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Food &Drink: Local specialities include skilandis (smoked meat), salti barsciai (cold soup), cepelinai (made from grated potatoes with a minced meat filling), vedarai (potato sausage) and bulviniai blynai (potato pancakes). Smoked eel is a famous Baltic delicacy. Waiter service is the norm in restaurants and cafés, but self-service restaurants, bistros and snack bars are numerous. Drink: Local brands of beer and imported drinks are popular. A famous Lithuanian spirit is midus, a mild alcoholic beverage made from honey.
Nightlife: Cinemas can be found in all towns. Lithuanian theatres, most of which are concentrated in the capital, are also renowned. The Jaunimo teatras in Vilnius are famous throughout the country. Opera and ballet are staged in the city at the Vilnius Opera Theatre and Kaunas has a Musical Theatre. Puppet shows are staged for children in Vilnius and Kaunas. There are restaurants with live music as well as numerous discotheques and nightclubs with variety shows in the larger towns.
Shopping: Amber, linen goods and local crafts are good buys. National artists sell their works in specialised art galleries in major towns. Shopping hours: Grocery shops open Mon-Fri 0800-2000.
Special Events: For full details, contact the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism (see address section). The following are some of the main festivals in Lithuania during 2001:
May Skamba, skamba, kankliai -International Folk Festival, Vilnius. Jul 5th International Thomas Mann Festival, Nida. Aug Summer Chamber Music Festival, Juodkrante, Curonion Spit. Sep International Instrumental Folklore Festival 'Griezyne' Vilnius; 'Tris dienas, tris naktis' Beer Festival, Vilnius; Vilnius Days (festivals), Vilnius. Oct 11th International Contemporary Dance Festival, Kaunas. Nov-Dec Festival of Nations (devoted to English and French classical music), Vilnius. Dec 31 Traditional New Year Concerts, Vilnius.
Social Conventions: Handshaking is customary. Normal courtesies should be observed. The Lithuanians are proud of their culture and their national heritage and visitors should take care to respect this sense of national identity. Tipping: Taxi fares and restaurant bills include a tip. Otherwise, tips are discretionary.
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