Summer Literary Seminars

Here follow some very helpful links as you plan your trip to and around SLS Lithuania:

TOURISM:

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:

US CITIZENS:

A valid passport is required to enter Lithuania. As there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Lithuania, U.S. citizens should be aware of passport validity requirements in transit countries. American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Lithuania for business or pleasure for up to 90 days.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_952.html

CANADIAN CITIZENS:

DO NOT need a visa to travel to Lithuania for up to 90 days. A valid passport is required. If you are Canadian and anticipate travel to explore Latvia, please ensure that you have valid health care. Click the link for more information.
http://www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/baltics/visa-en.asp

**PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID PASSPORT AND MEET THE VISA REQURIEMENTS!**

Lonely Planet has a TERRIFIC website about travel to Lithuania:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/lithuania/

The "In your Pocket" guides are the staff’s favorite local guidebooks.
http://www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/city/vilnius.html

Panoramic Views of Places worth visiting while in Lithuania:
http://lithuaniaontour.com/

Really "OUT THERE" stuff to do in Lithuania:
http://www.alfa.lt/rubrika/Leisure

LOCAL INFORMATION:

This is the Institute which will be hosting the event. Most classes will take place in this building.

The INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN LITERATURE AND FOLKLORE
contains the Departments of Old Literature, Textology, Contemporary Literature, Folk Songs, Narrative Folklore, and an Archive of Folklore. It also maintains a Scientific Library and a Printing Centre.

The staff consists of 68 scientists and researchers. Our hosts are Mindaugas Kvietkauskas and Ursule Gedaite.

Here is a MAP of the location: http://www.llti.lt/en/zem.htm

NIDA PORTION OF THE SEMINAR:

Held in Thomas Mann’s SUMMER HOUSE,
the Nida portion of the Seminar series is still under negotiation. Administrator Laurynas Katkus heads the Nida portion of SLS Lithuania through the THOMAS MANN CULTURAL CENTER.

LITERATURE OF LITHUANIA:

September 2008 National Geographic Traveler rated The Earth Remains (Laima Sruoginis) as one of the best travel reads before venturing off to Lithuania!

The country is rich in English translations of local poetry. Most of Lithuania’s best known writers are poets.

There are two Lithuanian literary journals available online in English.
Here is the website for the local journal VILNIUS.
LITUANUS is printed in Chicago and has reviews, articles, and literary news.

For all publications of Lithuanian authors in other languages, check the website for BOOKS OF LITHUANIA. Their mission is to post Lithuanian Literature in translation, and they have books hot off the presses, such as “The Baltic Quintet” (poetry from five Baltic nations published in English)

DRUNKEN BOAT has a fantastic compilation of Lithuanian poets, with commentary!

HEREis list of Lithuanian prose writers with biographies and bibliographies.

There are many writers living outside of Lithuania who are influenced by the country:

Antanas Sileika’s work: http://www.bookfinder.com/author/antanas-sileika/

M. M. De Voe’s website: http://www.mmdevoe.com

Laima Vince’s website: http://www.laimavince.com

READ Antanas Skema’s short story “Steps and Stairs”.

LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE:

Here is a LINK to free software to start you on a few phrases of Lithuanian! The ancient Baltic language uses the Roman alphabet (not the Russian Cyrillic) and is completely phonetic. Not hard to learn. well, okay, impossible—but English is widely spoken in Vilnius. Here’s a freebie: Labas! (It means hello.)

SPECIAL INTEREST:

Jewish Lithuania

VIRTUAL TOURS of Vilna and Kovno ghettos

CURRENT Jewish community in Vilnius (Vilna)

ARTICLE about the famous Jewish Lithuanian holocaust survivor and writer, now living in Israel:
Icchokas Meras

Medieval Lithuania

All things Medieval Lithuania!

Pagan Empire

More about Pagan Lithuania

OFFICIAL TOURISM SITES:

Lithuanian State Department of Tourism Introduction to Lithuania's history, politics, and culture.

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Entry requirements for Lithuania and information on its culture and politics.

FlyLAL Flight schedules and special offers from Lithuania's national airline.

OTHER SITES WE LIKE:

LeisureGuide.info Overview of entertainment in Lithuania, including information on fashion, clubs, and nightlife.

Visit Lithuania Listings of nightclubs in Lithuania, with descriptions and photographs.

Museums of Lithuania Guide to the exhibitions and collections of museums in Lithuania.

Baltic Times News and current events for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia from a regional English-language news provider.


		LINKS Tourism Local Information Literature of Lithuania Lithuanian language Official Tourism Sites Special interest Other Sites We Like Here follow some very helpful links as you plan your trip to and around SLS Lithuania: TOURISM: ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: US CITIZENS: A valid passport is required to enter Lithuania. As there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Lithuania, U.S. citizens should be aware of passport validity requirements in transit countries. American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Lithuania for business or pleasure for up to 90 days. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_952.html CANADIAN CITIZENS: DO NOT need a visa to travel to Lithuania for up to 90 days. A valid passport is required. If you are Canadian and anticipate travel to explore Latvia, please ensure that you have valid health care. Click the link for more information. http://www.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/baltics/visa-en.asp PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID PASSPORT AND MEET THE VISA REQURIEMENTS! Lonely Planet has a TERRIFIC website about travel to Lithuania: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/lithuania/ The "In your Pocket" guides are the staff’s favorite local guidebooks. http://www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/city/vilnius.html Panoramic Views of Places worth visiting while in Lithuania: http://lithuaniaontour.com/ Really "OUT THERE" stuff to do in Lithuania: http://www.alfa.lt/rubrika/Leisure LOCAL INFORMATION: This is the Institute which will be hosting the event. Most classes will take place in this building. The INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN LITERATURE AND FOLKLORE contains the Departments of Old Literature, Textology, Contemporary Literature, Folk Songs, Narrative Folklore, and an Archive of Folklore. It also maintains a Scientific Library and a Printing Centre. The staff consists of 68 scientists and researchers. Our hosts are Mindaugas Kvietkauskas and Ursule Gedaite. Here is a MAP of the location: http://www.llti.lt/en/zem.htm NIDA PORTION OF THE SEMINAR: Held in Thomas Mann’s SUMMER HOUSE, the Nida portion of the Seminar series is still under negotiation. Administrator Laurynas Katkus heads the Nida portion of SLS Lithuania through the THOMAS MANN CULTURAL CENTER. LITERATURE OF LITHUANIA: September 2008 National Geographic Traveler rated The Earth Remains (Laima Sruoginis) as one of the best travel reads before venturing off to Lithuania! The country is rich in English translations of local poetry. Most of Lithuania’s best known writers are poets. There are two Lithuanian literary journals available online in English. Here is the website for the local journal VILNIUS. LITUANUS is printed in Chicago and has reviews, articles, and literary news. For all publications of Lithuanian authors in other languages, check the website for BOOKS OF LITHUANIA. Their mission is to post Lithuanian Literature in translation, and they have books hot off the presses, such as “The Baltic Quintet” (poetry from five Baltic nations published in English) DRUNKEN BOAT has a fantastic compilation of Lithuanian poets, with commentary! HEREis list of Lithuanian prose writers with biographies and bibliographies. There are many writers living outside of Lithuania who are influenced by the country: Antanas Sileika’s work: http://www.bookfinder.com/author/antanas-sileika/ M. M. De Voe’s website: http://www.mmdevoe.com Laima Vince’s website: http://www.laimavince.com READ Antanas Skema’s short story “Steps and Stairs”. LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE: Here is a LINK to free software to start you on a few phrases of Lithuanian! The ancient Baltic language uses the Roman alphabet (not the Russian Cyrillic) and is completely phonetic. Not hard to learn. well, okay, impossible—but English is widely spoken in Vilnius. Here’s a freebie: Labas! (It means hello.) SPECIAL INTEREST: Jewish Lithuania VIRTUAL TOURS of Vilna and Kovno ghettos CURRENT Jewish community in Vilnius (Vilna) ARTICLE about the famous Jewish Lithuanian holocaust survivor and writer, now living in Israel: Icchokas Meras Medieval Lithuania All things Medieval Lithuania! Pagan Empire More about Pagan Lithuania OFFICIAL TOURISM SITES: Lithuanian State Department of Tourism Introduction to Lithuania's history, politics, and culture. Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Entry requirements for Lithuania and information on its culture and politics. FlyLAL Flight schedules and special offers from Lithuania's national airline. OTHER SITES WE LIKE: LeisureGuide.info Overview of entertainment in Lithuania, including information on fashion, clubs, and nightlife. Visit Lithuania Listings of nightclubs in Lithuania, with descriptions and photographs. Museums of Lithuania Guide to the exhibitions and collections of museums in Lithuania. Baltic Times News and current events for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia from a regional English-language news provider.