Lake Ežezers
Lake Ežezers is located in Kraslava municipality, in Ezernieku and Andzeļu parishes. It is the richest island lake in Latvia and even in the whole Baltic region. There are 35 islands in a total area of 77.6 ha and 70 islands formations or shoals. From the lake flows out river Narūta, which is one of the Daugava’s basin rivers.
I first visited this lake back in 2010, when learned that my grandfather has been from this area (Village Andzeļi)
We returned here for a tranquil evening at the start of August 2022, and I plan to come here more often (at least once a year)
The average depth of the lake is 6.4 meters, maximum depth is 21 meters. In the lake, around 18-24 fish species can be found…
MyHeritage DNA test, flight to Tbilisi, Stock Recovery
Today was the last day in Riga and Latvia for a while. No More Vilgale, no more Ječi, and no more Riga until Spring 2023 (earliest). QSI school started today in Tbilisi, but we will still skip the first days and should start our new school year on Monday.Back in April we already ordered the MyHeritage DNA test, and today was the day when we finally took it, sealed and sent it back to Germany. Now we wait for some 6 weeks I guess. Exciting. I guess I will have some Russian, Belorussian, Iberian, and Latvian heritage will see. Maybe Ashkenazi Jew? Let's wait.I have some stock positions expiring tomorrow, I was worried about like DB and INTC stock, but seems they are going to recover or…
Coffee shop KUUP, Rēzekne
Kuup coffee shop is a chic place in Rēzekne, which offers coffee roasted in Latgale.
We found this place by a chance, thanks to TripAdvisor when searching for top restaurants in Rēzekne. We arrived here for some 40km from Varakļāni, just to have our morning coffee.
Pastry, coffee and sandwiches.
Kuup has its own coffee roastery, they sell both coffee roasted in Latgale and some souvenirs at their coffee shop
Quite awesome place. If you happen to be in Rēzekne, make sure to visit coffe shop Kuup.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne
The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne is located in Rēzekne, Latvia.
I briefly visited this cathedral at the start of August 2022, during my birthday trip to the region of Latgale
On the site occupied by the church, there existed a wooden temple built in 1685. The church burned down in 1887 during a storm and the following year the works for the new and present neo-Romanesque style church began. Construction was completed in 1902 under the guidance of Florian Viganovskis, dedicated in 1904, and consecrated in 1914.
The church was elevated to a cathedral status on December 2, 1995 with the Ad aptius consulendum bula of Pope John Paul II, when the Diocese of Rezekne-Aglona was created.
Rēzekne Castle ruins
Rēzekne Castle ruins are located in the downtown of Rēzekne, Latvia, a city in the center of Latgale. The castle served as a base of the local Livonian order landlords until the 16th century and also as the main military support base for battles against Russians and Lithuanians.
Today, fragments of the stone walls and the foundation can be seen on the ancient castle hill.
Archeological excavations reveal that between the 9th and 12th centuries a Latgalian wooden fortress was situated in the place where the castle ruins now stand. It is unknown when the Latgalian fortress was destroyed, however in 1285, the master of the Livonian Order Vilhelms Šurborgs built a stone fortress on the…
Stargazing in Ječi, Boat Riding in Laidi, Stock Trading in Vilgāle
Yesterday we traveled to Ječi to move the lawn, grill a fish and use it as a camp base before visiting a pebbled beach near Nida close to the Latvian/Lithuanian.Our new favorite shop - LIDL, fish is awesome and the rest is good too. We are lucky to have one LIDL store in Liepaja, about 25 km from our Ječi house. I love both Nida and Pape, really awesome beaches. Pāvilosta is good, Jūrkalne too. After returning to Ječi and making our campfire it was already dark and I guess I was able to see Milky Way. Ječi is awesome for night sky watch. no close city lights.. perfect. I felt a bit sad I didn't take my DSLR camera and tripod.The next morning we packed away, as we are not planning…
Guest House 'Odumiņi'
Guesthouse Odumiņi is located close to Varakļāni town in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We booked a one-night stay here at the start of August 2022, during our weekend trip to Latgale.
For a one-night stay here we paid about EUR 100, with the sauna included.
The vacation home comes with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views.
We were greead by the ownet Agrita, she showed us all around and allwed to make our own sauna broom from the nearby linded trees.
As we arrived here via Jēkabpils, we bought some fish to grill at the LIDL store and enyoed our evening on the patio.
inside…
Varakļāni Palace
Varakļāni Palace is located in Varakļāni, in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia.
We visited this place shortly at the start of August 2022, during a weekend trip to Latgale. I was not sure what for to look in the area and just googled the top sightseeing objects in Varakļani and this place popped top on the list.
Just later I learned history of this place.
After the end of the Livonian War in 1583, the von der Borch family acquired the Vark castle district, it was called "Vark land" (German: Warkland , Warkelen). The palace was designed by the Italian architect Vincenzo Macotti at the request of the estate owner, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth diplomat Count Michael Johann von…
Koknese Castle
Koknese Castle is a complex in Koknese, Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.
We visited Koknese castle during a weekend trip to the region of Latgale at the start of August 2022
Before the arrival of the Teutonic Knights, Koknese was the site of a wooden hill fort inhabited by the Balts. In 1209 Bishop Albert of Riga ordered the construction of a stone castle at the site, naming it Kokenhusen. For the first 50 years of its existence, Koknese was solely used as a defensive…
More Laminate flooring, Tiles for the Bathroom + some electricity works
After the tile removal in the kitchen and hallway area, it was already agreed - I will re-install laminate there. Additionally, after hydro isolation works in the bathroom I decided I will tile again.
I was very scared before the new tile job and measured everything 10 times before applying tile glue. Also, I decided to go for 6mm spacers (instead of 3mm)
I bought 8m2 of laminate, but was bit short after my first day, bought additioanal 4m2 at the end
I had to spend a good afternoon deciding on the pattern and composition. But result was worht the time spent.
We will have both sauna and shower in the bathroom, using tiles I tried to seperate those spaces
I used a special aluminum…
Quail Farm Rīta Putni / Olalā Koknese
Rīta Putni is located in one of the most picturesque places in Latvia - Koknese county Bilstini just a few minutes away from Perse and Daugava river, where an impressive view of Koknese castle ruins can be seen.
I first heard about this place, or more about its products - quail eggs, a few years ago back in Georgia, an acquaintance was involved in this business. At the start of August 2022, during our weekend trip to the Latgale region, passing near Koknese city we decided to locate the place and see it ourselves.
Some elements on the site reminded me the Gardenia Sherndadze flower garden in Tbilisi.
On site there were a small pop up shop were you can buy ice cream, creme brulee and get…
Church hill Daugavpils
Baznīckalns or Church hill in Daugavpils is said to be one of the main tourist attractions in the city. This was one of the rare times I visited Daugavpils and I must admit I didn't had any clue what should we see here and just Google for the top attractions and Church hill or Baznickalns was atop of the list.
Every traveler who wants to be acquainted with Daugavpils should definitely visit Church Hill which has gathered the churches of four different confessions.
Daugavpils Church Hill is located a clear distance away from the city center, in the Jaunbuve neighborhood.
This neighborhood was built in 1865 after the approval of the land-use plan for then named Dinaburg (one of the earlier…
Evening on the Vilgāle Lake
It was already past 8 PM, I was just finished tiling the bathroom at our Vilgāle apartment when my fiancee and kiddo arrived to pick me up. My best part gave me the drone and said - it's a beautiful evening to fly a drone.
I looked around and agreed. The Vilgāle lake was covered in mist, the Sun was setting. Beautiful.
Look at the beautiful rooftop on the bottom left.
Across the lake there is Vilgale village located where we own a Soviet style apartment
Piece of Life
Demolishing tiles, Hydroisolation for bathroom
A few weeks ago I did the tile job in the kitchen and hallway for our Vilgāle apartment. In the end, I was not happy with the result, not happy with the tile job (which could be done better), and not satisfied with the visual looks.
At one point I decided to list this apartment for sale as it is, with asking price EUR 25,000. As I didn't get any request during more than 7 days, I decided I still want to sell this flat but I will make it look better, will finish bathroom.
One of the first things I decided to remove tiles in the hallway and install laminate flooring. I will leave tiles just in the kitchen.
I was not happy how tiles looked together with laminate…
Guesthouse Pirts Baudas
Guesthouse Pirts Baudas is located in Ilzenes parish, Aluksnes county. The property is 24.1 km from Alūksne, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site.
We booked this place during our day trip to Valka and the area. I thought this place will be much closer to Valka, but it turned out about a 2-hour drive with a distance of some 130km. Though the drive was spectacular with stops at places like Gaujiena, Trapene, Lizespasts.. city of Pskov in Russia seems to be closer there than Riga. Anyhow.
The vacation home is fitted with 2 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and an oven, and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Towels and bed…
Velēna church
The Velēna Lutheran Church is at the crossing of the Smiltene-Gulbene-Lizums roads. I would call this as one of the most beautiful churches in Latvia.
It's said the first built church here was a wooden church with a turf roof. This is where the place got its name from – Velēna (Torf). Visitors can still enjoy one of the most beautiful organs in Latvia, built in 1898 in W. Sauer Company, they are considered as one of the best preserved organs in Latvia.
My mother, a Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church pastor Sarmite Fišere served here back in the 1980-ties and again briefly at the end of 1990-ties.
One Day in Micini
Micini has a very special place in my heart - I spent a brief time, about two years here, back in the 90-ties, living with my grandmother. Back in the days - there was some life here - a farm with more than 100 cows, few families, and even a public bus twice a week connecting to Valka.
My relatives from gradmother's side have been living here for a few centuries (at least) - and the scenery was much different here before WW2, when here lived my great grandfather with my great grandmother and their family.
A lot has changed ever since, mostly all the older generations have passed away, and what is left - is just ruins and beautiful scenery. In today's Piece of Life series - one day…
Cafe Papes Vēji
Cafe Papes Vēji is a summer cafe located next to the Pape channel in Western Latvia near the Pape Lighthouse.
This place serves traditional Latvian cuisine, and cold beer and some can buy smoked fish (apparently in the season)
I have been fond of this area for a few years already and first discovered this cafe about a year ago, now in Summer 2022 we made a stop here, had a hearty dinner, and bought some smoked fish. Awesome
Seems there is also a museum on site available. During our visit here, many tourists from Lithuania, Germany and of course Latvia were present.
Sup boards are gaining the momentum in Latvia and are present almost everywhere.
Seems this is the one and only…
Listing Vilgāle apartment for sale
After some thinking, I decided to list for sale our Vilgāle apartment.
I bought this apartment about two years ago in an online auction, paying about EUR 4,000. During the past two years, we have done some serious renovation with a total investment being closer to EUR 18,000.
Today I bought my first flat on an online auction site
I decided to list it for EUR 25,000 on local ss.lv website, here is the advert:
The owner is selling a renovated apartment in Vilgale - double glazed windows, Estrich warm floor tile/laminate covering. Installed pellet central heating, unfinished bathroom / sauna construction. Water on meters. Registered in the land register.
Low payments -…
Summer Cafe Kazbārs in Kazdanga
Summer café-bar “Kazbārs” is located next to the watermill in the heart of the scenic park of Kazdanga.
This place serves freshly ground coffee, Italian dessert affogato, refreshing soft ice cream (including vegan options), cold live beer, and vegan soups.
Place is run by energetic couple from Riga, if you will be happy enough you could catch up with host Ernests and enjoy the conversation about the running restaurant, flying planes, local area and more
Top 3 Things to do in Kazdanga, Latvia
Kazbārs offers to rent sup boards (around EUR 5/h in 2022), as the lake is located across the street, this seems quite attractive.
Sup boards are getting the momentum in Latvia. Smart…