| Židikai, Lithuania |
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Alternate names: Zhidik [Yid], Zhidiki [Rus], Zydyki [Pol], Židiku, Zidik, Zidikiai, Zydikiai |
56°19' 22°01' |
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Židikai is a small town in North Eastern Lithuania in the district of
Mažeikiai. It is situated approximately 21 kilometres west of Mažeikiai
along road 170 by the Mažeikiai-Skuodas highway. The well-known Church of
St John the Baptist is located there and it has a secondary school.
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| Closest town: | Mažeikiai (22 km east) |
| Municipality: | Mažeikiai district |
| Eldership: | Židikai eldership |
| Population (year): | 524 (2001) |
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It is based at the following coordinates:
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| Latitude - | 56.3167 |
| Longitude - | 22.0167 |
| Time zone - | + 2 Central European Time (Eastern European Standard Time) |
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There is very little to Židikai. There is one main street, bisected in
two by a grass verge with a church at one end and a museum
at the other. There is one shop that looks like it sells groceries. There
are many old colourful wooden houses interspersed with newer grey brick
ones that line both sides of the streets some of which look like they are
in need of repair. The population of Židikai looks old but there are a
few young people who hang out around the bus stop at the entrance to the
town.
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"As we approached the border the scenery started to change and became a tad
hillier. More cows in the fields, towns which had greater prominence. We
arrived at the Latvian / Lithuanian border and were greeted by a guard who
practically waved us through, shame you don’t get visas and stamps any more
– much more exciting that way.
"We filled up with LPG, bought some road maps
and drove in a straight line adjacent to the border around 6 kilometres south
from Scuolsa past Židikai and onto Mažeikiai which was going to be our base
for 4 days. A depressing town where most of the population works for Yukos,
the Russian oil company. People here look sad, low on life and cold."
(Thoughts on Židikai , Miki Lentin, November 2005)
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