здравст (which is a more formal version of привет, but also not so formal because it's a shortened version of здравствуйте). all three of these words mean "hello" though, so, there's that.

it's been a while. i didn't want to bother you as much as with my last streak of electronic mails. while i write this intro, i have already wrote the rest of the fanmail. perhaps i should write more regularly, looking at the size of this electronic mail. anyway, i hope you are doing okay. you're very close to the russian border in the latest few entries (close enough that it starts feeling slightly more dramatic than it should). not that i would deter you from going closer, but do be careful. i don't follow the news that much, but the few times i have, the war is still ongoing. maybe not this far north, but you never know. anyway, enough of these patronizing outages. on with the fanmail!

the term backpacker, for me, doesn't have a negative sentiment. i can understand why people would give backpackers a bad rep, but i don't relate. everyone should be able to travel how they please, without being stuck to a particular (sub)-genre of travelling. anyway, did i lump you in? maybe, but if so, no consequences. you're one of the good ones, proven when confronted with cash issue at the hostel and you going to great lengths to get it. good job! (rare efficient bureaucracy moment in the wild)

i wonder if this lithuanian break-fast (the one of cigarettes and coffee) is already a thing. i know (of) people that won't have food until it's lunch-time. from the time they are awake until that time for food, all they have for break-fast are cigarettes and coffee. smoking them, obviously, the cigarettes, not eating them. flower pot at the hostel sounds of the larger variety, seeing it's used by hostel-goers as an ashtray. can't imagine how it looks inside it. and the smell... probably a layered ecosystem at this point. was this hostel really worse than any other? i can't remember you having to hide your items in your pillow case in the other hostels.

good call on the cafe action. even though the coffee was not good, it gave you time to rest and recharge (your phone too, always a secondary victim). too bad about the rain though, but it seems you are well-prepared for it. hope the rain won't last though.

i was hoping for a new laundromat experience, but alas, no luck. maybe next time. maybe it's good to do your laundry in peace for once.

i see the full day in klaipeda was spent well. at least, this has been a great adventure. the dynamics, the character development, the tension, the disappointments, the adventure, and also slightly the comedy. a bit awkward in parts maybe. even though i would not even dare to get that close to those drunken men, babbling about prosecco and oysters, i applaud you for doing it. without any plans, without any repercussions, this was a great time i can imagine. indeed something not to be forgotten for many, many years.

the more relaxed, well versed conversation with the mormons is a great close to this day. a way to wind down after all that adventure.

the train ride(s) sound like the intro of a movie... the details of the main characters, the appearance of notable background characters that are forgotten after a little encounter. i liked the description of the supposed brother of the tri-stack. maybe because it sparks feelings of nostalgia of my younger years. look at that, is this the feeling of "feeling old"? looking out the window of a moving train, taking in the sights, no care for anything going on on the inside. even though i enjoy watching (snowy) mountains, waterfalls, great big meadows, wooden cabins and houses, cows and a slightly clouded, but sun-lit blue sky the most, one of the views you described, the more urban, concrete and steel, paved roads, long train columns of tankers and the like, also has its charm. a different kind of calm. more “industrial meditation”.

in the shopping centre, i am a little sad to hear your ankle is still hurting. must be a big distraction from the adventure, i can imagine. maybe your tolerance for pain is higher and it's all good, until it gets too far. i do not know. anyway, hope if will get some more rest and heal up, before permanent damage ensues. i wish you many well-wishes.

the naughty squirrel hostel sounds... interesting. it's all over the place. advertising adultery, alcohol abuse and gun usage. "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll"-vibes. sounds like the place to go if you want to "release the brakes", if you know the saying, so to speak (or lose them entirely). not my cup of tea (also a saying). but the ak-47 shooting sounds like a big to-do when in riga. anyway, i would do it. image of the fake sticker-bombed wall contains a qr code. it allows me to join the whatsapp group. tempted. even though i am not there, your description raised my curiosity.

good you took the tram. even though it might have been slower, at least you saved that distance traveling on foot and the added pressure on the ankle.

remark on eating at a cemetery: probably disrespectful. cemetery-turned-park: less disrespectful. i guess the clue is usually: if there are trash cans, someone has already decided it's fine.

the encounter with the man-and-dog warms my heart. beautiful encounter, but also beautifully described. this is what pets are about; not to neglect or forget, but to connect with, learn from and teach, go on adventures together.

great hostel experiences once again. it's funny how up until now, you've never really seen 2 of the same type of people in these hostels. each person an individual, un-group-able. i relate heavily with the electrical engineer guy. i would also choose silence as my primary communication mode in that situation. mister marathon (the canadian guy) sounds too excited for something as mundane as running. also, that much running? probably not good for your health. anyway.

the rest of the entry reads as if you had a laid-back chill day, with some needed errands to run/do and time to relax. great forest walk too. image received, looks enchanting, especially with that low sun casting long and wide shadows around. almost like a rendered scene that forgot it was real.

i do not care for a bar-crawl. sounds more like they just stayed at the hostel and got wasted there. why go somewhere else to get even more wasted? no thanks. too many bad memories. sad you missed the feature film. sounds like a better experience than the previous one you went to, which had no readable subtitles. alas, next time.

remark regarding the neglection: no worries. as expressed before, fanmail is optional, experiences and the like are required.

starting strong with the british jokes, spoken to a scottish person. seems fitting. sad to hear your dutch streak got broken again, you did your best at least, for 6 days. streaks are fragile things.

too bad you couldn't go to the forested area on account of the weird tram-situation. kudos to the bottle-collecting man for helping you out. the following train ride is one i would categorise in the “this is why trains exist” category. sounds idyllic.

0-0-0-0, best pin-code ever. but also the most dangerous kind psychologically. this reminds me of previous thought-trains in your entries about not needing to be there and it would look weird if a random person would be standing at the door for an x-amount-of time, but i will not open that loop further than that.

perfect location scouting, castle ruins to have lunch and look around. especially on a hill. elevated thinking, literally.

thanks for attaching the picture of the 1-story low-rent shop space. i was trying to visualise something, but it wasn't this. still, it has character.

not much to note on the first half of this entry, apart from the rude awakening. falling back asleep after, masterful. hope you eventually get that "all's good" message. or maybe they'll forget. or worse... we'll see.

the first thing to comment on: yes, i know it, and i already hate it now being stuck in my head, that typical american, over-exaggerated, accentuated, stretched out expression of "omg". like nails on a chalkboard, but in hd. the guys sound chill though, how they engage in conversation with you. funny they know freestone. small world, or small mission network.

a rather quiet day, a slow day, a day for reflection and rejuvenating. at least, that's what i surmise of the text. travelling to sights in between the heavier rain, while simultaneously enjoying the light rain as well with how well it works with the environment. so far, it sounds as if it's a rather quiet town.

nice monument. something about 10.000 soldiers, something about fascists. probably a war. world-war-one or world-war-two maybe? good to see it still gets the love and care. it looks well taken care of, and although the flowers look a few days old, still nice to see they are being laid there. looking at context, it's probably not peaceful hunters. maybe residents? civilians more likely. lots of words i can't really translate. Very formal language.

nice pictures on ahead. kitties seem to be doing well. good job to the one who has provided the blankets. nice view on the prison grounds. might be illegal, who knows. historically ambiguous at best.

sounds like the rain has finally caught up. playing frogger in real life, except you're not a frog and you're crossing fields with puddles for obstacles instead. close enough.

latest hostel sounds better indeed. more quiet, better organization, better location too. enjoy your stay there.

starting with a streak-break. not the best of days sadly. re-try, re-do. i got kind of sad to hear you won't be meeting freestone in riga. i am invested in this story-arc and where it all will lead to.

i was indeed thinking about something war-related, when talking about these phone alerts. drone attacks. cool. understandable reaction from the people in the train. glad it turned out okay though.

this newest hostel takes the price for weirdest hostel so far, but not because of the people, but because of the building itself. very “escape room energy”, just without the exit puzzles.

mail responses read. thanks for taking the time to do that.

wishing you all the best wishes to be wished.

with kindest regards,

p.s.: when confronted, scam-well simply laughed when asked to write you more often. respectable deflection technique. keep expectation tempered. will try again next time.