• The capital Vilnius
• The cities Kaunas and Klaipeda (Memel)
• The Curonian spit
• The beaches near Palanga

Electricity
Lithuania uses 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz frequency (like continental Europe). Also plugs are continental safety plugs (like those used in France and Germany).

Food
Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to its cool and moist northern climate: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialties. It has much in common with other Eastern European and Jewish cuisines. Thus there are similar Lithuanian and Polish versions of dumplings (pierogi or koldunai), doughnuts (paczki or spurgos), and crepes (blini or blynai). German traditions also influenced Lithuanian cuisine, introducing pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding (kugelis) and potato sausages (vedarai), as well as the baroque tree cake known as šakotis. The most exotic of all the influences is Eastern (Karaite) cuisine, and the dishes kibinai and ceburekai are popular in Lithuania. The popular «Torte Napoleon» was introduced during Napoleon's passage through Lithuania in the 19th century.

Cepelinai, potato dumplings stuffed with meat, curd cheese or mushrooms, is the most famous national dish. Other national foods include dark rye bread, cold beet soup (šaltibaršciai), and kugelis (a baked potato pudding), smoked sausage and vedarai (cooked potatoes and sausage stuffed into pig intestines).

Locally brewed beer (alus), whiskey (degtine), and kvass (gira) are popular drinks in Lithuania. Lithuania is also a place where you may taste the unique snacks with beer such as: garlic bread, peas with ribs, smoked cheese, smoked pig ears and plums with various fillings.
Every region in Lithuania has preserved its original traditional dishes.

Health issues
For European visitors who fall ill or have an accident, free or reduced-cost treatment is available in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment only. Note that the EHIC replaces the Form E111, which is no longer valid. Healthcare might not include all the things you would expect to get free of charge from your own health service. This means you may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care. US visitors and those of other countries: Please check with your health insurance company in your home country for information about coverage. Healthcare can get expensive if you are not insured!

Drinking tap water is generally safe in Lithuania. We exclusevely use the artesian water, thus there is no need to buy a botteled water.

Since we are in the countryside, you are recommended to be vaccinated against tetanus. Also, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is highly recommended.

Please note: Some medication which is sold over the counter in other countries might require a prescription or even be illegal. The former includes contraceptives! If you are required to take some drugs with you, bring a written confirmation of your doctor and take the red line at the customs (to avoid problems).

Immigration & Visa requirements
Lithuania is a member of the Schengen agreement which exempts travellers from regular personal border controls between 13 European Union (EU) countries and two European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Norway and Iceland). People living in Great Britain and Ireland are subject to personal border controls upon entry to Lithuania. Border controls can, however be imposed on travellers from all states (this happens sometimes before football matches).
A valid passport is necessary for visitors to Lithuania, except for citizens of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. But also for citizens of those states it is highly recommended to take a passport with them.
Visitors from many countries are exempted from tourist visa requirements. A list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa is found here. If you are citizen of such a state, you should contact the Lithuanian embassy responsible for your country before application to avoid delays. For practical reasons, visas to Lithuania are, in some countries, issued by diplomatic missions from to other countries, depending on the country where the applicant is located. General infos about immigration to Lithuania can be found here.

Language
Lithuanian belongs to the Baltic Languages and is related to Latvian. Some researchers believe it contains many features of Proto-Indo-European now lost in other Indo-European languages. In 1864 the use of Lithuanian in education and publishing and the Latin alphabet was banned by Russian authorities. However, books in Lithuanian were smuggled into Lithuania from Germany until the ban was lifted in 1904. The Lithuanian alphabet has 32 letters and pronounciation is difficult. Further infos about the language with some listening examples can be found here.

Laundry facilities
There are two washing machines and all other necessary belongings for self-catering laundry and ironing. So we should manage, but do not expect to have ample possibilities for washing clothes.

Legal issues
Lithuanian law applies for and throughout the summer school.

Meals
Breakfast will be provided at Molėtai Observatory. The same holds for lunches and dinners. On excursions we will eat outside together. Sometimes (weather allowing) we will do barbeques at the observatory.
Please note that we are in a fairly rural area, and the choice of meals is not as extensive than in major cities. This might be problematic you if you have extensive dietary requirements.

Medical help
Medical help is available from Molėtai hospital at Vilniaus g. 78. The registraion office os open from 07:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. Please note that the command of English of the health personnel might be a bit lacking, it is good to take a Lithuanian-speaking person with you. There are 2 pharmacies in Molėtai. Camelia on Amatu g. 3B is open at weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 and 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays. N vaistine (Vilniaus g. 99) opens from 08:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, 09:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays and 09:00 to 16:00 on Sundays. There is a first aid-kit at the Observatory.

Money
Since 1 January 2015 Lithuania has the EURO (we had LITAS before). Cash can be obtained with these cards at ATM machines.
The use of traveller cheques as payments is uncommon.

Nuisances
The common adder is the only venomous snake in Lithuania, it is very rare around the observatory. Since there are many lakes are located around the mosquitoes can be a problem.Thus it is a good idea to bring some insect repellent.

Therefore, the grass snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is not dangerous and very common in our forest. It is very lovely, please, never harm it. You, probably, will see them swiming in the lake. Please, enjoy that moment. Another lovely animal is the Anguis fragilis, or slow worm, is a limbless lizard native to Eurasia. It is sometimes called a blindworm. Its German name, "Blindschleiche".

The grass snake takes a very important role in the Baltic mythology.

Religion
Catholic influence is very strong in Lithuania. Some Catholic priests actively led the resistance against the Communist regime and Lithuania was the only predominantly Catholic Soviet republic. Church holidays are still celebrated intensively.

The traditionaly strong Jewish community was almost wiped out by the Shoah. Today, however thre is a very active Jewish community in Vilnius with 4000 members.

Shopping
Compared to other European states, Lithuania is still an inexpensive country. The following souvenirs are usually a goood choice:

Telephone
The country code for Lithuania is 370. To telephone out from Lithuania, dial 00 or + and the country code, so 0049 for Germany and 001 for the US.

Time
During the summer course, Eastern European Daylight saving time (UTC + 3 hours) will be in force. If it is 1 o'clock in London and 2 o'clock in Paris it is 3 o'clock in Lithuania.

Tipping
In restaurants, tipping of 5 - 10 percent of the bill is usual.

Tourist information
For tourist information about Lithuania check the site of the Lithuanian tourist office. Information about the City of Vilnius can be found here.