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Daiva’s Story

Crossing the Iron Curtain

“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the sound of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”

-Jawaharlal Nehru (India’s First Prime Minister)

In 1989, I traveled behind the Iron Curtain for the first time, searching for a connection to the Lithuania my family had been forced to leave behind. Instead, I arrived in a country awakening.

Across Lithuania, I encountered national symbols returning to public life, anti-Soviet demonstrations, rock concerts, reclaimed religious sites, and people openly questioning Soviet rule. What began as a personal journey into my family’s past became my first encounter with a revolution and changed the direction of my life.

1989 – 07 – 16

Me at St. Basil's church in Red Square, Moscow.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 16

Visiting Red Square in Moscow, as the Kremlin monitors our shenanigans. (Vitas and Audra are lying on the cobblestones)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 16

My brother Vitas at St. Basil's church in Red Square, Moscow.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 16

We are about to enter Red Square in Moscow. (Vitas, Audra)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Advertisement for the upcoming "Rock March" (Roko Maršas) concert, which I was excited to go to!

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

My brother in front of the Gothic St. Anne's Church in Vilnius.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Anti-Soviet posters next to ongoing hunger strikers near the Cathedral in Vilnius.

1989 – 07 – 17

The center of the independence movement: the Sąjūdis headquarters across the street from the Cathedral.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

My brother Vitas in Cathedral Square in Vilnius.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

The Cathedral in Vilnius. After WWII, Moscow closed the church, destroyed the cross and statues on the roof, and used it as a warehouse and, in later years, a museum and picture gallery. It was returned to the Catholic Church on October 23, 1988, and Lithuanians began restoring it.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Anti-Soviet posters in Vilnius in the park next to the Cathedral.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Ongoing anti-Soviet protest at the park next to the Cathedral. “Liquidate the consequences of the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Remove the USSR occupation army and its settlers. Compensate the damage of the years of the occupation caused.”

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Sąjūdis posted about various events and protests next to the Sąjūdis headquarters. My brother Vitas is next to the board. (Obviously, I was taking all the pics since my brother is in most of them, and I am in very few pics.)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 17

Daiva at St. Anne's and St. Bernadine's Churches in Vilnius.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

Our beautiful, peaceful home at the Kernavė archaeological site. Random farm animals visited our encampment. We ditched sleeping in the wagon trailers after the first night.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

The not-so-glamorous but fascinating Kernavė archaeological dig site with extended views of Pajauta Valley.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

Lunch break at the Kernavė archaeological dig.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

Lunch break at the Kernavė archaeological dig with the best view of the hill forts. (Eimis, Siga, Jūgas, Paulius.)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

The archaeological dig site at Kernavė. The work was hard in the heat and humidity, but fun and interesting.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 18

The building (the light green one) on Piles Gatvė (Castle Street) in Vilnius, where the 1918 Declaration of Independence was signed and then proclaimed from the balcony.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 19

Audra and Jūgas carefully dig into the peat at the Kernavė archaeological site.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 20

The church at Kernavė undergoing restoration as the Kremlin began returning churches to the Catholic Church in October 1988.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 20

Cleaning the 12th-century animal bones (mostly pig) that we dug up in the peat at the Kernavė archaeological dig.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 20

Madame and I ventured across the road from the Kernavė archaeological dig camp each morning to buy food from the farmers.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 21

The oak tree we slept under during the archaeological dig in Kernavė. (fiancée, Madame, Ignas, Inga, Raimonda, Eimis, Siga, Našlaitis, Paulius)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 21

Nighttime shenanigans under the oak tree where we slept for the archaeological dig in Kernavė. Some nights we had additional alumni visitors.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

A day at Rumšiškis, an Ethnographic park outside of Kaunas, learning about how my great-grandparents lived.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

On the way to Kaunas. My brother at the Kaunas city sign, which is in Lithuanian and Russian. Lithuanians were removing all the Russian-language signage everywhere, but they didn't get to this one yet.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

My grandfather, Kazys Karuža, and friend Birutė Tomošaitienė (whose family saved Kazys' family during WWI), and Vitas in Kaunas near the newly restored Freedom Statue.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

My grandfather, Kazys, showed me where my grandmother, Jadvyga, and Sena Baba's home once stood, but now the Hotel Neris stands on the same land.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

The newly restored Freedom Statue in Kaunas. The original statue was erected in 1928. The Kremlin tore it down in 1950. Lithuanians raised it again on February 16, 1989.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

I am standing near the small memorial to Romas Kalanta in Kaunas, which had only recently been erected. The Soviet authorities had changed the park landscape to prevent such memorials, but that changed in 1988 with the rise of the independence movement. IT's amazing to me that Lithuanians never forgot this exact spot where Kalanta gave his life to Lithuania.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

For decades, the Kremlin covered up all information about Romas Kalanta. In 1989, Lithuania publicly commemorated Kalanta's history near his memorial in Kaunas, and finally, everyone could read about what truly happened.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 22

The small memorial to Romas Kalanta in Kaunas was installed in 1989.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 24

Hydration break at the Kernavė archaeological dig camp table. (Audra, Jũgas)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 24

The archaeological dig site in Kernavė. (Vitas, ?, Erdvilas, Daiva, Ignas, ?, Paulius, Siga, Eimis, Madame)

Photo: Raimonda Bajažinskytė

1989 – 07 – 24

We ditched the wagon trailers after the first night and slept under a tree at the Kernavė archaeological site. The last ones waking up to work ... (Madame, Siga, Raimonda, Eimis)

Photo: Raimonda Bojažinskytė

1989 – 07 – 25

Dinner time outside at the Kernavė archaeological site camp. (Paulius, Raimonda, Madame, Ignas)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 26

We spent a day digging at the archaeological dig at the ruins of the Vytautas Didysis church in Kernavė, until we uncovered human bones ... (My brother, with Siga and Eimis back to back)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 27

Spontaneous Lithuanian folk dance party in the middle of the night in Kernavė. (Raimonda, Daiva)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 07 – 28

Party at Kernavė. (Siga, Raimonda, Vitas, Daiva, Ligita)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My brother "surfing" on the Baltic Sea. Even though it was summer, it was cold!

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

I am standing inside the Vilnius sign with the driver my grandfather hired. Vitas poses on top.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

I was dreaming of old motorcycles in this Soviet-block housing courtyard. Especially when my grandfather told me he rode one like this in Lithuania in the 1930s.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Walking through Vilnius, crossing the river in Užupis. Around each corner, I discovered the most magical places.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Vilnius Old Town. Vokiečiu Gatvė (German Street).

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Patriotic graffiti on a side street in Vilnius. Wandering the streets of Vilnius, you never know what surprises you may run into as these little courtyards appear.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Party at Raimonda's. She was always ready with her camera. Several of her photos appear in my galleries. (Eimis and Raimonda)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Showing off my surf style on the Baltic Sea in my cowboy boots.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Notices of events in Cathedral Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My brother showing Siga and Emis how to make "music" by rubbing the edge of a glass. It required serious concentration!

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My grandfather, Kazys Karuža, at his former workplace as a train customs agent, which he hadn't seen since WWII. During our road trip, my grandfather would suddenly demand, "Stop the car," jump out in front of something, and ask me to take a photo. Back in the car, he'd tell me stories of the place and his life in Lithuania.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Out of nowhere, I heard bells chime behind me as the Hare Krishnas passed me on Gediminas Gatvė, chanting.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The view of Gediminas Tower from the park.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My grandfather is with the group at the bottom of the Hill of Crosses.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

CHildren playing in Bernadine Sodas in Vilnius Old Town

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Bernardiniu Sodas in the middle of Vilnius Old Town - a lush and serene park to get lost in.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

It felt like a new story was waiting for me around each corner in Vilnius.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The streets of Vilnius Old Town seemed to take me back in time.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The view from the top of a hill on the Hill of Crosses

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The archaeological dig site of the Old Palace behind the Cathedral. My brother (in the cap) is helping sift through the dirt.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

At the Vilnius Wedding Palace, wishing Madame (Egle) and her fiancée the best. Everyone cleaned up nicely after the dirt in Kernavė. (Siga, Raimonda, Paulius, Ignius, Inga)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Fancy farewell dinner at Bočiu Restoranas in Vilnius with our new friends.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Party at Raimonda's in Vilnius. (Raimonda, Vitas, Siga, Eimis, Daiva, Raimonda's cousin)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Vitas and Emis (wearing his favorit gift from us, a "U.S. Border Patrol" cap.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Taking a break from digging at the Old Palace archeological dig site in Vilnius, with a nice view of Gediminas Tower and the flag overhead.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Party at Raimonda's in Vilnius. (Vitas, Audra, friend, friend, Ligita, Daiva)

Photo: Raimonda Bojanžinskaitė

1989 – 08

Party at Raimonda's in Vilnius (Daiva, Audra, Raimonda, Siga, Eimis)

Photo: Raimonda Bojažinskytė

1989 – 08

As I meandered through the tight passages at the Hill of Crosses, a Lithuanian flag stood in the middle as a symbol of defiance.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

At the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, I placed a handmade cross, two branches tied with bark, for my family.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My brother Vitas at the Hill of Crosses.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My grandfather Kazys Karuža at the Hill of Crosses.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

I am standing in the middle of the Hill of Crosses. Look for the bright blue shirt.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The Hill of Cross as we approached.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

My first time mushroom hunting in the Lithuanian forests. I found ONE.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The pristine, beautiful Lithuanian forest just outside of Vilnius was like walking into a dream.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The view of the Old Palace archaeological dig site where I worked with other students behind the Cathedral from the top of Gediminas Hill.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

The view of Old Town from the top of Gediminas Hill.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

Vilnius view

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08

St. John's church at Vilnius University.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08 – 06

With my new friends at Roko Maršas in Vilnius. (Vitas, Siga, Eimis)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1989 – 08 – 06

My new friend from Kernavė, Erdvilas, at the "Rock March" (Roko Maršas) concert. He was one of the alumni who stopped by to help at the site.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1990 – 11 – 14

My official invitation to work at the newly reopened Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. I had bought a one-way ticket to Riga, Latvia, via Copenhagen (the only direct flight into the USSR that wasn't Moscow or Leningrad) for January 14, 1991. I was relieved when this invitation finally came through, and then prayed my Soviet Union visa would arrive before her departure date.

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Roots & Inheritence
Inside the Revolution
Freedom & Identity Reclaimed