Page 343 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

SHOPPING IN LITHU ANIA 341

fillings), spurgos (doughnuts),
smoked and steamed cheeses
and a range of products made
from curd and sour milk.
Smoked meats are usually
sold as long, thick sausages or,
even more authentically,
bound in balls. The best local
fish to buy is herring, normally
marinated and sold in sealed
packets. Some supermarkets
also have cafés where a tradi-
tional Lithuanian meal of
cepelinai (potato dumplings), as
well as kugelis (baked potato
pudding) and vėdarai (potato
sausage) can be sampled.
Lithuanian rye bread, such as
Souvenir stall on Theatre Square, Old Town, Klaipėda the widely used black bread or
the greyer palangos, can be
have insects, plants, leaves and The agricultural nature of bought from local stores.
feathers preserved in the Lithuania has helped in Traditional šakotis (tree cake)
fossilized resin. preserving many local customs and tinginys (handmade cakes)
and tradi tions. Black are commonly
ceramics, in the form of available. Mushrooms
Handicrafts and Regional pots, jugs, cups and and forest berries can
Specialities
figures, are among the also make unusual gifts,
Lithuanian craftsmen make all specia lities of the but visitors need a
manner of objects out of wood, southern region of customs clearance to
such as handcarved spatulas Dzūkija. Further north, carry them back. Local
and spoons, and grotesque Aukštaitija is known for favourites, such as
masks of devils and witches, its rich tradition of starka (aged, caramel-
whose distorted, freakish faces music and instruments, Cognac bottles coloured vodka), or
are traditionally displayed every espe cially its horns and on display trejos devynerios (herbal
Shrovetide. A far more pipes. In the west, the panacea), should not
acceptable wooden memento people of Žemaitija value their be missed. The best of the
is the rūpintojėlis, a constantly religious images, miniatures and many varieties of degtinė
worrying Christ-like figure who shrines, which often incorpo rate (Lithuanian vodka) include the
sits with his chin on one hand. traditional pagan symbols. excellent gold-topped
Another religiously themed Lithuanian vodkas, while the
souvenir commonly made out company Alita makes a popu lar
of wood is the crucifix. Food and Drink eponymous brand of brandy.
For the musically inclined, Traditional foods of all kinds are Švyturys Premium Pils and the
handcarved musical instru- sold in Lithuanian shops, Švyturys Ekstra Draught are
ments, such as the alluring including blynai (a thin potato both very fine bottled beers.
Lithuanian kanklės, or zither, pancake similar to a crêpe with For more infor mation on food
make an ideal gift. Russian both sweet and savoury and drinks see pages 310–13.
matryoshka dolls can be easily
bought from local markets.
Some of the most original
items of clothing that can be
bought in Lithuania are made
of flax. Shirts and blouses,
dresses and hand-crocheted
hats are all widely available,
particularly in the capital’s gift
and souvenir shops. A hand-
woven juosta, which is a sash
or waistband often used as
wedding attire besides being
used as a traditional form of
fortune-telling, is also widely
available and makes a good
souvenir to take home. Matryoshka dolls for sale at one of the many souvenir stalls in Lithuania