Truck Living in Lithuania & Poland: Discovering Hidden Gems

Basically you take the fresh milk out of the fridge and keep it for three days and it curdles up. Thanks so much for your help. We might be back. I'm gonna try again. Oh it worked. Bye guys. Thank you. This is kind of crazy. I don't know what we're getting into here. In June of 2025 we shipped a Ross Monster Overland truck from Baltimore to Antwerp. From there we set off on an 11,000 kilometer journey visiting our routes in the Netherlands before heading north through mountains and along Norway's stunning coastal roads to Europe's northernmost drivable point. From there we turned south through Sweden, Finland, and the Baltics into Poland, the Czech Republic, and across Austria to Switzerland. And finally up to my sister's place near Frankfurt, Germany. That's where we'll park the truck until we return for phase two of our European adventure. So we just crossed into Lithuania. I knew we were camped pretty close to the border but I didn't realize we were like three minutes drive from the border. But yeah we're excited to do some exploring in Lithuania. We've been reading about a place called the Hill of Crosses which sounds like an interesting story. So we're gonna head there on our way to the old town, the old city of Vilnius, which is right near Belarus. So thank you Latvia for your hospitality, for your amazing country, good food, good people, and incredible history. And now Lithuania, here we come. EU 100, I think 160. For half a tank? Half a tank, yeah. We were paying 280, 290 Canadian for half a tank in Norway. Just outside the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania lies one of the most striking and unusual sights in Europe, the Hill of Crosses. This small hill is covered with thousands, some say hundreds of thousands, of crosses, crucifixes, and statues left here by generations of pilgrims. For Christians, the cross is more than a symbol. It represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Every cross placed here carries that meaning, a personal testimony of faith, love, and hope in the midst of hardship. So this area has been here for over a century, and it's really a symbol of the strength and tenacity of the Lithuanian people. And they started putting crosses here to commemorate souls who had died, people in their family, their sons or whatever, that died in resistance to the Soviets and in various wars. And then during Soviet rule, it was outlawed to put crosses here, and because back then the Soviets and the Communists were anti-religion, against Christianity especially, which was the main religion here, they banned putting crosses, made it illegal, so people had to sneak in at night and do it, but they kept going, they never gave up. The Soviets sent bulldozers here to try to level the place, and they did a lot of damage, but the Lithuanian people came back and they kept putting crosses here and they rebuilt it, so it's a symbol of their strength and faith and tenacity. The origins of this site go back to the 19th century, when Lithuanians began placing crosses to honor loved ones lost during uprisings against foreign rule. Over the years, the hill of crosses became a symbol of peace and resistance, surviving repeated attempts by occupying forces to remove them during the Soviet era. Each new cross was both an act of remembrance and a quiet act of defiance. Today, visitors from all over the world continue to add their own crosses, making it a living, evolving monument to resilience and devotion. This was put here by Armenians from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, celebrating the 1700th anniversary of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. It's estimated that the hill now holds over a hundred thousand crosses, creating a surreal, almost mystical landscape that draws pilgrims, travelers and photographers alike. Whether you come for history, spirituality or simply the awe-inspiring site, the hill of crosses is a powerful reminder of human determination, deep faith and the enduring spirit of Lithuania. While the hill of crosses today is a place of devotion and reflection, its story is also intertwined with pain and resilience. During the late 1930s, under Stalin's great terror, the NKVD, the Soviet secret police responsible for arrests, executions and surveillance, targeted ethnic Poles across the region. Between 1937 and 1938, around 200,000 people were arrested and over a hundred thousand were executed simply for their heritage. The rest were sent to the Gulag, never to return. For Lithuanians and Poles alike, these were years of fear, oppression and loss. Yet despite repeated attempts by occupying forces to remove these crosses, destroy churches and erase cultural identity, the people persevered. Each cross placed here is not just a spirit of faith, but also a quiet act of remembrance and defiance, a testament to the human spirit that refuses to be broken. Walking amongst thousands of crosses, it's impossible not to feel the weight of history and the enduring courage of those who came before. This hill is more than a monument, it's a living story of faith, hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. As we drive into Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, we arrive in a city of about a half a million people. Modern, youthful and full of energy, yet carrying the weight of centuries of history. Sitting near the borders of Belarus and Russia, Vilnius has always been the crossroads of culture and ideas. High above the city stands Giediminas Tower, the last remnant of Vilnius Castle. Climbing to the top not only offers sweeping views, it brings us to the very place where the Grand Duchy of Lithuania grew into one of the most influential powers in medieval Europe. It's also here, in 1919, that the Lithuanian flag was first raised, an enduring symbol of independence and resilience that continues to inspire pride today. All right, we are now in kind of the southeast, yeah, southeast part of Lithuania, and there's a lot of history here, just like everywhere else in the country, but we're right now at a castle and then overlooking the old part of Vilnius. So hopefully, once we tour the castle, we'll get down and be able to show you around the old city. From the tower, we descend into Vilnius Old Town, one of the largest and best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Walking through the beautiful trees of Castle Hill Park, we stumble upon a sculpture of a Lithuanian hound, the only dog breed native to Lithuania, once prized by nobles for its strength, loyalty, and skill in the hunt. Lando! Seeing this, we couldn't help but miss Lando, our own loyal GSP, back home with Dan and Pete. With its cobblestone streets, grand churches, and lively squares, Old Town is a place where history is celebrated, culture is alive, and the spirit of Lithuania shines through. We found this old place to stop. Carol and I are going to share one of their specialties, which is cold beetroot soup with hot potatoes. But the setting is just incredible. We're in the old part of Vilnius, Lithuania. We've got a river going by behind us. This deck is right over the river. And we're just enjoying our time here. You've been craving beets, is it? Beets? Yeah. It's basically like a coleslaw. There's got to be a cucumber in there too. It's got sour milk. Okay. And then... Beets. Yeah. Basically, you take fresh milk out, and you freeze it, keep it for three days, and shake it. Interesting. And then beets. And then it depends. Some people put spring onions in as well. Cucumber. I tasted cucumber. Nice. Very simple to make. It's perfect for a daylight day. That was super fun and educational. Very beautiful. And it had a real quiet vibe, this city. Everyone was very relaxed. And when they heard us kind of speaking English, maybe, I don't know what it was, but they would kind of just say, Hey, have you been here or there? Very helpful. Very proud of their country, which I love. I love when people are proud of it, and they share what means most to them. So, the gelato hit the spot. It was kind of hot, but now there's this nice breeze, which is just beautiful. We're going to go about an hour outside of town, maybe 45 minutes, and go to camp. He wants me to try it, but he said don't hang up yet. Okay, so try it in case. Never hang up. Thanks so much for your help. We might be back. So, this lovely couple from Germany gave us their phone, and they called the parking people to try, because it's not reading our license plate, and we already paid for it. So, they're trying to help us out with this. Go again. Oh, go again? Okay. She's on the phone with them, and we're trying to get out of this parking. So, it's supposed to be seven, not T, yeah? He said a little on the angle. There we go. That's seven. Oh, now it says seven. We'll let these cars come in. Did you really pay? He's asking, did you? Yeah, we have the receipt. I'm gonna try again. Oh, it worked. Bye, guys. Thank you. Well, that was awesome. What a cool couple. Yeah, so just a husband and wife. He's German, she's Lithuanian, and she said, oh, I'll call, and she worked it all out for us. But the camera, it's a really neat system, but it's never seen, probably never seen American plates before. So, it just didn't know how to interpret our license plate, or, you know, they're much bigger plates here in Europe than we have back in Canada and the U.S. So, anyway, she called and worked it out, and third time was a charm. Third time was a charm. We got it. No, I gotta figure out where we're going. I just can't believe how helpful and everything, yeah, it is really nice. After a lovely visit to Vilnius, we set out about an hour and a half from the city in search of a quiet place to camp for the night. The roads take us deeper into the Lithuanian countryside, winding through forests, small villages, and past beautiful lakes. As we follow a narrow pathway into the trees, the road gradually tightens, and soon it's clear we can't go any further. With no room to continue, we have to turn back. This feels like somebody's property. We're just following a camp, but it looks more like somebody's driveway, but I don't know. I'm sure they'll tell us. There's a guy coming in behind us, so, either he's going to the same, supposed to be a hike, hiking trail, so, let's, we'll let you know what we find out. Would it look wide open? I don't know, it said vans and stuff had been there. They said great hiking. This is, like, so narrow. Maybe it opens up. I don't think I can get in there, it's too low. It's not private property? Oh, okay, okay, thank you. That's what they say. They're not from here, so they don't know any more than we do. Were they going to the same hike? They didn't really speak English. They're from Poland. I guess. Yeah, but no promises, that's for sure. Looks like people turned around. I don't know how you're going to turn around, though, honey. I mean, behind me here in the grass, somebody turned around, but more of the car, not a truck. Was there anything that we passed? I wasn't paying attention. No. I don't want to get stuck. I saw these two elderly people, and they're just sitting in a chair. They probably watch people come in and get stuck. So, we're looking at the phone, and you can't see it on here, but, um, we're there, but I think there's another way in, and not this way. Yeah, because it's, like, closer to the road. So, the challenge with, uh, Apple or Google Maps, it's always taking the fastest route, and it could be even, like, a minute or 30 seconds faster. So, then it leads you astray from time to time, but we just went around, and now it's showing our way in here. This is an interesting place. Holocaust something. Oh, wow. We'll, uh, we'll do some research and let you know what, where we're gonna be camping for the night. It seems like there's so many camp spots, but they're all at, um, cemeteries. Yeah, a lot of them. Like, I don't know. This is a better route in, that's for sure. But there is a hiking trail. Uh, apparently. Eventually, we find our camp spot and settle in for a peaceful night. Even this little adventure reminds us that some of the most memorable moments on the road come from the unexpected twists along the way. Out here, every detail counts. That's why our family trusts Grappler's. Built tough for the overland life. Whether it's securing gear on the trail, or just keeping your sunglasses right where you need them, Grappler's is small, strong, and always ready for action. From desert dust to mountain rain, tested, proven, and trusted by our entire family. Grappler's.com. Gear that grips as hard as you do. Go to grapplers.com or click the link This is the Lake District. The gentleman that was sitting beside us yesterday when we were at that restaurant, uh, suggested we come here and it's an absolutely beautiful area. But we're, we just woke up and we're driving out and we see a sign here that says, um, Holocaust something. And so I quickly googled it because we don't, we didn't come here for that and we didn't know, uh, that was going to be here. But of all things, it's a terrible dark story. In this quiet forest outside Trukai, a great tragedy unfolded in September 1941. On one day, more than 1,400 men, women, and children, farmers, merchants, and townspeople, who had long been part of this community, were brought here and massacred. The local Lithuanian police refused the orders to carry out the executions. So a Nazi unit from Vilnius did it instead. This memory now stands in their honor. It reminds us that these were not soldiers, but neighbors and families. Here among the trees, their memory calls to us to remember and to choose compassion over hatred. It really drives home, you know, man's inhumanity to man. I remember learning about that in school and how over the ages, uh, we're always fighting and looking for ways to exterminate people we don't understand and people that are different than us, even if it's just a different nationality or a different religion. So I think, uh, as we go through this area and through Poland, especially when we start working our way back that way, um, we're going to see more of that. It's not something we're looking forward to seeing, but it is a history that you need to feel. You need to know and understand what's there because there's so much information nowadays and so many things going on and, um, it's easy to forget the past. And I think I said it earlier on the trip, if you don't learn and, uh, farm country. And what happened was we were last night, we were on a highway out of Vilnius and then we pulled over to find that place to camp. And then we thought we, maybe we should go this way. And then we punched it in and we started going and then halfway down, we thought, no, we we'd better stick with the original plan. But anyway, what that ended up doing was putting us way out here in the country. So we're definitely getting a rural view of Lithuania and probably part of Poland too, when we, uh, when we go across the border. But, uh, it, it wasn't intentional, but it's a great way to see more of the actual country rather than just the, uh, polished areas along the freeway, but it is a lot slower. And bumpier. And bumpier, yeah. This is a rough road. We're working our way back to Germany, but, uh, we're going to go to Gdansk. That's a toilet. Should I wait for this guy? So they have, uh, armed guards at the border crossing, and this is such a rural, in the middle of nowhere, border crossing. It's unbelievable, but, uh, they just pulled us over, checked through the camper a little bit, checked our passports and, uh, admired the, uh, truck and sent us on our way. So we're now in Poland, heading to, I believe, uh, Gdansk. Poland, a land at the crossroads of Europe, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the peaks of the Tatra Mountains. Its vast plains and ancient forest tell stories of endurance and rebirth. Home to more than 38 million people, Poland's spirit is defined by faith and perseverance. Around 90% of Poles identify as Christian, a faith that carried them through war, occupation, and decades of communist rule. From those years of silence and struggle emerged a renewed nation, proud, independent, and deeply rooted in its traditions. Today, Poland stands as one of Europe's fastest growing economies, a vibrant democracy, and a nation flourishing in freedom. As we drive through the countryside, we pull over at a quiet roadside picnic area surrounded by fields and forests. We unpack a simple meal, stretch our legs, and pause to take it all in. The fresh air, the sunlight, and the friendly folks who stop by to say hello, sharing a smile before we continue on our journey. So we're heading out to a camp spot on this spit of land here outside of Gdansk along the Baltic and I came around the corner and the gate was down on what looks like it is a like a lock bridge for ships that was blocked. I was just sitting there for a while and then and there's a sign in Polish so thank goodness for Google Translate I would say pull it up take a picture and it translates it for you and it said if the south bridge is closed head over to the north bridge and so I don't know how long we sat there and without Google Translate I might have been there for quite a while waiting for that gate to go up but anyway we made it the north bridge was open and now we're heading back into the forest here so this whole strip of land goes right up to Kaliningrad Kaliningrad I believe it's called which is actual Russian territory they never gave it up after World War II and so it's right between I guess Latvia and Poland but either both of those countries have a strip of land that go right up to the border so we're camped right near the border of Russia again. We're now making our way along the narrow Vistula spit that stretches between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula lagoon. The road takes us through quiet pine forests and beautiful beach towns humming with life. Beach goers, cyclists, and families all enjoying this coastal paradise. We plan to set up camp at the far end of the spit a few kilometers from the Russian border. Smells good. So we're not quite there yet another eight minutes but every little camp along here is super busy. A lot of people are still on holidays and we thought maybe because it was a Tuesday it would be less but not the case. It is a beautiful place so we're hoping the last camp spot that we're going to here will be a little less busy. Wow this is kind of crazy. I don't know what we're getting into here but we are going up a narrow road and hopefully there's a place up there. Right now it doesn't look too promising. And it took like two hours so now we're gonna have to backtrack two hours. Yeah. What said like 30 minutes? Basically it takes so long because of the so many people and you just got to slowly crawl through it like 20 kilometers an hour the whole way. But who knows? Might turn out to be a good spot. Fingers crossed. How well even this spot is like so busy with people. We're in. We have to find a parking spot down at the end here so it's pretty dammed up but it's all right. So driving up that little road we're kind of second guessing ourselves but as soon as we came around into the parking lot we could see that you know there's some campers there from all over the world. Really good people already we've met and then we walk down and we have this Absolutely beautiful. The sunset is about to go down over there. We're right on the bottom the lower end of the Baltic Sea and I tell you it's hard to find a better spot than this so it's not what I used to think of when I thought of Poland and you know just traveling through all these countries is just opening my eyes to what these countries are all about and how much is actually here and how awesome the people are and the place so it's been amazing so far and we're looking forward to spending some time here. We'd spend two days but we don't have any more cash. They have no cell reception here in order to use a car but we'll decide we might drive down into town or walk down tomorrow pick some cash up and then come back but we'll let you know. on the beach and we're uh unfortunately we just had enough euros to pay for last night which is only like 12 euros or something but they don't have any digital way of paying unfortunately so we have to head into town and hopefully we can find an ATM and get some get some euros. If not we'll have to find another camp down the road a bit but this one was pretty much perfect. I was hoping to do some editing and walking on the beach and there's some hikes around here but yeah we'll let you know how it goes. Got the cash in town, found an ATM and came back so we'll do one more day here. Good morning we're just having a coffee down here on the beach enjoying the sound of the waves and the birds and as soon as we fully wake up we're gonna pack up and carry on down the road. I think we're gonna go to the city of Gdansk today and and then start working our way south. First things first, coffee. You'll see piles of rocks like this. People are combing the beach for amber. You'll see people with buckets and little pieces of it. They used it for trading back in the day. It was rare in all the other countries but it's pretty abundant here so that was kind of interesting. I was wondering why everyone had these buckets and they were kind of filtering through it and finding all these little pieces of amber. I thought that was really cool. I haven't had any luck. I don't know what to quite look for but the locals seem to know what to find or how to find it. I'm trying to learn how to find it. Let me see, can I film your pieces? So that's what I'm talking about? Yes. Yeah okay and you just look for the shine with the sun. Yes. Okay thank you. That's fun. A treasure hunt. That was fun. So you look for the shine on the sand mainly in the mornings and in the evenings. What a neat thing to do. I really like this beach for that reason. Before heading back on the road we decide to stretch our legs and walk the three and a half kilometers through the beautiful pine forests down to the border and back. I think this is the most prettiest part of the trail here. It looks like uh it's been mowed in between the trees but it's just thick moss. Isn't that pretty? All morning you could hear the like around I don't know four to five you could hear hogs squealing and running around our camp. I never saw any but uh you definitely hear them so I wonder if that's what uh we see every once in a while it's like lots of moss brought up onto the pathway here. It might be them kind of foraging for stuff. So we're parked about three and a half kilometers from here and there's a nice trail so Carol and I decided to do a walk before heading out today from our parking lot to the border with Russia. This state of Russia that was it's kind of landlocked from the main mainland Russia it's called Kaliningrad but that's the border there do not cross and so we just took a few pictures and now we're turning around and walking back to the truck and carry on. After enjoying a few peaceful days at the beach we return to the road heading towards Gdansk. Navigating narrow streets we finally find a place suitable for parking the truck. Our walk to the old city takes us right through the historic shipyards where ordinary people changed the course of history. We pause at the outdoor display reflecting on the courage and determination of those who stood for freedom sparking a movement that would help reshape a nation. So this is the site of a pretty famous strike that took place back in 1980 under communist rule which started right here in the in the stockyards and with a few hundred people then went to thousands and then to 10 million people went on strike across Poland forcing major political changes and and being one of the major catalysts for getting rid of communism. They had no rights, no freedom of any kind, no freedom of speech and that's what they were fighting for just the ability to be free. So this huge square here with these crosses and everything is one of their most visited sites just in remembering the horrors of communism that they went through and people like this who have been freed from it will never ever go back to something as horrible as communism. So it's neat to come down here and see it and see young kids reading the signs and older people remembering it's 1980 man that wasn't that long ago. Here inside the London shipyard ordinary men and women tired of empty promises and broken systems decided they'd had enough. Led by an electrician named Lech Walesa they stood together not just for better wages but for something far greater freedom. What began as a strike became a movement solidarity the first independent union behind the iron curtain. It was more than defiance it was hope made visible. The world watched as shipyard workers faced down a powerful regime armed only with courage and faith and though the government tried to crush them with fear prison and martial law the spark they lit could not be extinguished. Nearly a decade later the same spark spread across eastern Europe toppling walls breaking chains and ending communist rule. It all began here in Gdansk where the courage of ordinary people changed the course of history and reminded the world that freedom is worth standing for. After learning the incredible history of the Gdansk shipyard we continue into the heart of Old Town. The streets come alive with colorful food carts and the aroma of local treats filling the air. Friendly smiling people bustle about creating a lively welcoming atmosphere. Everywhere we look buildings and architecture from a bygone era tell stories of centuries past. Ornate facades gabled roofs and towering churches reflect the city's rich history and enduring charm. Gdansk Old Town feels like a living museum where the past and present coexist in every street and square. We make our way through the bustling streets to the iconic fountain in the main square the Neptune fountain. This striking bronze statue of Neptune the Roman god of the sea has stood here since the early 17th century symbolizing Gdansk's close ties to the Baltic and its maritime heritage. Towering above the square is the town hall tower part of Gdansk's historic main tower hall. Its ornate spire and clock rising over the colorful facades. From the square we make our way to the waterfront where the Matlava river reflects the colorful facades of historic buildings. Boats and ships drift gently along the water while cafes and terraces line the quays bustling with people enjoying the view. Walking here it's easy to feel the rhythm of the city a mix of history culture and everyday life all framed by the beauty of Gdansk's riverside. We've really enjoyed walking through the old city here in Gdansk and now we've stopped at a restaurant to try some polish pierogies. We've ordered a whole bunch we didn't know what we were ordering but we think we got a good mix and we'll show you what we got but they bring out a starter with homemade bread and some kind of potato butter I think it is what you said but yeah it's nice to take a little break here and in the background we're in the shadow of the Saint Mary's Basilica which is a huge church kind of center of the entire city here. So the pierogies have arrived I'm not sure what the black one is I forgot to ask her but these ones are traditional these ones are baking or oven baked and a couple different sauces so I don't even know do you eat them with your hands? It looks like you do but I'll eat it with a fork. Looks super good some of these have beef ribs and I got a whole mix. After a meal of delicious pierogies we begin heading back to the truck but along the way we pass the Saint Mary's Basilica the doors are open and we step inside. Built between 1343 and 1502 this massive church is the largest brick church in the world. Inside soaring vaulted ceilings intricate altars and beautifully detailed paintings fill the space while light filters through tall stained glass windows casting colorful patterns on the floors. Standing here it's easy to feel the centuries of faith artistry and devotion that have shaped this remarkable place. Eventually we leave the bustling city streets behind and head out into the countryside searching for a quiet spot to set up camp for the night. After a few hours of driving we find what we've been looking for a peaceful place just off the road surrounded by fields forest and the gentle sounds of nature. Here we can finally pause unwind make a meal and reflect on the day's adventures before the journey continues. So I made up some chimichurri just a little bit and then I have the leftover zucchini some onion and some beets with a t-bone for tonight. My bag got a little bit dirty but I love this camping spice kit from the original Cold Smoke Salt and Pepper Company. It just has everything that you need to just spice up your meal. Thank you for watching this week's video. We hope you have been enjoying the European series so far. We're nearing the end of the first part of the journey with just two more episodes left before we head back to the cabin to spend the fall with the kids in Lando and to prepare for the next leg of our European adventure. If you missed any of the previous videos click the link at the end to get all caught up and in the meantime we'll see you down the road.