Lithuania

What can I say about Lithuania that hasn't already been said? A lot, probably, because I very rarely hear anyone talk about Lithuania. Located in northern Europe, Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states (characterized by many as "the sensitive one" [Author's Note: I've been told that Estonia is "the funny one," but I guess everything's relative.]). In 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet state to gain independence. The Soviets, apparently having nothing better to do, responded with an economic blockade, then killed 14 civilians in an ill-fated attempt to destroy Lithuanian television (or something). The Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, was named European Capital of Culture for 2009. Paris, eat your heart out.

Vytautas the Great, a medieval king of Lithuania, looks awfully smug here for someone who's been dead for 600 years.