Kaunas Warnings Or Dangers Tips by matcrazy1 Top 5 Page for this destination

Floods in Kaunas?

I found this water level meter on a wall of Vatautas church located by Nemunas river. I was surpriced to see it a few meters above river water level. Did it mean that water reach so high level and flooded Kaunas in the past?
Yes, Kaunas was devastated by floods many times. The highest ever water level - 748 cm (find it on my picture) was in 1946.

But the risk of floods in Kaunas is minimal since construction of Kaunas Hydroelectric Power plant with Kaunas Sea (Kauno Marios) in 1959.

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Kaunas in Europe?

YES, it's definetely in Europe. Lithuania is European Union member since 1 May 2004. No worries, there are all facilities for visitors available in Kaunas.

Only keep in mind that Lithuania and Kaunas is emerging, fast developing country which belonged to the Soviet Union till 1991. It means that my page will not be up-to-date soon. And do not except so much choice of tourist facilities (yet, in 2004) - I mean hotels, motels, restaurants etc. - as in many western European or US cities of that size and meaning.

Few benches!

Walking around Kaunas do NOT expect a lot of benches put along streets (exception: Laisves aleja :-). Even in city parks I visited there were few benches. Well, it's Europe. Do not walk on grass unless it's allowed and signed. If you are tired you can easy find a pub/bar (baras) or a restaurant to relax and enjoy local drinks or food. Alternatively there were some other constructions to sit down, like on my picture.

Blurred pictures

There was large meeting of motorcycles in Kaunas, when I was there. I met them crossing my way, when I was leaving Kaunas. I tried to take them pictures. Hmm, they were moving fast, so a few my pictures were blurred. The automatic set of exposure of my camera was wrong, I noticed.

Solutions:
1. switch your camera to automatic sport programm (if possible) - fast option, the camera lowers time of exposure.
2. fix time of exposure to, say, 1/1000 s or less - it takes more time but gets better results unless there is too poor light.

If you are a driver...

There was large meeting of motorcycle's fans in Kaunas when i was there. I was staring at cool old and new motorcycles which crossed my way in Kaunas. I almost forgot to drive staring at them.

Whenever you are a driver do not stare at...
guys:
local women, sport cars, motorcycles;
women:
local men, stores/shops.
Better watch traffic, signs and police.

Inside churches

Few citizens of Kaunas declared to be atheists now, most were Roman catholic. Don't forget to respect their feelings whenever you visit any church in Kaunas. Guys, do not forget to take your hats off.

This info table, on my picture, was put by entrance to St. Michael Archangel (of Lithuanian Military Forces) Church and contained text in 3 languages: Lithuanian, English and German: Please, keep silence and respect. Thank you for your kind understanding.

Poor light and blurred pictures

I took pictures inside museums of Kaunas, I visited. Devils in the Museum of Devils were not always well lighted. When I took pictures without a built-up flash, I found them blurred (look at my picture). I didn't have a tripod to use longer exposure and using a flash had some disadvantages as well.

Keep in mind that a built in (or even additional) flash on most cameras can only light up an area between 3 - 6 m in front of the camera (10 - 20 ft, depends on the flash and DIN of your film). My camera's shutter opens and has to stay open for up to several seconds for enough light to hit the film to make an image at night/bad light. The problem: most people cannot hold a camera perfectly still for more than a small fraction of a second - usually more than 1/30 or 1/45 s. Just notice here that larger camera you have, easier you can hold it.

So, if you want to take pictures at night (except objects up to a few meters in front of your camera) you must use a tripod, never mind how good (and expensive) is your camera.
Hmm... I still must buy a tripod for my camera. I think about two tripods: one mini-tripod, very small, primitive one, I could say but cheap, light and easy to carry with me. And the second: real, professional tripod with a bag.

Not so easy to choose from :-):
SLIK tripods (Japan)
MANFROTTO tripods (Italy)
about tripods on photo.net

Anything for kids?

I got (hopefully wrong?) impression that Kaunas offered almost nothing for the most important people of our globe - children.

Walking around centre/downtown of Kaunas I didn't find any attractions for smaller kids, I mean any play grounds for example. Well, they sold ice-creams from street stalls and a few restaurants offered kiddy menu. Additionally it would be a little bit tired to push a baby buggy on definetely not flat, cobble streets of Kaunas old town.

Bad coffee

I ordered a few times coffee in restaurants and cafes of Kaunas. And usually it didn't taste good. I missed my home coffee or... Italy.

Once I ordered this capuccino, on my picture, in Kavine Dviese (Vilniaus gatve 8). It was served in a glass and in real it was NOT cappucino but very sweet liquor with not nice, industrial aroma... I missed Italy...

Amber or fake amber?

These amber necklaces, on my picture, and other amber jewelry were sold from street stalls, put along Vilniaus gatve close to Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

Amber or... fake amber? Excuse, I don't know, I am not a specialist on amber. Therefore I would never buy any jewerly on a street although first price for amber necklaces was only 10 (€ 3.01; US$ 3.63; 13.82 Polish zl) or 12 Lt.