Where Is Everyone in this Universe of Ours? Both Čiurlionis and the Poet Justinas Marcinkevičius Are in Druskininkai: Spaces and Names Are Changing

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““You can neither add nor take anything away from the fantasies of Druskininkai, as from the creations of Marcinkevičius,” - the Chairman of the Seimas Culture Committee Kęstutis Vilkauskas, who recently visited Druskininkai with his colleagues, made a witty conclusion with a serious face.

 

Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas, who presents the resort’s vision to guests and has development plans for several decades ahead, does not argue when his ideas are called fantasies. “20 years ago, the water park, the Snow Arena, and many other things that are in Druskininkai today seemed like fantasy,” - he smiles.

 

And it tells about the sea under the roof, which will appear as soon as the bureaucratic obstacles that are stopping the design work are overcome, about the largest Cultural Congress Palace in Lithuania, which would already be finished if it were not for the litigation of the contractors, about the unique bus station, the project of which is being presented at the Venice Biennale, and a helium balloon installed inside the building will rise to a height of 200 meters - it will be able to lift up to 30 people at a time.

 

It would be inaccurate to call the modern bus station a breath of fresh air, because the air in Druskininkai is already so pure, guests from distant lands even joke that it could be traded, but that it is a very welcome object - that's for sure.

 

Transportation is as necessary for the resort as air. And there is currently no way to reach Druskininkai other than by car or bus. Strategic state projects talk about a railway branch, guests dream loudly about an airfield where slightly larger planes could land, and the municipality has taken steps to revive shipping on the Nemunas. Only for reasons completely beyond the control of the municipality, both railway and airplane flights and ships sailing on the Nemunas will have to wait a long time.

 

Understanding this, Druskininkai not only dreams boldly, but no less boldly does everyday work that changes the face of the resort, increases its attractiveness, and the resort, accessible only by car, receives about 370 thousand tourists per year, and the number of overnight stays has exceeded a million for two years in a row.

 

“We live in a time when you can’t stop to rest, thinking that you’ve done enough. Everyone is looking for innovations and doing many interesting things. If you stand still, you’ll soon be overtaken. And it’s always harder to chase,” argues Mayor R. Malinauskas.

 

From his office window, you can see Vilnius Alley – the main pedestrian street in the very heart of the resort. True, the tidy appearance of it will have to wait – this year, grandiose reconstruction works have begun on the alley. They will last about a couple of years and cost about 7 million euros.

 

The reconstruction is being done so that the main artery of the city remains historically valuable and modernly attractive. A new surface will be laid, and old lamps will be replaced with modern ones that illuminate the entire space. After the reconstruction, the alley will have even more greenery and flower beds, among which there will be sculptures of the zodiac signs based on the creative motifs of M.K. Čiurlionis. When the municipality announced a competition for these sculptures, seven proposals were received. The winner will be chosen by a commission of independent experts.

 

Why is the main Druskininkai alley called Vilnius? R. Malinauskas admits that he often receives this question. Some even reproach him for the misleading name. There are also suggestions to change it.

 

So maybe if the appearance of the alley changes, its name will also change? The resort manager does not rule out such a possibility, but assures that the community's opinion should be heard first: it is best when people decide such things themselves and propose names for city places.

 

You don't have to look far for examples - a square named after Justinas Marcinkevičius has just appeared in the city at the suggestion of the residents of Druskininkai. It has become a space where a sculpture has been erected in memory of the poet. Its official unveiling ceremony will be held on July 5 at 7 p.m. with a mesmerizing Vaidilas Theater program based on the work of J. Marcinkevičius "A Tear in the Eye of God".

 

"Singing Bird" created by sculptor Vidmantas Gylikis and architect Linas Krūgelis has landed in the park in front of the Palace of Culture and Congresses under construction.

 

The residents of Druskininkai hope that their construction, which has been stopped due to litigation between contractors, will soon start. “We can already call this object a dream of the century, 75% of which has already been achieved – such is the object’s completion. For it to finally come true, 14 months of construction work and 14 million euros are needed to pay for those works,” says R. Malinauskas. And he lists a few more figures: the area of ​​the palace under construction is more than 8 thousand sq. meters, three halls will be installed, the palace will be able to accommodate almost 2 thousand people at a time. A space adapted for world-class events is being created.

 

And while we have to wait for its appearance, other historical and cultural spaces are being intensively renovated: the M. K. Čiurlionis Monument Square, the Nightingale Trail by the Ratnyčia River, the space by the Education Center – important places of the resort. Their maintenance work, which began in the spring, must be completed in the fall.

 

“Druskininkai, while maintaining its historical resort spirit, is constantly renewing, beautifying and inviting at least once come to us. Usually, there is no need to invite them a second time – once they have been there, they come again,” says Mayor R. Malinauskas.”