Scared by the news that isolation will soon be necessary after trips to Poland, Lithuanians raid Seinai stores

The Poles were preparing for the Lithuanian invasion

“It just came to our notice then. I heard that from next week,” said Edita of Alytus, who was interviewed at the Biedronka mall in Seinai.

But first I had to drive back and forth for a long time until I found a free place to park my car in the Biedronka parking lot. All vehicles here on Tuesday morning with Lithuanian license plates, it would be difficult to accept a live Polish.

Having learned before that the exchange rate at the Biedronka currency exchange office is always better than at the border, I was not wrong this time either. In Ogrodnik they would have paid 4.35 zlotys for every euro, and in Sena they would have received 4.36.

It can be assumed that the Poles were preparing for such an influx of Lithuanians: they decorated the doors of the store with the inscription “Praušau wears safety masks” and set up a large tent outside, which is loaded with 50 percent. discount on seasonal products sold.

Biedronka herself has a small amount of shares, Lithuanians have already managed to buy pork ham for 9.99 zlotys (2.29 euros), but necklaces remain after 11.99 zlotys (2.75 euros).

It is better to buy fruits and vegetables not in a store, but in small merchants located next door. They sell a kilo of ripe pear tomatoes at 5 zlotys (1.15 euros), raspberries at 7 zlotys (1.60 euros), raspberries at 9 zlotys (2.06 euros) and plums at 5 zlotys (1.15 euros).

Lazdijai Doctors Recommend Buying Medicines On Seinai

“That we no longer look at prices much, because in a field like this it is worth buying almost everything here. Even the same disposable medical masks at 26 euro cents each, when 30 in Lazdijai lost 30, “said a mature couple from Lazdijai, pushing a shopping cart full of their Mercedes. And he added that he will definitely visit the pharmacy, where he buys some medicines up to 3 times cheaper according to Lithuanian recipes.

“Lazdijai doctors even tell you which Seinai pharmacy is best to buy,” the interlocutor opened.

Many Lithuanians who came to Seine wear masks not only inside shops, but also on the streets of the city, although they say they are not afraid of being infected there. Because they heard that the Polish COVID-19 statistics are mainly damaged by diseases registered in the western part of the country, and in the Sejny region it is still safe.

Alcoholic beverages, meat and dairy products, pet food, hygiene products – this is the set that all Lithuanian families who come to buy for the first time in the Seine collect.

Most of the Lithuanian buyers interviewed came from the border districts: Lazdijai, Alytus, Varėna or Druskininkai municipalities.

There weren’t that many buyers even before Christmas

I found an influx of Lithuanians similar to that of Seinai in the store of the Lithuanian chain Vynoteka located in the settlement of Ogrodnikai on the same Lithuanian-Polish border. Lazdijai residents come here almost every day, while other travelers stop to return from the depths of Poland to spend the last remaining zlotys in their wallets.

Eugenijus Kaminskas from Lazdijai is an active member of the Facebook group “Shopping in Poland”. We take photos together in the context of the prices of Lithuanian Polish drinks and “it’s a shame” that we don’t know when we’ll meet here next time.

“Maybe it is not the last time we come, it is just speculation. Today I buy only 2 sausages and sour cream. We will have to quarantine ourselves, we will go to” Maxima “and” Norfa “, I have no problem,” said E. Kaminskas .

According to Lazdijai, not many Lithuanians had gone to the Polish border shops even before Christmas, because now everyone who has heard of possible travel restrictions is in a hurry to restock.

Artūras of Druskininkai, standing behind him, was holding a whole tray of Lithuanian beer in his hands. He says that is why he came to read that he would have to isolate himself the next week after those trips.

During the quarantine they traveled through forest trails

Although there is much discussion in the Lithuanian media about the spread of the coronavirus in Poland this week, I did not even receive the usual SMS from the Ministry of Health when I returned from the neighboring country, informing me where I should check if I am not obliged to isolate myself. In June, as soon as the Lithuanian-Polish border was opened, after trips to Sejny and Suwalki, those messages scared many shoppers.

“When I drive across the border, I always turn off the phone so that it does not connect to the Polish network and does not show my location. Because the little thing, maybe in the morning when I left, it was still in the same order, and when I come back, it will change. After all, this is what happened to the mayor of our district: he flew to Bulgaria to rest, and when he returned, he learned that he had to isolate himself. It’s better if no one knows where I traveled, ”said Kęstutis from Lazdijai, folding the rear seats of the car to accommodate all the purchases.

According to him, even during the quarantine, when Polish border guards blocked and guarded all border roads, the most persistent Dzuks cycled to Poland along forest trails and brought some boxes of cheaper drinks.

“What a strong friendship between our nations,” the man joked.