Blog Traffic Report - April 2015 - 17,865 Users

2 May, 2015 | Blogging | 14 seen

Welcome to the already 19th my blog's traffic report. I'm doing both traffic and online income report at the start of each month, to learn, discover and compare how did it go for the last month.

Those reports keep me track my progress (or bounces) and hopefully can give a lesson to you as well.

In short - nothing. After a negative experience last month (see my report about March) I decided not to use any promotion for my blog and indeed I didn't.

Well, that doesn't mean I didn't produce any article. In fact, I did 31 articles last month. You might find it's much and I can only agree on that. But hey it's already the 19 months in a row I'm not missing a single day of blogging.

Again, in April I decided to slow down a bit - prior to this April I produced even 2 and 3 articles per day, but then I found the quality of those articles just sucks. So I decided to slow down this month. 

This April comes with a -12.85% traffic dip if compared to the previous month (March) and totaled in 17,865 unique visitors. Although there is a dip, I'm not sad about that,…

Skrunda-1 Abandoned Soviet Military Ghost Town In Latvia

30 April, 2015 | Military Heritage | 322 seen

Update: Originally I visited Skrunda - 1 in Summer 2015, Skrunda -1 is closed for public visitors in 2022

Skrunda-1, also known as Skrunda-2, is a ghost town and former Soviet and later Russian radar station located 5 km (3 mi) to the north of Skrunda, in Raņķi Parish, Kuldīga Municipality in Courland region of Latvia. It was the site of two Dnepr radar (NATO designation "Hen House") installations constructed in the 1960s. A Daryal radar was being built there before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Skrunda was strategically important to the Soviet Union as its radars covered Western Europe. The two barn-like radars were one of the most important Soviet early warning radar stations for listening to objects in space and for tracking possible incoming ICBMs.

I have always been interested in a digger's stuff. Latvia is an amazing country for diggers. Speaking of this object - Skrunda-1 ghost town, in fact, I was just eager to find a place where more than 20 years ago Latvian Government blasted a mighty Soviet Military radar system, I didn't find that place,  but instead, I found an abandoned ghost town - Skrunda-1. 

Concrete slab…

Snēpele Manor

29 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

Latvia is a land of old manor houses and palaces, they dates back from the times when German nobles ruled this territory. A lot of manors one (perhaps you) can find in a historical region of Courland. I found this interesting Snēpele manor during a trip back from Kuldīga town. Since I'm eager to improve my photography skills, I did find just another reason to add a new post on my blog. 

Snepele manor 

I made a lot of shots of this manor by hand (not using a tripod) and just this one made it to you. 

The outhouse near Snepele manor

Road Sign to Snepele Manor

As well a bus stop  - probably you can take a bus from Kuldīga here

View to the Snepele village

That tall building on the left is a water tower not some old Soviet monument.

Snēpele Palace (Latvian: Snēpeles muižas pils) is a palace in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia. It was originally built at the beginning of the 19th century as a baronial hunting lodge with two room apartments for guests on the second floor. The building has housed the Snēpele primary school…

Bangert's Restaurant Review in Kuldiga

28 April, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 33 seen

Bangert's restaurant is kinda a new restaurant located on the banks of river Venta between Old Brick Bridge and the Venta Waterfall on Pils street 1 in Kuldīga.

I first visited this restaurant last summer and found it a really great. So on the lovely Springs Sunday when I was doing some photo-shooting near Venta river banks I insisted we should visit this restaurant again so just I can add it to my blog and show it for you.

Restaurant Bangert's in Kuldīga

Wood carved naked lady at Bangert's restaurant

Interior at Bangert's Restaurant

Working hours for Bangert's Restaurant

Interior at Bangert's Restaurant

Bar counter at Bangert's restaurant

Menu at Restaurant Bangert's

Bar counter at Bangert's restaurant

Restaurant is located in two floors, I was egaer to make as much photos as possible so I went upstairs

Interior at Restaurant Bangert's second floor

Coffee latte at Bangert's Restaurant

While I was exploring all premises of this lovely restaurant our coffee were served. A really good one…

The Venta Waterfall (Rapid) - Widest In Europe

27 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 85 seen

The Venta rapid forms a widest waterfall in Europe. It's located very close to Kuldīga town centre in Latvia.

See: Flying Fish over Venta Rapid in Kuldīga

I took my DSLR camera and decided to master my photography skills, couldn't say it improved drastic, but here is the thing I was told by a good friend a professional photographer: 

If I may say try and get lower angles on the waterfall. Popular idea is to stand in the water if its shallow and not too cold. And if you don't mind to get wet

I didn't listened this time to this advice 

View to the Venta Waterfall through the Brick Bridge

Kuldīga is a very interesting town from tourism point of view - you have a great access both to the widest waterfall in Europe and to the kind of (!sic) longest bridge in Europe. The Old Brick bridge across the Venta river is located just 240 meter distance from the Venta waterfall and you can have a great views to the rapid from the bridge. Read: The Old Brick Bridge Across The Venta River In Kuldīga 

View to the Venta Waterfall from the Brick Bridge

The Venta waterfall…

The Old Brick Bridge Across The Venta River In Kuldīga

26 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 51 seen

Brick bridge in Kuldīga over the river of Venta according to some sources is the longest of its kind bridge in Europe.

I believe nobody actually pays attention to the lengths of this bridge instead I believe the reason everyone enjoys it - it just looks great. Since it looks great I spent some time here to improve my DSLR photography, I actually made here some 180 photos, but just 5 have made it to you. 

Brick bridge over Venta River in Kuldīga

Turns out river Venta is a kind of popular place for local fisherman, I met many of them today.

Bridge over Venta River

This bridge is opened both for motorized vehicles and pedestrians. 

According to the road building standards of its time, the bridge has been built wide enough for two carriages to pass each other. The 'race of the naked' over the bridge has become an annual tradition for Midsummer nights. Read: Kuldīga

The Brick Bridge in Kuldīga

I was not lazy and made a small walk to make another shot from another side of this bridge.

Palace guards house near this brick bridge

I didn't find…

Bistro 'Elvi' In Skrunda

25 April, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 14 seen

Seems this place is out of the business in 2021, instead there is a liquor store

Bistro Elvi is a restaurant-style catering place offering a home-style cuisine, today I will speak about one located in the town of Skrunda. 

Bistro Elvi in Skrunda town is located in a local shopping centre also called Elvi and actually is part of Elvi chain. Close to this bistro is located Skrunda bus station, were buses from Rīga and Liepāja makes a stop.

Elvi Bistro in Skrunda

Solyanka at Elvi Bistro

Solyanka which actually is a traditional Russian soup, is one of the most popular soups at Latvian Bistro places. Once I red it was called a hotch-potch soup. Well, I would call this soup actually more hotch-potch than solyanka, because I don't find a soup made from leftover sausages and a tomato sauce anything close to Russian Solyanka. But it tasted good.

A Royal Pork Chop at Bistro Elvi

I messed with my camera settings unfortunately and didn't make any decent photo of this food.

Desert at Elvi Bistro

It was some apple based cream in a jelly, the jelly was way too much synthetic…

Bakery Lāči

24 April, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 39 seen

Some Latvians prefer to call Bakery Lāči a top notch place for foreigners to visit. So I decided to visit this place and make some short review of it.

This bakery is located outside the capital Riga and you can reach it by driving route A9 (which is a highway connecting Riga to Liepāja) - in case you are up for a Courland tour, you can make a stop here and enjoy some local brunch/lunch and/or to buy Lāči bread. And don't be surprised if a Latvian brings you a gift from Latvia exactly the Lāči bread. This is the phenomena I never could understood truly, but hey this article is not about that, right?

Bakery Lāči

Parking lot near Bakery Lāči

Parking lot is located just near route A9

Lunch menu at Bakery Lāči

Exterior at Bakery Lāči

Interior at Bakery Lāči

Shop at Bakery Lāči

You can buy here some smoked sausages, cheese, sprats e.t.c.

Simple table at Lāči bakery

Coffee at this place

Coffee tasted good, the price for a cup of coffee here - EUR 1.80

Sorrel soup with pearl barley

This soup was…

Neighbourhoods of Riga: Iļģuciems

23 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 64 seen

Iļģuciems is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Riga. History of this neighborhood dates back to the early 13th century. Back in 1236 a small manor was built here and given the name of Hiligen geest hove (Heiligen Geist Hof) in English meaning - "Holy Spirit Convent", from which latter originated name Iļģuciems in Latvian - at first Hilgzeem, then Ilgezeem and finally Iļģuciems.

Unfortunately less has left over from those days. In our days much of Iļguciems is dominated by Soviet-style block house architecture, with rare 19th centuries wooden houses. I took my DSLR camera and decided to practice a little bit photography here. Well, speaking of images - I found them rather average, not to say nothing special - a tripod is a must-have for such landscapes, unfortunately, I did all of these photos from hand in a pretty rainy April's day.

Dagmāras street in Iļģuciems

Tram Nr 5 connects Ilģuciems to Vecmilgrāvis passing city Centre near Riga central market

Soviet-style block houses in Iļguciems

Recently built dwelling house in Iļģuciems

Iļģuciema polyclinic

Iļģuciema bakery shop…

Bakuzi cemetery

22 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 16 seen

Bakuzi cemetery (Latvian: Bākūžu kapsēta) is located in region of Courland (Latvia) in parish of Rudbarzi, Skrunda Municipality. The history of this cemetery dates back to at least to mid 18th century (I found old grave cross with dates of 176o-ties). I believe back in those dates some German nobles were buried here. In history of Courland and Latvia German nobles plays a major role.  The cemetery is really small - I doubt there are more than 100 burials on this cemetery.

Frankly speaking I was not expecting to ad a cemetery as a tourist object on my blog - but hey - what's wrong with that? As long as you are quiet and still in places like that - and you pay a proper honor to the deceased souls -  it's perfectly fine with me, and cemeteries are great place to do some photography. A bit sad photography, but it's still a photography, right?

So I took my DSLR camera and made a few shots at this cemetery:

Old alley at this cemetery

A lot of moss here

Bakuzi cemetery

Sign in Latvian: Bākūžu kapsēta

Chapel at this cemetery

Grave crosses at Bakuzi cemetery…

Riga Airport

21 April, 2015 | Airports | 26 seen

Riga International Airport, also know as RIX is a largest airport in the Baltic states located in capital of Latvia. Airport is located some 13km distance from city centre of Riga. I was agreeably surprised by noticing it was quiet and still here at Riga airport comparing it to Tbilisi airport. 

I decided to add a few photos taken at Riga airport travelling with two cats on board.

Cat just landed at Riga airport

Two cats just landed at Tbilisi airport

Parking lot at Riga airport

airBaltic banner at Riga Airport

Riga airport is a main hub and base for airBaltic aircraft-carrier.

Riga International Airport is the international airport of Riga, the capital of Latvia, and the largest airport in the Baltic states with direct flights to over 80 destinations in 30 countries. It serves as a hub for airBaltic, SmartLynx Airlines, RAF-Avia, Vip Avia and Inversija and as one of the base airports for Wizz Air. Latvian national air carrier airBaltic at the biggest in the airport, with Ryanair being the second largest. The airport is located in the Mārupe…

Tbilisi Aerial Tram

20 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 23 seen

Tbilisi aerial tram is just in recent years built cable cars in Tbilisi connecting Rike Park (or more precisely Europe Square) to the fortress of Narikala. It eases your travel up to the  Narikala fortress in huge. Prior to this cable car the one and only way to get to Narikala fortress was just by climbing up in the hill. For some that climb can make a lot of troubles.

View from Narikala footsteps to Tbilisi city

You can get a nice and lovely access for views like in above picture taking aerial tram up to the Narikala Fortress. In above image: The Bridge of Peace, Rike Park and Presidential Office.

Cable car station at Narikala

Tbilisi aerial tram

You can see the church of Sameba in background.

The cost for a drive is relatively cheap: 2GEL ($0.89/ EUR 0.83) for a single ride - you should have to buy a Tbilisi Metro Card before you can use this cable car. It's not a problem to get one on site at cable car station. The price for metro card is again around GEL 2.00. You can deposit on your metro card some more money and you can use it for as many passengers you wish for (just make sure there is money…

Flea Market Near Dry Bridge In Tbilisi

19 April, 2015 | Shopping Venues | 73 seen

The Flea market near Dry Bridge in Tbilisi is an interesting place to visit,  just to look on old Soviet time relict's, starting medals, belt buckles from Soviet military, ending movie posters of famous Soviet day films.

As well you can find here a lot of old tableware (some might be even antique). Most of the items you will find here is pretty much useless but they still can give you some fun if bought as an souvenir. Well that's why we call it a flea market right?

On the lovely afternoon at the start of April I went to Saarbrucken square to buy a minced meat (they have one of the best meat in the town on a small shop some 100 meters from restaurant Tiflisi) I decided to make a detour and visited Dry Bridge's flea market to practice more my photography skills and to show you, how this place looks like. The result you can see bellow: 

Saarbrucken Square in Tbilisi

The Dry Bridge is located close to Saarbrucken Square, you will notice first merchants just right on the bridge

At Flea market

A horn, miniature clay pot or some surgical equipment? Sure, you will find that on Dry Bridge's…

Tbilisi By Night - Cycling Old Town To Didube

18 April, 2015 | Outdoor Activities | 8 seen

The other day we took again our bikes and made a pretty lovely night ride in Tbilisi. From Old Tbilisi to Didube and back. For some reason my GPS tracker (MapMyRide) didn't worked properly, it missed at least first 2 km from this route. Another thing to mention -  I have a pretty bad camera for night vision shots back at the time I didn't know how to shoot night photography the right way, please don't judge too hard my shots of nightly Tbilisi.

Speaking from cycling's view of point - this route is pretty easy and it's hard to call it a real workout, speaking from Tbilisi by night view of point - this route offers really spectacular views - and if you are into cycling or at least walking I can just suggest you to take this route.

You can take shorter versions of this route as well. Read: Cycling Tbilisi Embankment - evening ride - Dinamo Arena - Didube or Cycling Tbilisi - Night Ride - Tbilisi Old Town

This is a 14.74 km route in Tbilisi, Georgia. The route has a total ascent of 61.76 m and has a maximum elevation of 418.56 m.

Tbilisi bridge in night

…

Rike Park In Tbilisi

17 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 35 seen

Rike park is a landscaped territory located close to the Tbilisi Old Town.

You can enter Rike park either crossing the pedestrian bridge of Peace or from the opposite side using stairways from the Avlabari district. There is an aerial tram in the territory of the park which will bring you up to the fortress of Narikala. 

The Bridge of Peace

The Bridge of Peace is a pedestrian bridge used to enter Rike park from Tbilisi old town, in the opposite side at the park you can climb down or up stairways to or from Avlabari district of Tbilisi

Aerial tram station at Rike Park

You can take an aerial ride from Rike Park (tram station is actually located near Europe Square) up to Narikala fortress. 

The building that was meant to become a Tbilisi Philharmonic and Presidential Office at top

I'm not sure regarding future development plans of this Philharmonic Building - the rumor has it... well there is always some rumor...But you should agree - it looks just amazing.

The bridge of Peace from parkside

Tbilisi Philharmonic building

…