Kaunas Day 1: The Nordorthopaedic Clinic

Kaunas: Pre-Surgery Adventures

Vilnius Combined Heat Power Plant - Vilnius - 3

Once on the Freeway it is a little over an hours drive from Vilnius to Kaunas. Modern 4 lane divided highway the entire way. Vilnius is Lithuania's largest city with 550,000 residents, Kaunas second largest at 250,000 folks. Most notable landmark passed was a large aging gas/oil fired Heat and Power Plant, 600MW heat, 360 MW power. Plant has been in "conservation" mode since 2018 due to unfavourable economics, the site is currently being evaluated for "alternative options"

We were soon at Kaunas and the handheld navigating system took us to the address of the Clinic as reported on their web page. We parked in some nearby mud as parking area full. I scouted the building entrance prior to us  heading in and up to the second floor reception. A machine at door allowed you to install mandatory covers on your shoes, we entered and after a confusing conversation at reception (and it was not really a language issue), we determined that all we could do at this location was pay the fee. I was not prepared to pay the fee at this time.

Dr. Juozas Belickas discusses knee procedure with Elaine Scott

As part of the discussion prior to leaving Alberta, I had insisted we get a short tour of the Clinic before we did the business deal. A due diligence exercise, who knows, the facility might have been like the Calgary Foothills Hospital. I have been there many times, once as a patient, many as an advocate (NEVER GO TO THE FOOTHILLS WITHOUT AN ADVOCATE) a few years ago one of the staff told me they would never go there ever, it was horrible, told me if I had to attend a Calgary hospital go to the South Campus.

We were directed to the actual orthopaedic clinic, Gijos Klinikos,  a few minutes drive up the street. The fancy shoe covers went in the bin and we headed back to car and up the street. On arrival, we found a nurse on main floor, who extracted numerous vials of blood from Elaine, followed by an XRAY and ECG. Then were met by Simone a fast talking very efficient Nordortho Clinic representative you showed us into see Dr. Juozas Belickas, the othopaedic surgeon that will do the surgery. Dr. Belickas is a very experienced surgeon, has done over 2000 knee replacements, an instantly likeable, easy going gentleman. He answered our few questions and set us at ease. Maybe a 5 minute consultation regarding process timing and we were done! Back with Simone, she led us through the ward to the patient rooms area. We saw a sample room, it was clean, modern, bright in a word, fabulous. I was ready to part with the €7111 payment for surgery, implant and a few days at Spa.

Of course we had to return to the accounting office down the street to do that. First we had to reverse 50m out of the parking area, a busy lot, much double parking. Simone drove ahead and guided us back through now rush hour traffic to the accounting office, this time we found a paved parking spot. Also a busy place, they do boobs here. Soon we were back upstairs and the young lady took my cash and put it into a magic electric Euro counting machine and amazingly, I had counted it out correctly. It was a bit of a relief that I no longer was traipsing around with €8000+ cash, but then again nobody carries cash anymore, mugging for that commodity is a rare thing anymore. When I pay cash, which I usually do, most times folks look at me as if I just walked out of the 20th century, cash is not a thing anymore. Probably because I haven't left the 1900's yet, likely never fully will, in many ways the 20th century was better than now, the world was simple. We didn't look into our handhelds constantly. But that is old man talk, the present is good, we just have to fix it.

With payment made, the dice were now clearly on the ground, now the knee replacement was definitely going to happen. Bring on the scalpel!

In retrospect, I should have just used my recently acquired Stack pre-paid card to settle the balance, rather than carry that much cash around. Stack is not a credit card, rather a re-loadable pre-paid card, no qualifying needed. Stack is a valuable foreign exchange tool as it converts currency at the MasterCard mid point bid/ask rate on day of purchase.Typically credit cards charge from 2.5 to 3.5 points for them to have the privilege of exchanging your funds.

Banks are a blight on society, create no wealth just transfer it and take a cut. As seen from table. Financial Services account for 7.1% of Canada's GDP, not to mention "health"/medical Care at 6.6%, Public Administrivia(government) at 6.3%, Information and Cultural Services at 3% and "Other " Services at 1.9%, almost 25% of the economy adds no value. I have left the 5.2% spent on Education off this list, a service that is a future investment that should add value, and at a much higher rate than warehousing the elderly just to create "health" care jobs. Moving on, I can see the letters now. The Stack card comes with both a virtual and physical card. An App on the handheld provides access to balance, cash loading QR code(can be done at Post Office, Canadian Tire gas, Mobile and a couple others), transaction reports, purchase offers from Merchants that someone might be interested in. Trendy stuff I have no idea about or interest. Back to the cash, the biggest bills were €100 and only about €5000 were of that denomination rest a mix of €50/20/10s, oh and a €1 coin. That's a lot of paper money.

Get Stack Pre-Paid MasterCard

By the time I figured out that Stack has the best conversion rate I had already converted enough CAD to Euros through the CIBC/Canada Post online system (it took a half dozen transactions and a few visits to the post office). At about 0.7 basis point higher than Stack it was found to be a not really material difference, at least on a couple tests I made. No matter anyway as you can never change the past.

Physical Stack Card

If you know MasterCard will be accepted, Stack is certainly more convenient than a money belt, and way better than any bank credit card. Amazingly, the CIBC, often described as "the stupidest Bank in Canada" (possibly due to the $1.5B Enron payout), in a Joint Venture with Canada Post, (it's government, no more discussion required) is the most cost effective way I have found to obtain physical foreign cash. Maybe the fact that CIBC/Post Office provides best rates is self explanatory? Probably not long for this world.

Euro to CAD

The CAD to Euro conversion rate received at Post Office ranged from 1.46 to 1.47 CAD/Euro, Euro has struggled some in last couple years, to our benefit. My desire was  to manage risk by locking in exchange rate with physical Euro cash, as it turns out, it improved a little so cost about $80CAD premium to do so. Cheap insurance.

CIBC Canada Post Foreign Cash Service

 

Kaunas Accommodation

Aligro Hotel

4/5  piece bath

The deal was done, we again had the handheld guide us to our lodging for the night. I had previously booked the Hotel Aligro. We would both stay first night, I would stay 2 more while Elaine is at the clinic. It is a modern, affordably priced establishment, about 2.5 kms directly south of and on same road as the Clinic.

Sitting Area

Decent bedroom

The cost in January 2020 was less than €200 for 3 nights, oh and a Pinta of delicious beer (necessary if you haven't found LIDL's yet to stock your fridge) was only €3 at the sit down or take away bar by reception, I needed 3 to calm my nerves before retiring.

Algiro Reception and Bar

The price is all in for a suite type room, full bath, mini kitchen (Fridge, microwave, sink, kettle, utensils). A decent buffet full breakfast also served.

Algiro Hotel Kaunas

 

 

 

 

Kaunas Last Original Left Knee Supper

Breakfast had been a long time ago and hunger was starting to turn to hangryness. Simone had recommended we try Etno Navaras for some authentic Lithuanian fare.
Elaine had wisely setup the Bolt App on her handheld prior to leaving Alberta, I did not have that foresight. The App requires the user to respond to a text. I can't get texts for my Alberta number here without paying Koodo(Telus) $12 for the privilege of sending one text. We linked her Bolt App to my Stack card, worked perfectly.

Bolt Ride Hail Service

Bolt is a Uber type ride hailing service originating from Latvia(another Baltic country just next door to the north), now in 150 cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, Mexico and Australia. Not in United States or Canada... Probably can't be bothered with the ring fenced bullshit that those countries inflict on offshore competition. "Ring Fencing" of local services by government regulatory obstruction is a standard Canada/United States tactic

Kaunas Town Hall

Elaine summoned a Bolt car, which arrived in less than 2 minutes, estimated fare of €2.8 to the restaurant. We hopped in and were at Town Hall Square in downtown Kaunas in less than 10 minutes. My Stack App reported the transaction at some $4.50CAD which matched the estimate, later it was revised to a little over $6, about €4. No idea why, I was not consulted, not important, but annoying.

We found Etno Dvaras Restaurant with no difficulty a minute walk into Town Hall Square. Link below


Etno Dvaras

Potato Pancake with Bacon

There was no disappointment at Etno Dvaras. A nondescript storefront, clean well maintained interior. I started off at the bar where a young lady pulled test glasses of some 4 beers on tap. Local and a German brew, ended up ordering a pinta of the first one I had tasted, a local one, the pinta didn't make it past the first course. It was fine after my palate was punished by the others. We ordered 4 dishes, Sauerkraut Soup with Pork Rib, some dumpling dish, Potato Pancakes with Bacon, Beef Shank with Sauerkraut and Mashed Potatoes.
Very fine fare indeed, decent beer; and when I ordered the second pinta the waitress expressed great surprise(she is young yet), I was thirsty, it had been a long day. Alcohol was off limits to Elaine by now so I had to take the extra bullet. Another Bolt ride back to Algiro, this time the estimate of  €2.5 was what went on the card and did not change. Good value, €6.5 for return trip... all good. Bolt it is. Bring it to Alberta.