(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The Honorary Consul of Oman in Lithuania Boleta Senkiene was in Muscat earlier this month. It was the fifth time she has been to the sultanate since being appointed to the post last year attesting to the warming relations between the two countries.
Oman is the only GCC state represented in Lithuania with a consulate officially set to open this November. Excerpts from an interview:
What are your impressions of Oman
I've fallen in love with Oman. It's a very welcoming and warm country in every aspect. the people are open modest and nice. It's the same in Lithuania. We really love our guests and care for them. Here too the guest is a very special person. Since being appointed as Honorary Consul last year i've been to Oman five times spending around one month here in total. There's no other country in the world I have been to so many times in so short a period. I really feel at home.
A marker denoting the geographical centre of Europe near Vilnius
And how are you liking our summer
We have temperatures of 35°C and over for only two to four days in Lithuania. this year we had it for about two weeks. It was very unusual. Perhaps it is because relations between Oman and Lithuania are getting warmer.
Have you seen much of Oman
I haven't had a chance to travel much because i'm very busy every time i come. But i have camped out under the desert sky. It's an unforgettable experience.
Have you picked up some Arabic then
Mafi mushkila
. No problems there. I have picked up a couple of words and phrases. Hello Goodbye thank you Welcome – like with all languages you try to pick up key words and go from there.
The Presidential palace in Vilnius
And what do Lithuanians know of Oman Does Oman get regular visitors from there
There has to be awareness created about this beautiful country. I read recently that the number of tourists to Oman had increased by 7.8 per cent. That's really impressive. It shows also that Oman is looking for a certain type of tourist. Oman is a country to visit for its culture and heritage. That's what attracts people. Every one discovers and takes back something different. I don't see any reason why more Omanis should not discover Lithuania. So many families go on long trips all over Europe why not stop over in Lithuania
Sand dunes of the Curonian Spit (a UNESCO world heritage site)
|
The Auktaitija national park
|
Are there some common characteristics that Lithuania shares with Oman
Like Oman we have a long history – the first recorded instance of Lithuania is in a document from 1009 BC. Like Muscat our capital Vilnius is historical and attracts tourists. There are also plenty of old castles and forts as in Oman. Even our populations are more or less the same – around 3mn people. But it's not as big (as Oman). You can drive across Lithuania in four hours. We also have a very small peninsula – unlike Oman our coastline is only 99km long – which offers some beautiful views.
The heart of Europe (the midpoint of the continent) is said to lie in Lithuania
Yes geographically our country is at the centre of Europe. if (Europe being a big place) you ask me whether Lithuania is far away i would say that it's only 1 hour 45 minutes by flight from Frankfurt.
The old world charm of Vilnius
I'm not sure if this is true but are Lithuanians among the tallest people in the world (taken on average)
(Laughs) When in Lithuania you might feel that you're among a slightly taller people. It's not that we're all tall but you can find a higher number of really tall people. And we are very good in basketball too. Of course it helps to be tall. Over here though it's football that rules. It's the world's most popular game for a reason. Football is popular in Lithuania too. We aren't as good in football as in basketball where we are always looking to beat the US and have a lot of Lithuanians play in the NBA. We could help basketball take off in Oman. The results wouldn't come fast but it would be a start.
What other activities are popular with Lithuanians
We like to keep busy. At the end of August people go mushrooming. It is a very popular activity in summer when there are many different kinds of mushrooms to pick and preserve for the winter. There's an interesting related story: Boleta is not a Lithuanian name. It was invented by my parents. It comes from the Latin boletus a mushroom species.
Mushroom-picking is a popular activity
How are the schools in Lithuania
Our education system is consistently ranked among the best in the European Union (EU). Lithuania is one of the most educated EUnations in terms of people with higher education degrees. Around 80 per cent of the population speaks at least one foreign language and 50 per cent speaks two. So English speakers won't be at a loss for words in Lithuania.
What is the food scene like
It's mainly European but of course you can find lots of other cuisines. Our national cuisine is dominated by potatoes. We eat them mashed or boiled. There's a variety of potato dishes. And meat dishes of course. We raise a lot of animals – and in the old way provide them with a lot of water and a lot of grass. It's all very natural. We have a variant of the Russian borscht. It's a popular soup and a fixture in most restaurant menus.
What would be the best time to visit Lithuania
We have four seasons in Lithuania and you can really feel all of them. In winter it goes to –30°C (but only for a couple of days)and then there's a great autumn after the winter. But perhaps the best time for a first trip to Lithuania would be in the summer. Or you could simply export some of the warmth Oman has to
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.