Trakai, almost 30 km from Vilnius, was the original capital of Lithuania...before Vilnius (www.trakai.lt).  The town of Trakai features two castles and some really cool wooden cottages built by the Karaites.  The Karaites were Judaic  people hailing from Baghdad and arriving in the early 1400's.  Today, Karaites still exist and are Lithuanias smallest ethnic minority.  With only 60 residents remaining, they are at great risk of dying out. 

Trakai Castle is central to the town, surrounded by a beautiful serene lake complete with swans and rowboats. Restaurants and shops line the shoreline. Because the Karaites have been established here for over 600 years, many restaurants offer traditional Karaites food.  We chose to eat lunch at the highly recommended, long wait to be seated, Kibinine (http://www.kibinas.lt/index.php?cid=1&lang=en).  The food was worth the wait.  We found the food to be similar to what you might find in Poland or Russia: beet soup, crepes, lots of meat and potato options. But one thing that differed and is apparently quite popular (with darned good reason) is the Karaite pasties called kibinai.  These are hot pastry pockets about 8 inches in length and look similar to a small calzone. They are stuffed with vegetables and/or meat. Duuuude...they are delish.  The price for 5 of us to order anything our hearts desire, including some excellent beverages (i.e. Lithuanian beer...okay, make that beerssss) and leave beyond stuffed (think Thanksgiving) - around $30.

 

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