Visaginas: Lithuania's Nuclear Town 🇱🇹
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 18 ноя 2021
- 🇱🇹 Since Lithuania gained it's independence in 1991 it has removed as much of its Soviet past as it possibly could unlike in other post-Soviet republics where there are constant reminders of the USSR around every corner. However in the north of the country lies the town of Visaginas where I was told I could find the last remaining Soviet mosaic ( kind of ). Join me as I head north to see how life is in Visaginas which was built to house the workers from the nearby atomic power station and maybe meet some babushkas on the way.
Check out @JohnnyFD's channel here: / johnnyfd
Haha my mother was just telling me how she rode the Visaginas train the other day and there were two foreigners on the train filming and not wearing their masks properly :D and now I spot her in your video.
Oba nice
Pretty bad style not to put masks on like everyone else has to.
@@samvinterbergreads masks are damaging and not needed. Suprised these superior eastern people adhere to these rules to be honest.
@@smokeyfgg damaging? lmao, /r/hermancainaward
@@dissgusting yes damaging..... Humans certainly aren't meant to breathe through fucking cloth/paper all the time
It’s been another fun journey! Shout out to Lithuania 🇱🇹
Miss you, johnny!! No homo
Hello johny
Good to see you guys once again, checking it out hehe🔥🔥
Johnny we all know you guys didn't randomly meet on that train.. lol
The Fur Hat You Bought With Alina!
Hello mate. .loving your work
I'm the English man in question, I met my wife in Brighton 16 years ago and retired to Visaginas 3 years ago. Next time you're in the area look me up. ...best wishes
Wow!!!
Did you move for that sweet sweet Soviet mosaic above the wine store or did you move because it sounds like vaginas?
You will have a peaceful retired life there better and cheaper than UK 🇬🇧
Watching you since 2018, and suddenly you visit my hometown! I am shocked! Absolutely surreal to see you visit the places where I spent my childhood! Nice to see my old soviet town still standing
There's is Grūto park in Lithuania, where they leave old soviet monuments and other relics to rot. Cheers from Lithuania
I think it's exactly what bald would like to see! Gotta get this comment up so he maybe could still visit that place :)
Good on them to not destroy the history like some places. It's funny seeing the big Lenin statue with the various busts on the ground around it.
Grutas and also Druskininkai. He would see the difference between Visaginas and modern towns
Yes he should visit it
Bald need to see this comment.
Finally Lithuania!! Been here for 2 years waiting for this day 😂❤
Same here hahaha
Haha yeah same, glad to see he started in Vilnius.
What drives you to lithuania if you are not from there originally? Just curious :)
@@Anonymous-ss6ur Labas!
Same
This video made me book a flight to Lithuania and now I am here in Vilnius, no regrets
I don't know why but somehow you and Johnny fit so well together. Even though I love watching your videos but seeing you guys together is like magic on screen. Johnny is a best possible sidekick for you. Your Robin or Watson.
12:38 I like how Bald finds a content. Just turn behind, ask babushka "you probably remember this place in soviet times?" and she answer like she was waiting for this question for the whole life
Yes. Soviet babushkas are like that.
Babushka's in this area very lonely and it is big pleasure to speak with somebody
well i suppose they truly live in the past
Exactly
Even the babushka at 17:05!
Ben, you've been in Lithuania and haven't visited old Soviet museum Grūto parkas near city Druskininkai? This museum has it all from soviet times - statues of Lenin, Stalin and others, guns, books, flags, luna park, portraits etc. You must visit it and check it out!!!
It's too mainstream for Bald.
thats exacly what I wanted to suggest if you still in Lithuania, for you looking for soviet things if you ain't gonna visit this " Gruto Parkas" you miss out
I’ve send him this place as suggestion on IG when he added question what to see in Lithuania, mentioned Grutas, Nuclear Bunker in Plateliai, Visaginas and few more places, but not sure if he saw. And maybe it is a bit too mainstream for him :D
It's main place to visit if looking for soviet stuff!!!!!
@@vytautasjacunskas1133
Even if he chooses not to go to the places you suggested that is really kind of you to let him know.
"Johnny?!?!" Such bad acting, I love it! 🤣
What a pleasant little town. There's no litter on the ground and not much blight despite some of the aging bits. Its nice to see that despite the lack of people there is still life, the coffee shop kiosk, the toy store, the ladies selling vegetables, and that lovely little library. Lithuania really does seem to have fared better than many of the other countries in the former Soviet Bloc.
Bald, you should go to “Grūto parkas” in Lithuania. All the soviet sculptures are there!
@@danielroydrawe because you ar not
@@barteatmyshorts8252 😲😲😂🤣
It’s all thanks to Stalin long live the Soviet’s and communists
Yup. 9th fort would be another great choice
@@danielroydrawe Lithuania is not easter it is north europe
As a Lithuanian, this puts a smile on my face.
Most of the towns are Polish haha
This does put a smile on my face!
As a Latvian I like your comment.
So why are busses free?
@@giovannigiorgio6406 why not ?
I can’t really express how your videos make me feel, how much i appritiate all the work you put in them because english is not my first language.
Simply put, you are truly an amazing charismatic person (everything i wish i could be) and i can’t thank you enough for sharing your adventures with us. They really brighten up my life!
What a nice message. Good luck in the future and achieving everything you want 👍
@@baldandbankrupt hi
I've never expected that you will visit Lithuania. I have been watching you for 2 years now and you finnaly visited my country. That made my day.
Ignalina nuclear power plant was used extensively for location filming during the production of HBO's Chernobyl due to its similarity to the stricken plant. It's become something of a tourist attraction in recent years. I would love to visit.
@Lucky 13 Let's go Brandon!
@Lucky 13 Please don't bring him into this. Let's keep our minds on higher things, such as the sterile beauty of RBMK control rooms.
its not only similar, its actually the exact same design (apart from the chimney)
5k people still out of a job for no reason at all though
@@Francesco-cj3oi there is a few jobs left in a plant. It's imposible to close down nuclear plant fully and leave it abandoned. Need constant maintenance.
You must go to "Gruto" park in Lithuania, there are all of Soviet times statues.
Yep, wanted to say that too
Couldn’t agree more. it’s like pr0n of various soviet stuff
In druskinikai?
@@thegoat6848 yes!
Even today a last statue was removed from city centre Cvirka
Great video mate 👌🏻 I hope you never give this up, doing these videos, love them ❤️💙
this is the 3rd video I've watched and yet each one I watch is awe and curiosity whilst smiling through it all
you never have anything bad to say about the places you visit regardless of how run down they look which makes me rethink our own country or England with its rundown towns
you strike any conversation with random people and you make these videos so fascinating
definitely tempting to learn new languages
Finally you've come to Lithuania!! :D
Really, i already thought it will never happen :D
dovydas says hello from florida.
@@carlosgaspar8447 Tai palauk čia tu kur groji su elektrine gitara amerikoje? 😄
Kinda hoped he wouldn’t
@@carlosgaspar8447 Džiugas from Florida :)
Since you've been to Estonia and now Lithuania. You'll have to do Latvia next. And Lithuania looks like a beautiful country. I would love to vist someday
He should go to Daugavpils on 9th may for some true soviet experience :D.
Nebus Latvija😕
Yeah Daugavpils will give you a taste of union 😄 Or if you only do capital, than go wonder around on Maskavas Street or Purvciems on evening for some new experiences 😂
It is :)
@@dioclescissoid He should indeed, so much interesting stuff there.
Nice to see bigger youtubers visiting my country! the nature here is amazing:)
Love this! I am flying to Lithuania next week to walk from Latvia to Poland, 300 miles across the beautiful Lithuanian landscapes!
As a lithuanian, I've been waiting for this for years. It feels surreal seeing places I know in your video. It makes me appreciate what we have here in Lithuania much more. Oh and you could also visit Grūto parkas if you want to see more soviet relics, collected from all over Lithuania.
I was there in September and brought back a Stalin coffee mug and soviet shot glass 😂
Yes, thats the most soviet thing in post Soviet countries for sure
Yes, you would enjoy Grūto parkss
@@moodazz1 Fascinating place and the best thing of all is the mayors house in the middle of the park! What a legend 🇱🇹 ✌🏻
And can I ask why is that? Why do we need to see it through a RUclips channel to appreciate what we have?
My guess is we are still in that typical Eastern European inferior complex....
We need the goggles of an ill informed westerner, with sofisticated beer tastebuds to come over and spit our beer on our street and make generalisations on our history and culture, so we can appreciate it?
I never been following these lads, and only here as someone who did, sent it to me recognising my home town.
And do you know what??? Going on this video about Visaginas, my advice is UNSUBSCRIBE If you don't want to fall down the RUclips hole and form a your options based around a lazy blogging lifestyle of these characters making good buck out us fools...
I'm not prepared for the moment when this channel stops providing us with this unique content that keeps me sane, fills me with positivity & joy while I wait for my heart surgery.
All the best with your heart surgery mate
Wish you health and all the best. Fingers crossed.
Best of luck with your surgery, I know you'll be just fine! Much love x
Wish you the best on that surgery
Prayers for you and your health. I love this channel too, but there’s a lot of positivity and joy to be found. Have faith and don’t give up!!
Love the content and the comedic moments. You got me in the beginning on the train lol. Keep up the good work.
Don,t leave us bro. I love the vids. Youre gonna break my heart when you stop!
A Swede watching an English man and an Mongolian-American exploring Lithuania. That's what's beautiful about the world in 2021. Great vid Bald.
Read by a Dane.
Og en Nordmann
and my axe
Read by an Australian 🇦🇺
@@QQ-nd1gn gimli!
Let's GOOOOO! Was waiting for him to come to LITHUANIA immediately after ESTONIA. One year later he's here!!
YEAH ME TOO
I've been watchcing your videos for a while now and I love them. However, this video TOPS all the rest because VISAGINAS is the city where i was born, raised and went to nursery. You have no idea how amazing I felt when I saw the name "Visaginas" in one of your videos! Thank you for visiting my home city!
Thanks for your videos, I really appreciate the microcosm snapshots of daily life in different parts of the world that they portray. Really, really, interesting.
Bald: ".....it's all pretty Sovjet."
...Babushka passing by carrying a Lidl grocery bag...
I have to admit, having Johnny show up on the train put a smile on my face!
At first I was like, of all the places he could sit, he sits shoulder to shoulder to someone.
But that was only short and ended in a surprise.
@@BjornCopperside same hahaha
My 2 fave RUclipsrs! Keep doing more videos with Johnny!
As a Puerto rican Lithuanian who lives here in Klaipeda, I never thought you'd visit Lithuania since it's anti Russia and especially anti communist. However, I'm glad that you finally did tho! And prašom!
Of the 15 Post-Soviet countries that there are, he has so far managed to visit 11 of them:
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇧🇾 Belarus
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🇲🇩 Moldova
🇬🇪 Georgia
🇦🇲 Armenia
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🇷🇺 Russia
He has four former Soviet republics left to visit:
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇹🇯 Tajikistan
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
Poland , czech,romania?
@@patryklodygo6281 they were under Soviet influence, but not the part of USSR. As those 15 above.
@@patryklodygo6281 w czechach był ale polska czechy i rumunia to nie byle państa sowieckie tylko ''satelickie''
Whilst not a separate country, Ben should visit the enclave Kaliningrad. Really interesting history.
Hope he ends his channel visiting North Korea. Not soviet, but it is Communist.
16:33 The thing you read actually translates into: "While I was young, I gave birth to a dead baby and barely survived myself!" Couldn't have picked a better book
Sounds like my mondays
In very exciting tone lol
What a lovely passage
hartbreaking
🥺🙏
These two work so well together. Very entertaining! I hope to see more of johnny in the future.
How did I miss this ? Fantastic content as usual .
The partizan music put a massive smile on my face, as a Lithuanian, I dont know what else you need on a Friday.
New shiey upload from the balkans
Man ir :D
indeed
@trashste
Can u share the name of the song from 04:00 ?
@@xwyploszx ofc i can "miške prie laužo" sang by Ugniavijas
The comedic timing of the crow when Bald was orating is impeccable.
*reads in posh British accent*
I never want these videos to end, could watch this all day everyday
Highly enjoyable you viisting these off the beaten track plces and been able to speak in native tongue to the locals adds another dimension.
I love how eager the people are to tell you about the places past and their own
In these dark times, this guy is about the only thing that makes me happy. It's as if you're travelling and conversing with a good friend.
I somewhat feel thesame. Bald's uploads put a smile on my face.
@@ovsaturnus7160 Every week escape the dreary slog of the (y)UK through this man.
@@klm20079 Zeker
Bald is a reminder to be alive and enjoy your life every day!! We will all be dead someday!!
Jesus loves you.
Thanks. I always enjoy your excursions and your explanations.
Right on more vid's!! thank you!
I loved this video! My mother was pushed out of Kaunus, Lithuania in Feb. 1941, grew up in Germany, came to America in 1957, and lived the American dream. No one from her family ever went back to Lithuania, I'd love to visit there one day, your video did so much to open my eyes to the way it is there today. Thank you so much for this video!
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Would like to see you in “east” Germany. Could be some cool Soviet relics to find there
I hope not. I hope we destroyed everything.
That’s destroying history would you support destroying colonial era statues in Africa or old presidents off the US because off past aggressions
Man, these videos are amazing.
Johnny is so your brother from another mother!!! Another great one. Thanks
Omg it's so surreal to actually see you in Lithuania! Hope you liked it here ♥️🇱🇹
I'd love to visit Lithuania some day, cheers from Finland to every Lithuaian.
Its very happy to know instead of him just visiting some other abonended building he visited the most russian poppulated and soviet town in whole Lithuania
Sure, come over, we will get the sauna going. And later in the winter, we'll be coming over to Soumi land for some Aurora borealis ;)
cheers
@@tiktokslavversion8022 no point, very boring 😂
I'd love to visit Finland
I was born in visaginas and a orphan in the city. My mom worked in the power plant before she passed. Very cool to see you visiting
I learn so much history from your videos. Thank you for going places so wonderful 👍
You’re the greatest channel to ever grace youtube. Thank you for taking us on your journey Mr. Bald.
@@threadie 😂
Lithuania is not so well-known internationally... but it is one of my favourite countries! I still cannot forget how good the Zeppelins are!
Cepelinai not zeppelins😅
😁😁😁
@@jonasj9936 That's what it translates to I believe
yes!!! good to see you! love your book choice too
Love from lithuania its amazing to see your favorite youtuber who visited my country
Omg i've been waiting for this day for so long hahaha, Greetings from Lithuania!
How do you cope with all the restrictions ?
@@Santu2409 By ignoring that one Russian troll on Twitter (the what's his name, globoco?) who is spreading unsubstantiated rumours about us. Lithuanians are 100% in agreement that it's a psy op and the guy doesn't speak any Lithuanian.
Johnny and Ben are perfect together. Ben is impressed by anything and everything and Johnny doesn't give a shit about any of it lol.
Hilarious video awesome duo, the vr and vape had me cracking up
You and Jonny remind me of myself and my best friend. I Just need to travel more!!
Ace mate love this, watching in Ibiza
Watched this yesterday and I thought “If this channel ever ends it’ll be the saddest day for RUclips”. Every episode is a mini-documentary full of madness and fun. By far the greatest channel on this site.
As a lithuanian myself, I’ve never been to Visaginas, therefore I found such concept of view towards the town quite interesting
Please come and see it with your own eyes and make your own opinion:)))!! It's really not such gloom and doom and it has a lot more to offer in both history and atmosphere. It's a lot more subtle and might not pay off in terms of soviet fascination as much, (especially that you are Lithuanian yourself) . Many parts of Lithuanian towns look very similar, but we got the pine trees growing through the towns fabric, so that's quite special.
Pretty much any place will look gloomy on a rainy day in November.
Так Литва же маленькая, что Вам мешает побывать в Висагинас?
@@user-jr8lm5jy4u čiut čiut porusski panimaem
@@lukaskelevisius8910 po4emy vi ne bili v Visaginas?
We once had a teacher in history and he came from Lithuania. He was one of our best teachers and he often told us that “when the Soviets came, my father took his rifle and took off into the forest …”.
Hopefully a friend and I will go there in Spring and make the way up to Estonia.
He killed himself or joined the resistance ?
@@Redstripe921 lmao what a cliffhanger
Sounds like the coolest guy ever
You guys are hilarious! Thank you for the video. Safe journey. Peace.
I had a trip around the baltics this summer and lithuania stood out to me. Incredible place
Yea it's so clean. I bet you could drink from the river flowing through Vilnius.
@@Unknowngfyjoh no dont do that
Wow... Writing on the train door in Lithuanian and Latvian! Broliukas! 🇱🇻🇱🇹
Thank you, Thank you for showing the real authentic Lithuania. My Grandad was born and raised in Lithuania before he fled with his family during WW2 - I've never been to Lithuania myself so seeing these little villages just like the one my Grandad was raised it's so special and beautiful.
Why don't you go?
the intro w Johnny 10/10 mate cheers!
What make your channel interesting is the unpredictability. One day you're in Russia the other in Czechia. When I thought Alinchik was gone, you bring her back. And now you're in Lithuania. One thing is for sure, no matter where you end up, your videos are always interesting to watch. Keep it up and cheers from Canada.
Well said
I went to VIsaginas in circa 2005 (may have been 2006 - cannot remember exactly, I have old school print photos somewhere). I actually made it inside the Ignalina power plant, at the time it was still running but there were consultants everywhere who were managing the decommission process. Managed to get in with a few friends by the method of er, simply walking in. We got as far as the canteen - everything was Soviet and had the hammer and sickle on, even the chairs at the canteen had the stamp - anyway, eventually we were spotted by an official, guns were pointed and we were told to leave. We were then followed by what I assume were some sort of secret police as we visited Visaginas afterwards. They even stayed on our tail for a bit on the drive back to Vilnius. It was a strange day to say the least!
Some thoughts, moy brat. I have earlier expressed how valuable your work has been to me. In my conscious life as well as in my dreams, in the period following viewing of your videos, I often have the sensation of actually having been in the locales you have visited. It is a real gift. It is not about your politics--which if anything seem vague and unformed--so much as it is about your honest appraisals of what you observe and your apparent respect for aspects of the soviet experience and the people who lived it. One more point. Again, with all due respect for your friends and any loneliness you may feel in the course of your journeys, the truth is you are at your best when you work alone. A challenge, I know. With gratitude for your efforts and in the hope that you will continue, I wish you all the best.
I don't know why, but watching bald's videos makes me feel like I'm actually traveling with him. Such a bliss when international traveling is restricted due to the pandemic.😄😄
18:49 Lithuanians were the first to officially give the middle finger up to Moscow and kick over the first domino that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. No wonder they have erased that stain on their history.
I'm so glad you have visited Lithuania, it means a lot to us Lithuanians to shine more light on the country and a bit of history!
Vilnius is a lovely old city. Really worth a visit for an extended weekend! I won't bother to mention the girls as that would be to stereotypical
Not by him
It means nothing to you Lithuanians
@@Hephasto yes it does
This is one if your all time best videos Ben! How about visiting other nuclear towns or closed cities 🤔? X x
I am so inspired by your channel I bought the same Sony cam and I am doing more A WALK IN... videos around my historic city of Norwich. Your natural approach is exactly how I like to film too. So pleased I found your channel
Greetings to broliukas Lithuanians! 🇱🇹 🇱🇻
Oho ponas plikius pagaliau Lietuvoje! Labai smagu! I always thought when you'll visit Lithuania 😀
Man taippat buvo idomu, vis aplink vazinejo :)
Galetu aplankyti ir kitus miestus, bet ten sovietu atributikos nebera, netinktu jo kontentui :)
same
Porą žodžių teks praleisti, nes jis uždraudžia juos šiame kanale. Galėjo niekados neatvažiuoti. Siūlau pasidomėti internete pvz. svetainėje kur prasideda nuo R ir baigiasi T. Jis tiesiogine ta žodžio prasme prievartautojas yra, ir bendrai - labai, labai sutrikusi asmenybė. Bobos, nepilnametės, viskas. Jo Helovyno video su Romanu net galima pamatyti, kaip tikroji persona išlindo kai pripiso.
@@Envojus šūdus kalbi:)
Bald is so outgoing and social I don't even go out anymore. Watching him is enough
Gotta love Johnny Khan! You guys are great!
12:57 Oh, what a twist! I was also born in Krasnoyarsk 45, which is now called Zelenogorsk - a closed city due to the fact that there is an Electrochemical Plant where they are engaged in the production of low-enriched uranium for the manufacture of fuel for reactors of nuclear power plants.
I really like your videos Ben, keep filming!)
lol all i can think of when i read zelenogorsk is DayZ
@@skipper2460 I literally got gassed there tonight. Had to run for my life
Привет городу-соседу из Красноярска-26, который сейчас Железногорск. Осталось собрать народ из Подгорного и вся тусовка будет тут.
Забавно, как похожи между собой все эти города, но Висагинас сейчас больше похож на белорусский город. Советское наследие и чистота. В то время как в Железногорске, например, очень грязно (люди мусорят). Хотя архитектура интересная, да. Даже ходили слухи, что Железногорск спроектировал архитектор Санкт-Петербурга.
@@XRONIKA И Вам привет) У меня родственники живут в Железногорске, бывал там) Архитектура действительно необычная, как и сам план города и дорог. А на счёт того что мусорят, это да, печально(
DAYZ
Fun Fact: The Bus you drove from the Station to the Town is an old one from my Hometown Hamburg in Germany. You can still see it's old Unit Number 8261 on the side.
So they send old German buses to Lithuania
@@MM-kz9pd Not only there. Seen Photos from Ukrania, Greece, Russia (Perm f.e.), Kazakhstan and so on
Lol jz wo du's sagst
The train looks exactly the same kind we had before in Finland
This is THE most German comment on RUclips I have ever read. Well done 😂
Well done Baldy, great to see your Old mate John.
Safe travels, Keith - Australia.
Aight Johnny's back, its gonna be fun!!!
If Mr Bald ever stops making videos its going to truly affect my life. I look so forward to them. I've always been interested in documentaries and history and this dude does them both better than anyone.
Yess even if Mr Bald wouldn't travel, I'd still watch him. He seems a top lad. Never stop making videos
Technically there are an infinite number of small towns and villages in the former Soviet Union - just keep travelling and meeting new people and sharing their stories. If Mr Bald wants he can build a home base - property in his favorite Soviet town and travel around from their. My favorite videos of his is the stories he gets from the locals.
I am so happy you finally went to my home country! It is a truly beautiful place! Right now I am living in Canada, and it is so far away from Lithuania, but this country is blooming in my heart!
You really need Johnny the companion in all of your videos. He is absolutely gold.
When I was studying in Manchester, UK, I'd many coworkers from Lithuania at my part-time job who were also students. Two girls especially, who later became my friends, were extremely caring. I'll never forget their kind gesture when they bought an assortment of Lithuanian mead for my birthday. Considering that I only started drinking few weeks ago I got absolutely hammered that night. I still look back at those few months fondly.
I've been waiting for this video for AGES! Good to have you here, Baldy, have a blast time exploring LT!
13:00 Holy shit! This is insane. I was born in Krasnoyarsk-26. Also closed city. And Krasnoyarsk-45 is like a neighboring city for me. This is so weird to see some person from those places.
Her city is now called Zelenogorsk and my hometown is called Zheleznogorsk.
And funny thing - all those cities looks almost exactly the same as Visaginas.
Hi from the first Zelenogorsk that lies next to St. Petersburg.
It's a different dimension. But all the people are the same§!11
Thank you for this video! I was born in Visaginas and now I live in London as many people from there do now. :-) There are much more people there in summer and you can enjoy the beautiful numerous lakes and nature there after living in a megacity during the year.
interesting, the bus you were driving to the center was an old bus from Hamburg Germany, I saw it cause of the seat design and the german plates inside, nice journey what the bus adventures out there now :D
This is one of the few channels that when a new video is posted I instantly get excited regardless of the topic.
I was born in this town, seen it when i very young, very cool to see again, refreshed some memories i didnt know i had, thank you.
The best channel i saw in a long time.