Hill of Crosses ( Part 2)

 Gina & Pat

 The sight of the crosses reminded me on Jesus Paschal Mystery - his Passion, Death and resurrection. As I walked the path, I prayed along the way.  

 Our Lady intercede for us - keep us in good health

 

Over the generations, not only crosses and crucifixes, but statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims.

 

On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love and sacrifice.

Sodyba Girele

 Located 1km south of Hill of crosses, here we are on 10 July at Sodyba Girele for lunch travelling from Riga to Vilnius. The exterior of the place looks nicer than the food we had. 

 Imagine the pumpkins turning into a carriage

 Vegetables soup

 Pork and Rice

 Dessert is the best

Hill of Crosses ( Lithuania) (Part 1)

 

One of Lithuania's most awe-inspiring sights is the legendary Hill of Crosses. 

The Hill of Crosses, Kryzių Kalnas, located 12 kilometers north of the small industrial city of Siauliai is the Lithuanian national pilgrimage center.

 

When I heard we were going to see the hill of crosses, I expected it would be climbing up hill. To my surprise, standing upon a small hill are many hundreds of thousands of crosses that represent Christian devotion and a memorial to Lithuanian national identity.

 

Planted here since at least the 19th century and probably much older, the crosses were bulldozed by the Soviets, but each night people crept past soldiers and barbed wire to plant more, risking their lives or freedom to express their national and spiritual fervour.

The Collegiate Church of St Paul - Rabat (Malta)

 

A Roman Catholic parish church, the beautiful St. Paul's Church in Rabat stands above a grotto where St. Paul is said to have taken refuge after his shipwreck on Malta.

 

Acccording to the Book of Acts, Paul and his missionary party were shipwrecked on Malta for three months. It was also after their arrival to St. Paul's Grotto in Malta that they began preaching about Christianity to the Maltese people. During his stay, Paul was bitten by a snake and remained unharmed. St. Paul's gift of healing and him remaining unharmed after a snakebite made the locals regard him as a God.

 

It was the feast day of St Peter and Paul on 29^th June. We were there on 30 June 2018. Hence there one could see the statues and decorations in the vicinity.

 

St. Paul spent 3 months in the grotto in Rabat that is now so famous that Pope Benedict visited St. Paul's Grotto to pray during his visit to Malta in 2010 and so did Pope John Paul II in 1990.

Crystal Palace_ Rabat ( Malta)

The snack of pastizzi is a Maltese treasure comprising of flaky pastry stuffed with either mushy peas or ricotta cheese.

Crystal palace is one of the best place to try the Maltese pastizzi with the locals. They come in cheese, pea, tuna or chicken flavours, priced at 40 or 50 cents each.

Great for those who want a snack or on a budget.

Late Lunch/ tea

Magosaburo

 It is always lovely catching up with Joan and Jenny. For the month of May we met at Magosaburo, a Japanese Western Café located  at Tiong Bahru Plaza.

 Jenny & Pat

 Happy Joan

 We each had a set meal. The food was average.

 Sukiyaki

 Salmon

 Chicken Cutlets

 Round 2 - desserts. Must say the desserts were better. It's always great catching up with friends.

In great company of friends