MUNDOLOGIA: Baltic States

Magical Baltic States - people, myth, midsummer

Why does the north-east of Europe enchant every visitor who has ever set foot in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia? Is it the endless Baltic sunsets, the untouched flora and fauna with the typical stork colonies that have become so rare here? Or the original customs of the people with their traditional colorful costumes?

Photographer and adventurer Robert Neu explores this question on foot, by boat and in a camper van. His journey takes him from the Curonian Spit in Lithuania to the deserted Baltic beaches of Latvia and on to almost Scandinavian Estonia. He spends months on the road, discovering dreamlike landscapes and vibrant cities such as Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. At a traditional midsummer festival, he meets people who keep the rites and customs of the Baltic region alive. In Estonia he gets his own Baltic island and attends the coronation of a new king, in Lithuania he follows in the footsteps of history and in Latvia he even ends up behind bars. The stories of the people along the way are particularly touching, as are encounters with moose, storks and the last brown bears in Europe. Globetrotter Robert Neu takes the audience on a fascinating journey - always in search of the special magic of this unique region.

Further information and pictures of this MUNDOLOGIA lecture can be found at www.mundologia.de