If you have any thoughts of making a trip to Lithuania, I urge you to do so and not wait. To walk in the footsteps of our ancestors is a feeling that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. -- Jeanne Shalna Dorr,
Letter From the Editor,
Bridges - The Lithuanianian American News Journal
(June, 2006)
A trip "back home" is unlike any other travel experience you can have. It is interesting, deeply personal, and memorable beyond description.
You will feel your Lithuanian roots. You will experience the warmth of the Lithuanian spirit and the unforgettable delight of conversing with those who share your family name.
Visiting ones Lithuanian heritage completes a circle that was never quite whole because of time, distance, war, and occupation. But Lithuania is now an open and very hospitable country. Your relatives, even distant ones, will be happy to see you.
There is a great fascination in Lithuania about what happened to "those who moved away." There is much to talk about - - how life used to be, how it is now, and how connections of name, family and genealogy have endured over the years.
We have found that conversations are easy and friendly. There is a lot to catch up on, on both sides!
And of course you will travel in the beautiful Lithuanian countryside. The rural character of the country is still very much present.
But Jeanne Shalna Dorr is right when she says that you should not wait. Things will change as Lithuania integrates with the European Union. Now is the time to see the small villages, the small farmsteads, the emphasis on independence and self-sufficiency, the way it was when your relatives made their way to another land.
What do we provide? Most of the time, the answer is "Just about everything!" We can help locate relatives, we can facilitate family gatherings, we can provide transportation and arrange for lodging, and of course we will be your translator. Our experience can insure that you step off of the plane and have your days planned for you, especially your visits to your broad extended Lithuanian family.
Or we can provide only a part of this, if that is what you prefer. We can provide excellent escorted sightseeing and countryside tours, for example. We also offer excellent Lithuanian history tours.
If you want to have contact with people who share your name, we do our best job when you can provide us with ample information about names, places and general genealogy. But even with less than perfect information, we will surprise you with what we can do!
How much does this service cost? Less than you might think. You can find a more detailed discussion of costs in our Frequently Asked Questions.