The Sea of Pineapples: First Stop - Lithuania

We've arrived in a Euro 💶 country, and the prices have skyrocketed 🤣. Starting to miss Poland's affordability... For transportation, you can opt for cross-border buses 🚌 to travel directly from Warsaw to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania 🇱🇹. Flixbus and Lux Express are both excellent choices, and for long-distance buses, these two are highly recommended. We stayed in Vilnius for 4 days and 3 nights, arriving at 8 AM on the first day 😕. Honestly, long-distance bus rides are exhausting (if you can afford it, fly 🤨, but as students on a budget, we have to endure). Luckily, our accommodation this time was great. They allowed us to check in early, store our luggage, and even rest on the living room sofa. We checked in an hour earlier than the scheduled time at a youth hostel. Vilnius is still very beautiful. The city is clean, with trash bins everywhere. We visited St. Anne's Church, Trakai Island Castle, and the Republic of Užupis, among other places. The atmosphere is very pleasant, though the sun is intense. It's recommended to head out around 1 or 2 PM (sunset is around 9 PM), giving you plenty of time to explore. Public buses require you to buy tickets upon boarding, costing 1💶 per ride. Lidl is the ultimate money-saving supermarket. During this trip, we made it a point to visit Lidl in every country for high-value savings. Ice cream here is a must-buy—absolutely delicious and cheaper than anywhere else 😝. I had one almost every day. We spent 30 euros on four meals over two days. In the evenings in Vilnius, we went to Olybet to watch a game. It's located near White Bridge, a popular gathering spot for young people. The sunset there is also stunning. Later, we visited the Hill of Crosses, which was truly spectacular. You need to transfer to a bus to reach the entrance, and then walk 25 minutes to get in. If money isn't an issue, take a Bolt ride for about 12-15 euros. Next stop: Riga 🥳.