The University of Latvia Faculty of Philology expedition took place from 3 – 8 October 2003. Participants in the expedition were Janīna Kursīte, Sigma Ankrava, Aivars Čigurs and Māra Zirnīte	The aim of the expedition was to record information on the environment of the Curonian Spit, listen to the life stories of local residents and photograph building trimmings and local surroundings
Many restored buildings and renewed, colourful roof trimmings can be seen around Nida	We also wanted to learn if there was anybody in this part of Lithuania who spoke the Curonian language
In a store in Nida, a local Lithuanian woman gives Professor Janīna Kursīte the addresses	We meet Kristele Zakuta
Her mother was subjected to forced labour in Germany at the end of World War II	Kristele was raised in Nida by her grandparents, who spoke the Curonian language
We visited the Nida cemetery to see the ancient Curonian gravestones	Much has been restored here within the past ten years
Curonian boat weathervanes	We cross the Lithuanian-Russian border and reach Rybachiy, the former fishermen village of Rasīte
After the war, fishermen villages that had been inhabited by Germans were incorporated into USSR territory	Many buildings reflecting German architecture have been preserved
It seems as if time here stopped 50 years ago	Today the territory belongs to Russia and the majority of residents are Russians
The former residents were forced to leave the area; now only the graves of their ancestors remain	The landscape they cultivated with their own hands remains
Meeting with former residents of Riga	They have lived here since the husband's army days
Now German residents are investing funds in regaining ownership of their former properties	Patched roofs
The Rasīte Lutheran Church has made adjustments to accommodate Orthodox mass	A cross with a four-crow relief stands next to the church in memory of the ancient Curonians
Antoņina Pereverzeva, born 1913, talks about her life as an orphan after the revolution in St. Petersburg	A large generation of people who follow ancient beliefs have moved here from what was pre-war Poland and is now Lithuania
Fjokla Šušerova still has an heirloom Bible	Local residents also know her for her abilities as a healer
Migrants and those who have been enlisted for work here do not feel at home, but yearlong burdens prevent them from returning home	The majority of residents here are elderly people or servicemen
Königsberg, now called Kaliningrad, is the administrative centre of the region	The historical gravesite of Immanuel Kant lies beyond the walls of the church
Cultural layers uncovered in digs led by Russian archaeologist Vladimir Kulakov;	the deepest layer belongs to a Baltic tribe – the ancient Prussians
The residents of the Russian territory today struggle to find their identities	The participants of our expedition search for traces of ancient Baltic tribes in the area