the Baltics with our last Baltic country
the Baltics with our last Baltic country

if you didn't watch the Latvia episode
if you didn't watch the Latvia episode

it basically goes like this welcome to
it basically goes like this welcome to

the creepier Baltic sister Lithuania
the creepier Baltic sister Lithuania

[Music]
[Music]

everybody host Barb's okay once again I
everybody host Barb's okay once again I

know some of you guys are kind of like
know some of you guys are kind of like

come on barb stop calling the two
come on barb stop calling the two

countries creepy but my response is that
countries creepy but my response is that

would be it's kind of true and it's not
would be it's kind of true and it's not

necessarily a bad thing if used in a
necessarily a bad thing if used in a

charming way some people like creepy I
charming way some people like creepy I

mean just capitalize off of it I mean
mean just capitalize off of it I mean

like Latvia I made that prison hotel
like Latvia I made that prison hotel

Turkmenistan did that thing with the
Turkmenistan did that thing with the

burning hole believes made bank off of
burning hole believes made bank off of

whale vomit
whale vomit

who knew that stuff would be so
who knew that stuff would be so

expensive up the market anyway huh
expensive up the market anyway huh

cha-ching okay we need to get back to
cha-ching okay we need to get back to

Lithuania let's find out where it is now
Lithuania let's find out where it is now

shall we now Lithuania may be the
shall we now Lithuania may be the

largest baltic country in size but it
largest baltic country in size but it

kind of got the short end of the stick
kind of got the short end of the stick

when it came to coastline first of all
when it came to coastline first of all

the country is located in the area of
the country is located in the area of

europe known as the baltic which no
europe known as the baltic which no

shocker borders the Baltic Sea to the
shocker borders the Baltic Sea to the

north the nation is divided into ten
north the nation is divided into ten

counties with the capital Vilnius
counties with the capital Vilnius

located in the south they're also
located in the south they're also

surrounded by four countries remember
surrounded by four countries remember

this little chopped-up exclaimed
this little chopped-up exclaimed

Kaliningrad belongs to Russia in which
Kaliningrad belongs to Russia in which

they share this long famous stretch of
they share this long famous stretch of

land known as the caronian spit a
land known as the caronian spit a

98-kilometer long sandy barricade with
98-kilometer long sandy barricade with

dunes about 54 kilometers of which
dunes about 54 kilometers of which

belong to Lithuania and it all
belong to Lithuania and it all

effectively cuts off the entire caronian
effectively cuts off the entire caronian

Lagoon except for this small opening at
Lagoon except for this small opening at

the port of Klaipeda this is literally
the port of Klaipeda this is literally

where almost all sea-bound shipping
where almost all sea-bound shipping

comes in to Lithuania I mean come on
comes in to Lithuania I mean come on

nobody's gonna deliver cargo at that
nobody's gonna deliver cargo at that

dinky little dock at palanga so
dinky little dock at palanga so

essentially Russia has the bigger
essentially Russia has the bigger

portion of the lagoon but Lithuania has
portion of the lagoon but Lithuania has

the only way out yeah we don't need we
the only way out yeah we don't need we

have opening at Vistula Lagoon on
have opening at Vistula Lagoon on

straight of ball tisk
straight of ball tisk

it has funny looking star fortress thing
it has funny looking star fortress thing

to welcome you Oh Russia I can't wait to
to welcome you Oh Russia I can't wait to

do your episode largest cities after
do your episode largest cities after

Vilnius are cool news and the city we
Vilnius are cool news and the city we

just talked about Klaipeda
just talked about Klaipeda

and surprisingly for such a small
and surprisingly for such a small

country they actually have four
country they actually have four

international airports busiest in order
international airports busiest in order

being Vilnius CONUS palanga and shoal i
being Vilnius CONUS palanga and shoal i

internationals now here's the thing
internationals now here's the thing

Lithuania is proud to claim that they
Lithuania is proud to claim that they

debated lis have the geographical center
debated lis have the geographical center

of Europe like they literally even built
of Europe like they literally even built

a monument in sculpture park next to
a monument in sculpture park next to

showcase a nope wrong nope
showcase a nope wrong nope

no really Hungary even you yep no I mean
no really Hungary even you yep no I mean

the Guinness Book of World Records
the Guinness Book of World Records

recognises my village job no make of it
recognises my village job no make of it

what you will the country doesn't really
what you will the country doesn't really

have any territorial anomalies or
have any territorial anomalies or

disputes except for kind of a maritime
disputes except for kind of a maritime

dispute with Latvia up north something
dispute with Latvia up north something

about oil reserves and there's that
about oil reserves and there's that

weird salient that juts into Belarus I
weird salient that juts into Belarus I

think we already talked about that in
think we already talked about that in

the Belarus episode did we let's not
the Belarus episode did we let's not

even get started how Lithuania was like
even get started how Lithuania was like

yeah I'm just gonna take this dear
yeah I'm just gonna take this dear

Venetia cou Easter a nice National Park
Venetia cou Easter a nice National Park

from you guys even if it does give me
from you guys even if it does give me

like a one mile wide quarter to reach it
like a one mile wide quarter to reach it

oh yeah we did well cool I guess I don't
oh yeah we did well cool I guess I don't

have to discuss it minimal effort funny
have to discuss it minimal effort funny

enough there's a micro nation in
enough there's a micro nation in

Lithuania the Republic of boots peace
Lithuania the Republic of boots peace

which is actually just another one of
which is actually just another one of

those Bohemia hippie-ish neighbourhoods
those Bohemia hippie-ish neighbourhoods

in the capital Vilnius
in the capital Vilnius

they kind of wanted to be edgy and cool
they kind of wanted to be edgy and cool

much like Freetown Christiania that we
much like Freetown Christiania that we

studied in the Denmark episode
studied in the Denmark episode

self-proclaimed but unrecognized
self-proclaimed but unrecognized

autonomy is like SoDo Lithuania does
autonomy is like SoDo Lithuania does

kind of have a dark past I mean they did
kind of have a dark past I mean they did

play a huge role in the Holocaust during
play a huge role in the Holocaust during

World War two they had one of the most
World War two they had one of the most

significant Jewish populations in Europe
significant Jewish populations in Europe

once nicknamed the Jerusalem of the
once nicknamed the Jerusalem of the

north nearly the entire population of
north nearly the entire population of

about a quarter million was killed by
about a quarter million was killed by

Nazis with a huge massacre at Poenari
Nazis with a huge massacre at Poenari

many were sent to the hkp 5/6 to forced
many were sent to the hkp 5/6 to forced

labor camp and veal news today various
labor camp and veal news today various

memorials and museums and exhibitions
memorials and museums and exhibitions

can be found to commemorate the incident
can be found to commemorate the incident

also due to the high immigration rate
also due to the high immigration rate

after joining the EU many towns started
after joining the EU many towns started

to see houses and buildings and
to see houses and buildings and

properties left unattended and decaying
properties left unattended and decaying

like the Ignazio nuclear power plant the
like the Ignazio nuclear power plant the

palace of sports and concerts the trade
palace of sports and concerts the trade

unions building the Platina nuclear
unions building the Platina nuclear

launch site yeah nuclear launch site so
launch site yeah nuclear launch site so

yeah that kind of sets the mood right oh
yeah that kind of sets the mood right oh

and they also have a devil's museum and
and they also have a devil's museum and

a KGB experience in a former Soviet
a KGB experience in a former Soviet

bunker where you can pay to pretend to
bunker where you can pay to pretend to

be a prisoner getting yelled at and
be a prisoner getting yelled at and

interrogated complete with guard dogs
interrogated complete with guard dogs

and everything charming speaking of
and everything charming speaking of

which some places of interest might
which some places of interest might

include and keep in mind I will not
include and keep in mind I will not

really pronounce these Baltic words
really pronounce these Baltic words

because they're so hard these castles
because they're so hard these castles

this monastery the Liberty Boulevard the
this monastery the Liberty Boulevard the

hill of three crosses the monument of
hill of three crosses the monument of

the victims of fascism the funicular
the victims of fascism the funicular

railway of this place the Museum for the
railway of this place the Museum for the

blind the cat museum the museum of
blind the cat museum the museum of

illusions the Frank Zappa memorial the
illusions the Frank Zappa memorial the

pan house your Vitas garden and finally
pan house your Vitas garden and finally

the two most iconic cultural landmarks
the two most iconic cultural landmarks

that might really give you a feel of
that might really give you a feel of

what Lithuania is all about the hill of
what Lithuania is all about the hill of

crosses which has over a hundred
crosses which has over a hundred

thousand crosses and nobody really knows
thousand crosses and nobody really knows

why it got started that way and even
why it got started that way and even

though the Vatican says it's a holy
though the Vatican says it's a holy

place full of power
place full of power

locals think it's kind of creepy and the
locals think it's kind of creepy and the

hill of witches a sculpture park with
hill of witches a sculpture park with

sinister-looking carved wood images
sinister-looking carved wood images

depicting characters from ancient
depicting characters from ancient

Athenian folklore from back in the pagan
Athenian folklore from back in the pagan

days so yeah Lithuania is kind of like a
days so yeah Lithuania is kind of like a

weird pagan ii catholic ii forest loving
weird pagan ii catholic ii forest loving

technology advancing but kind of
technology advancing but kind of

reserved an overcast country so much to
reserved an overcast country so much to

cover let's start with those forests
cover let's start with those forests

well here we are again for the third
well here we are again for the third

time explaining basically the same thing
time explaining basically the same thing

that we discussed in the Latvia and
that we discussed in the Latvia and

Estonia episodes I know you're gonna be
Estonia episodes I know you're gonna be

tempted to skip through this section so
tempted to skip through this section so

to keep you watching here's Keith on
to keep you watching here's Keith on

bass Lithuania or Lea Tuva gets its name
bass Lithuania or Lea Tuva gets its name

from via to spa which means rain here
from via to spa which means rain here

symbolizing the abundance of rain and
symbolizing the abundance of rain and

fertile land first of all the country is
fertile land first of all the country is

made up of four general parts the flat
made up of four general parts the flat

coast the slightly higher uplands the
coast the slightly higher uplands the

middle lowlands and the Baltic Highlands
middle lowlands and the Baltic Highlands

here you can find the tallest point
here you can find the tallest point

extroyer's at only about 293 meters in
extroyer's at only about 293 meters in

elevation making the tweeny of the
elevation making the tweeny of the

flattest of the Baltic States
flattest of the Baltic States

amidst everything at over a third of the
amidst everything at over a third of the

country you will find just like the
country you will find just like the

other Baltic States a plethora of boggy
other Baltic States a plethora of boggy

marshland and swamps as well as forests
marshland and swamps as well as forests

the longest river being the Neman which
the longest river being the Neman which

starts in belarus flowing through Qo'noS
starts in belarus flowing through Qo'noS

blocking into the conus reservoir
blocking into the conus reservoir

however the largest lake would be lake
however the largest lake would be lake

droogs I share partially with Belarus
droogs I share partially with Belarus

wait did I mention that in the Belarus
wait did I mention that in the Belarus

episode also you have an island split
episode also you have an island split

between Belarus and Lithuania in link
between Belarus and Lithuania in link

reach ooh and two islands and two
reach ooh and two islands and two

peninsulas in like group she a or dist
peninsulas in like group she a or dist

Vaati dang i did a good job in the
Vaati dang i did a good job in the

belarus episode i'm making my job so
belarus episode i'm making my job so

much easier for me on the national
much easier for me on the national

animal is historic lithuania also has
animal is historic lithuania also has

the highest nesting density for storks
the highest nesting density for storks

in the world they believe it's good luck
in the world they believe it's good luck

of historic and that's near your house
of historic and that's near your house

they even have a holiday dedicated to
they even have a holiday dedicated to

them on March 25th
them on March 25th

so anyway resources one thing that
so anyway resources one thing that

Lithuania is famous for is amber the
Lithuania is famous for is amber the

Baltic coast has the largest known
Baltic coast has the largest known

natural amber deposits in the world and
natural amber deposits in the world and

Lithuania was pretty much the place
Lithuania was pretty much the place

where it all started in the town of
where it all started in the town of

you'll die on day I'm not even gonna try
you'll die on day I'm not even gonna try

that again otherwise much of the land is
that again otherwise much of the land is

arable over 1/3 is cultivated some
arable over 1/3 is cultivated some

national dishes of Lithuania might
national dishes of Lithuania might

include things like cold beet soup
include things like cold beet soup

stuffed cabbage rolls that custom these
stuffed cabbage rolls that custom these

dairy product thing anthill cake tree
dairy product thing anthill cake tree

cake poppy seed rolls blood soup and
cake poppy seed rolls blood soup and

lily pootis cheese para todos los que
lily pootis cheese para todos los que

habla espanol si si lo escucha tambien
habla espanol si si lo escucha tambien

kallithea todos and probably the most
kallithea todos and probably the most

iconic dish potato dumplings who got
iconic dish potato dumplings who got

through that section now let's meet the
through that section now let's meet the

Lithuanians shall we Wow
Lithuanians shall we Wow

not other few Indians are fine and dandy
not other few Indians are fine and dandy

like cotton candy
like cotton candy

remember that Lithuanian geography a
remember that Lithuanian geography a

throw that I met in Tokyo she was cool a
throw that I met in Tokyo she was cool a

gift that I literally tried to hit you
gift that I literally tried to hit you

up for this episode just get some
up for this episode just get some

information but I couldn't find your
information but I couldn't find your

email I don't know if you're watching
email I don't know if you're watching

this right now let me know what you
this right now let me know what you

think was it accurate so anyway the
think was it accurate so anyway the

country has about 2.8 million people and
country has about 2.8 million people and

is the largest economy in the Baltics
is the largest economy in the Baltics

with the highest GDP as well the
with the highest GDP as well the

majority of the country at around 88
majority of the country at around 88

percent identify as ethnically
percent identify as ethnically

lithuanian 6% are poles 5% russian and
lithuanian 6% are poles 5% russian and

the rest are other groups mostly slobs
the rest are other groups mostly slobs

like Ukrainians and Belarusians with a
like Ukrainians and Belarusians with a

few other minority groups mixed in as
few other minority groups mixed in as

well they use the euro as their currency
well they use the euro as their currency

the type-c plug outlet and they drive on
the type-c plug outlet and they drive on

the right side of the road now if you
the right side of the road now if you

really want to get a feel of everything
really want to get a feel of everything

Baltic Lithuania is kind of like the
Baltic Lithuania is kind of like the

epicenter the politics were like the
epicenter the politics were like the

last places in Europe to convert to
last places in Europe to convert to

Christianity and to this day like Latvia
Christianity and to this day like Latvia

and Estonia ancient pagan traditions and
and Estonia ancient pagan traditions and

folklore still live on through festivals
folklore still live on through festivals

artwork and traditions in a nutshell
artwork and traditions in a nutshell

though Lithuania was more Catholic
though Lithuania was more Catholic

influence and Latvia was more Protestant
influence and Latvia was more Protestant

influenced Lithuania joined Poland in
influenced Lithuania joined Poland in

the Commonwealth and became at one point
the Commonwealth and became at one point

the largest country in Europe while
the largest country in Europe while

Latvia was taken over by the Germans and
Latvia was taken over by the Germans and

Prussians and whatnot first of all the
Prussians and whatnot first of all the

language as mentioned before Latvian and
language as mentioned before Latvian and

Lithuanian are the only two surviving
Lithuanian are the only two surviving

Baltic languages left in the world their
Baltic languages left in the world their

older brother Old Prussian died out in
older brother Old Prussian died out in

the 1800s and these two languages are
the 1800s and these two languages are

ancient like older than Greek half the
ancient like older than Greek half the

words and names end in s and like half
words and names end in s and like half

of everything ends in like newest or eat
of everything ends in like newest or eat

this Lithuanian is disputable II the
this Lithuanian is disputable II the

oldest indo-european language still in
oldest indo-european language still in

use some say it even still retains words
use some say it even still retains words

that related to ancient Sanskrit
that related to ancient Sanskrit

originated in India yeah India for
originated in India yeah India for

example agnus vs. nice values vs. vay
example agnus vs. nice values vs. vay

asks de Vos do you have us and the list
asks de Vos do you have us and the list

goes on and on it's pretty strange how
goes on and on it's pretty strange how

close the coincidence is when you look
close the coincidence is when you look

into it I want to say thank you in
into it I want to say thank you in

Lithuanian all you have to do is sneeze
Lithuanian all you have to do is sneeze

like literally the word for thank you is
like literally the word for thank you is

achoo now if you don't know anything
achoo now if you don't know anything

about the Baltic this region has the
about the Baltic this region has the

highest ratio of two things blond-haired
highest ratio of two things blond-haired

blue-eyed people and women to men the
blue-eyed people and women to men the

numbers usually switch off every so
numbers usually switch off every so

often but Lithuania usually ranks second
often but Lithuania usually ranks second

or third between Latvia and Estonia when
or third between Latvia and Estonia when

it comes to male and female ratios
it comes to male and female ratios

ranging between point eight eight males
ranging between point eight eight males

for every female this is partially due
for every female this is partially due

to a number of factors such as large
to a number of factors such as large

portions of the male population being
portions of the male population being

killed off during war times mortality
killed off during war times mortality

rates caused by things like smoking or
rates caused by things like smoking or

alcoholism and suicide here at Agra now
alcoholism and suicide here at Agra now

we don't gloss over the controversy but
we don't gloss over the controversy but

try to report it as objectively as
try to report it as objectively as

possible
possible

and unfortunately Lithuania often
and unfortunately Lithuania often

in the top three suicide per capita
in the top three suicide per capita

nations in the world many times first in
nations in the world many times first in

a weird way though this dark fact has
a weird way though this dark fact has

kind of put a sort of weirdly
kind of put a sort of weirdly

romanticized image on Lithuania and
romanticized image on Lithuania and

Lithuanian stew the point where that
Lithuanian stew the point where that

people just kind of shrug and own up to
people just kind of shrug and own up to

it I mean this dude invented a
it I mean this dude invented a

euthanasia roller coaster concept
euthanasia roller coaster concept

designed to kill the passengers and
designed to kill the passengers and

Lithuania was selected to be the
Lithuania was selected to be the

childhood home of fictional character
childhood home of fictional character

Hannibal Lecter add some pagan statues
Hannibal Lecter add some pagan statues

juxtaposed to thousands of overly ornate
juxtaposed to thousands of overly ornate

crosses in a swampy land and bam you
crosses in a swampy land and bam you

have the perfect setting for no but
have the perfect setting for no but

seriously in Lithuania is not all jump
seriously in Lithuania is not all jump

scares it's more of like a legendary
scares it's more of like a legendary

place where ancient customs still live
place where ancient customs still live

on with a valiant populace that became
on with a valiant populace that became

the first to break away from the Soviet
the first to break away from the Soviet

empire and they loved basketball
empire and they loved basketball

speaking of which history time in the
speaking of which history time in the

quickest way I can put it pagan tribes
quickest way I can put it pagan tribes

this guy unites them all and becomes
this guy unites them all and becomes

King like literally the only King in all
King like literally the only King in all

their history wars with the Teutonic
their history wars with the Teutonic

order the 1400s it becomes the biggest
order the 1400s it becomes the biggest

country in Europe with the Polish
country in Europe with the Polish

Lithuanian Commonwealth they briefly
Lithuanian Commonwealth they briefly

colonized parts of Africa and the
colonized parts of Africa and the

Caribbean colonies sold off and lost
Caribbean colonies sold off and lost

divided by Russia Prussia and Austria
divided by Russia Prussia and Austria

books smuggling years to keep their
books smuggling years to keep their

language alive quick independence in
language alive quick independence in

1918 but then the Russians came in again
1918 but then the Russians came in again

Nazis tried to take it go back to the
Nazis tried to take it go back to the

USSR bloodiest guerilla war in European
USSR bloodiest guerilla war in European

history over 30,000 Lithuanian men died
history over 30,000 Lithuanian men died

singing revolution with all the other
singing revolution with all the other

Baltic states independence finally in
Baltic states independence finally in

the 90s joins the EU and eurozone they
the 90s joins the EU and eurozone they

somehow became the basketball capital of
somehow became the basketball capital of

Europe and it's almost like a religion
Europe and it's almost like a religion

to them and here we are today and
to them and here we are today and

speaking of basketball some famous
speaking of basketball some famous

Lithuanians might include all these
Lithuanians might include all these

basketball players and this one is
basketball players and this one is

probably the most famous this guy who's
probably the most famous this guy who's

supposed to be like the king but died
supposed to be like the king but died

before it could happen
before it could happen

painter Michael Lewis Constantinus
painter Michael Lewis Constantinus

director Jonas Mekas writer Salome
director Jonas Mekas writer Salome

Esther Nerys fear to lose elect nah
Esther Nerys fear to lose elect nah

celebrities with partial Lithuanian
celebrities with partial Lithuanian

heritage but it still kind of counts to
heritage but it still kind of counts to

the Dominions might include Jason
the Dominions might include Jason

Sudeikis Charles Bronson john c reilly
Sudeikis Charles Bronson john c reilly

Sean Penn Sacha Baron Cohen Bob Dylan
Sean Penn Sacha Baron Cohen Bob Dylan

William Shatner pink Anthony Kiedis and
William Shatner pink Anthony Kiedis and

before we finish off this segment some
before we finish off this segment some

last-minute factoids instead of the
last-minute factoids instead of the

Easter Bunny they have an Easter grandma
Easter Bunny they have an Easter grandma

they have the highest number of hot air
they have the highest number of hot air

balloons per capita they have their own
balloons per capita they have their own

national perfume scent they have some of
national perfume scent they have some of

the fastest internet in the world is
the fastest internet in the world is

considered bad luck to whistle inside of
considered bad luck to whistle inside of

a house otherwise it will explode and
a house otherwise it will explode and

burn down and yeah that's about it for
burn down and yeah that's about it for

now Lithuania let's talk about their
now Lithuania let's talk about their

friends now
friends now

Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic
Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic

States but often the least publicized
States but often the least publicized

nonetheless some countries have managed
nonetheless some countries have managed

to make their inner circle of course as
to make their inner circle of course as

a member of the EU most of their trade
a member of the EU most of their trade

and business goes through their
and business goes through their

neighbors especially through Germany and
neighbors especially through Germany and

Sweden Iceland was the first country to
Sweden Iceland was the first country to

recognize them after independence the
recognize them after independence the

two get along great they even have a
two get along great they even have a

street named after Iceland the u.s.
street named after Iceland the u.s.

Brazil and the UK each have the largest
Brazil and the UK each have the largest

expat communities outside of Lithuania
expat communities outside of Lithuania

which has only strengthened ties over
which has only strengthened ties over

the years I just found out my hometown
the years I just found out my hometown

Los Angeles has a little lithuania
Los Angeles has a little lithuania

district they love Georgians and
district they love Georgians and

Ukrainians because they share the same
Ukrainians because they share the same

history of being part of the former USSR
history of being part of the former USSR

they support them in any kind of
they support them in any kind of

political movement against Russia they
political movement against Russia they

even send foreign aid Poland is like the
even send foreign aid Poland is like the

ex-boyfriend that they started out
ex-boyfriend that they started out

really happy with but then they fought
really happy with but then they fought

and broke up but over time they moved on
and broke up but over time they moved on

and are just friends now Estonia is like
and are just friends now Estonia is like

the childhood friend that they got along
the childhood friend that they got along

with really well but after graduation
with really well but after graduation

that kind of moved on and Estonia got
that kind of moved on and Estonia got

more and more obsessed with Finland in
more and more obsessed with Finland in

the end though their best friend no
the end though their best friend no

shocker would be their little twin
shocker would be their little twin

sister Latvia even though the years have
sister Latvia even though the years have

caused the two to grow up a little
caused the two to grow up a little

differently they still moved forward
differently they still moved forward

keeping traditions alive sharing the old
keeping traditions alive sharing the old

mystical Baltic charm
mystical Baltic charm

in conclusion Lithuania is the larger of
in conclusion Lithuania is the larger of

the last surviving Baltic peoples on the
the last surviving Baltic peoples on the

planet and it's quite amazing how
planet and it's quite amazing how

they've held it all together to this day
they've held it all together to this day

but seriously if you don't want to
but seriously if you don't want to

become extinct start making babies you
become extinct start making babies you

to Bulgaria those diaspora immigration
to Bulgaria those diaspora immigration

rates are quite alarming
rates are quite alarming

stay tuned Luxembourg is coming up next
stay tuned Luxembourg is coming up next

[Music]
[Music]