinner with wine and pasta really a lot of fun)
I would like to add some pictures but still i didn't get them so hopefully soon...
Dear volunteers i wish all of you to stay strong this last part of your experience and me as well ..
                        The Best Regards

Exchange in Kuršių nerijos nacionalinis parkas

Here I leave you some pictures of my very good experience in Nida with Olga!!
We have spent very great time together, enjoying the nature :))

a bit of my time in Lithuania

Berta's text

It's been nearly two months since I embarked on a new adventure in Lithuania. I had finished my studies and I was thinking only of going out of Spain for a while, to experience and see the world.

Many times it is difficult to get away from your homeland and your friends and family, but it fills you with great satisfaction to start something from scratch and know that almost everything is at your fingertips. So this is exactly what I feel right now. Thanks to the unique opportunity I have been accepted in an environmental project within the European Voluntary Service.

I Collaborate in Venta Regional Park, located in Viekšniai, in the north of the Lithuania. Here I share flat and experience with other volunteer from Slovakia, which is quite interesting, especially when we cook, because we have very different customs and cultures.

One of the most positive sides is that EVS develops whatever idea and make it a fact. Here all the people are supporting us in all our actions. During the week we go to different schools in the area to give talks on ecology and biology to teach English, so children learn English and we (my partner and I) do what we like, to teach what we have knowledge about, since we both studied biology. We also work in an organic farm making all kinds of activities, either plant trees, preparing teas and infusions that grow in the garden. We have also participated in cultural events related to the environment.

One of our goals is to instil a care for nature, lecturing to recycle and to respect the planet from ecological point of view. We have several projects in mind and various activities yet to be developed. Now the good weather is coming and therefore the field (monitoring by canoe different species of plants and animals) and popular festivals that herald the spring also take place in different towns. We are currently organizing a project with the Viekšniai arts school in which children will paint a variety of ideas related to recycling and conservation onto the different bins. Our purpose is to raise awareness of how important is recyclation and preserve the natural environment.

As to the personal level, this is an exciting and special adventure. Every day is a different journey, discover new places and landscapes. I keep in touch with other volunteers and every weekend we meet in different parks and share our views.
I hope these words have reflected my joy and show how lucky and happy I am living all this amazing experience.