The places captured in these pictures are not necessarily representative of my home town, but they are the most memorable to me. These buildings are not postcard-pretty, but they do have character. Structures from different historical eras, some beautifully renovated, others decaying, coexist shoulder-to-shoulder.
A restored medieval defense wall in Vilnius Old Town
The Palace Of The Grand Dukes of Lithuania, still under construction in August of 2005. It was rebuilt from scratch during the late nineties and the 2000s. Throughout its history, starting with 1500s, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. This is the latest iteration, which is currently a museum.
The intersection of Rusu (“Russian”) and Latako (“gutter”) streets in Vilnius Old Town, August 2005 – a geometrically rich sight. Love the roofs intersecting at all different angles.
A courtyard on Bokšto (“Tower”) street in Vilnius Old Town. Not sure what century these buildings are from, but the three sheds — or perhaps garages — with sloping roofs were probably slapped on during the Soviet times. At the very least it smacks of typical Soviet-era design, where many apartment building courtyards had clusters of standalone garages.
A modern day window seen through a hole of a window in old ruins. This jagged skeleton of a wall sits on Šv. Kazimiero (“St. Casimir”) street in the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania.
The same piece of ruins as in the image above, shown from further away and “in context”, among the renovated houses.
A dilapidated house with a low, arched door, suitable for a hobbit dwelling, in the neighborhood around the Vilnius rail station, perhaps near Subaciaus street.
One of my favorite dilapidated parts of the city, Lapų (“Leaves”) street, located on the edge of Old Town, in the neighborhood around the Vilnius train station. Curving streets and decaying buildings are magic to me.
Arches within arches, with arches lining the way. A courtyard on Arklių (“Horses”) street in Vilnius Old Town.
An old building with chimneys and arched windows that could have been a factory, but that’s just my guess.
A cafe or a bar called “Šauni vietelė” (“A Cool Little Place”) in Vilnius Old Town, September 2005. I don’t think it exists anymore.
One of these buildings in Vilnius Old Town houses American Cultural Center. Yes, it must have a sign somewhere, but the sign evaded being captured in the photo.
This is one of the most “rhythmic” pictures of Vilnius I took. Vilnius Old Town is full of courtyards like these: cozy in character, intricate in their geometry.
A courtyard with two arched entrances opposite each other off of Pylimo (“Embankment”) street near Vilnius Old Town
A courtyard with an arched entrance in Vilnius Old Town, off of Saviciaus street where a renovated / repainted part of a wall makes a sharply contrasting line with a weathered part of the wall.