Tuesday 22 July 2014

Another brick in the wall. The RoadTrip diary, part 7

Big green field, clear blue sky and a huge white bunker, outstanding from the ground. 6 strangers passed the iron gate and started their next journey. The history, hiding in the bunker’s walls, was waiting for them to discover. With 6 different approaches of life and traditions, they started their appointment with the Cold War times.


Šaltojo karo muziejus Žemaitijos nacionaliniame parke, situated near Plokščiai  village, is a Cold War museum, opened in 2012. It was built basing on the remaining of Plokštinė missile base - the first nuclear missile base of the Soviet Union. We visited this place while we were staying in Plungė and it surely made a big impression on every member of our team. But what exactly do we think about it? How 6 different people from 6 different countries all over the world, with totally various cultural approaches and lifestyle, could consider something which happened before they were even born, in some cases in a totally faraway place on earth…?


Li, China:
It was very surprising to see there some Chinese posters, which were mostly shown in my textbook of history at high school. In the period of 1960-1968, China and Soviet Union, which used to be best friends in the Socialism group since 2nd World War, turned their back to each other. In my parents' childhood they were educated that Soviet Union was the enemy of our country, just like the USA.

Karolina, Poland

Of course we study those things at school; theoretically we know a lot of cold facts about the Cold War. But when you actually go there and see all those big machines, real weapons, military outfits, videos about the explosions and propaganda posters, all of the photos you saw in book start to become live again in your mind. Poland and Lithuania have very similar history concerning those times so for me it was like watching my own country’s history. 

Roger, Mexico

Even though Mexico was indifferent during Cold War, Cuba played an important role between USSR and USA and made a huge impact in Latin America, but luckily didn’t evolve in other world war. The Cold War Museum showed me the raw and sad reality of this situation.


Caterina, Italy

This whole situation with the Cold War was actually really close to Italy. If something would have happened, we would be the field of the battle between USA and Russia – geographically we are kind of in the middle. So it is really scary to even think about it, also because it was not that long time ago.

José, Portugal

The Cold War Museum was for me a similar experience like with a House of Terror in Budapest or with Auschwitz. It was a confirmation that everything that I’ve seen in the movies and everything I’ve been told and everything that I’ve been reading actually exists and it’s not just the story that has been imagined. The Cold War times didn’t concern Portugal at all, but we study it at school, so this is something everybody knows about.

Kamia,The Philippines

It was a very interesting experience because we have never ever discussed the Cold War at school. The only reason why I’m aware about it comes from personal research. Being there was very informative for me and when I was walking through the halls, I could hear my feet doing the sound on the metal floors. I could just imagine all these people walking through there at those times… That’s insane!

Big green field, clear blue sky and a huge white bunker, outstanding from the ground. 6 strangers passed the iron gate and closed another journey. The history, hiding in the bunker’s walls, revealed all new information for them to discover. With 6 different approaches of life and traditions, they reflected the Cold War times from their own cultural perspectives.

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