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The White Dune At Saulkrasti
The White Dune is one of the landmarks of Saulkrasti, on the Vidzeme gulf coast. The dune offers a splendid view of the sea, the mouth of the Inčupe River and the vast beach.Probably, best visited in Summer, we made a short visit here in February 2021The White Dune formed as the wind drove beach sand over the clay silt of Baltic Ice Lake. Its white 18 meters high sand outcrop once helped local fishermen find their way home. The dune got its name…
Vilgāle Apt update: Wall plastering, Wiring, Preparing to Install Drywall for Ceiling
Here comes another quick update from renovation works at our Vilgāle apartmentThis week contractors have plastered most of the walls, finished wiring, and have started to prepare to install drywall for the ceiling.Just like in the previous weeks - I was absent from the works and spent our days in JūrmalaMaster bedroom under constructionAlmost done here, except just windows, drywall ceiling and flooring is missing (should be done in the next…
Ice Fishing on Lielupe River
It has been already the second winter we are spending in Jūrmala, and there is one cool thing we have noticed while driving to Riga via Lielupe bridge (next to Rimi) - Ice Fishing on the Lielupe RiverIce fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated…
Guest House Laidi
Guesthouse "Laidi" is located in a beautiful place in the Kuldiga region. The guest house will welcome everyone who wants to relax from the daily rush, enjoy a swim in the beautiful pond or organize any important celebrations.We found this awesome place as it offers a sauna rental for just EUR 40 for about 3 hoursGuesthouse LaidiSituated next to the private Saulieši lake, guest house Laidi offers a guest, house, boat rental, sauna,…
Vilgāle Flat: Scrapping Textured Walls / Preparing for Electricity Wiring
It has been already the second week since renovation works are in full swing at our Vilgāle flat.This week contractors have removed chalk and other texture from the walls and have started preparing walls and ceilings for wiring. Just like in the previous week - I was absent from the works and spent our days in JūrmalaMaster Bedroom Under constructionLooks much happier than I saw this room the first timeNothing fancy planned here - king…
Camping Vērbeļnieki
Guesthouse and camping "Vērbeļnieki" is located on the road Klaipeda - Liepāja, 6 km from the city of Liepāja in Nīca parish (Latvia)We discovered this place by accident, during a random driving around in the area at the start of February 2021.As I had equipped with my DJI Mavic AIr 2 drone I decided to capture some nice golden hour photo hereKids playground at VērbeļniekiOur toddler girl was very excitedGolden hour sunset near…
Vilgāle flat Renovation - tearing down walls, removing floors
Welcome, to yet another exciting photo series to our latest renovation project - Vilgāle flat.I bought this flat at an online auction back in September 2020, it took me a few months before all the legal procedures were done and we could actually start renovation works. For actual renovation works, I hired local contractors at Kuldīga town. Not to speak more here are photos from our first "operation" - tearing down the walls and removing the…
Dubulti Beach Winter 2021
At the end of January 2021, we temporarily relocated back to Dubulti (Jūrmala). We are looking to stay here for the next two months and hopefully get back to Tbilisi by April 2021In today's Piece of Life series - Dubulti beach in WinterMake sure to check out our previous article back from 2018 - Winter near The Baltic Sea (Dubulti beach, Jūrmala)Dubulti beach in WinterAfter a long time, I took again my old Canon DSLR and made a few handheld…
Cēsis Castle
Cēsis Castle is one of the most iconic and best-preserved medieval castles in Latvia.The foundations of the castle were laid 800 years ago by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. The most prosperous period Cēsis Castle experienced was during its next owners, the Teutonic Order. It became one of the key administrative and economic centers of the Teutonic Order in Livonia and was a seat of Landmeister in Livland.The first…
Piltene Lutheran Church
Piltene Lutheran church is located in Piltene, some 20km from Ventspils. The church was originally built-in 1557.The pride of the Piltene church is gilded wooden altar and pulpit, organ with 9 stops, wooden images of XII century Apostles, benches, and separate lodges with doors with kettle-hinges.I first discovered the Pitlene church at the sart of 2021, while doing random wanderings in the areaPitlene church from a drone flightThe church was…
Gray Dune Area in Ventspils
Gray dune area in Ventspils is a part of “Preserving, Exhibiting and Developing Tourism of Culture History and Nature Heritage of Northern Courland” of the Ventspils Museum project, during which the creation of an infrastructure of the South Western part of the city was carried out, has been completed. A new parking lot and two new entries to the beach are currently available to the residents and guests.I first discovered the Gray dune…
Saint Simon's Church of Valmiera
Saint Simon's Church in Valmiera is one of the most noticeable objects in the city, located in the heart of the city on Bruņinieku iela 2.The architecture of St Simon's Church combines the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The church boasts 15th-16th century burial plaques of the city's notables, a pipe organ built in 1886 by a well-known European organ builder Friedrich Ladegast, and paintings on the pulpit and the organ loft made back in 1730…
Užava Lighthouse
Užava Lighthouse - a lighthouse located on the Latvian coast of the Baltic Sea.The lighthouse stands in an isolated location, on a 28 metres high sand dune, which is permanently threatened by the Baltic Sea waves' erosion.For this reason, the first coastal reinforcement – a dense log wall was constructed to secure the lighthouse's location in 1910. Later, fir-tree baskets filled…
Vilgāle
Vilgāle (formerly also Saldenieki) is a village in Kurmāle Parish, Kuldīga District, Latvia. Located on the shores of Lake Vilgāle. Distance to Kuldīga 17 km, 181 km from Rīga.Back in September 2020, I bought a flat in this village in an online auction (without actually seeing the flat), see: Today I bought my first flat on online auction site, It took me a couple of months before I actually get inside the flat (after the flat was…
Embūte Castle
The ruins of Embūte Castle are located in Embūte, Latvia, in Embūte Parish, Vaiņode Municipality, not far from an ancient hillfort erected by Curonians.It was an ancient Curonian settlement and is mentioned in ancient chronicles as a place with strong Curonian resistance to German crusaders. The bishop's castle was built as a border castle with Lithuania by Livonian Order…
Zaķu krogs near Jūrkalne
Zaķu krogs is both a restaurant a hotel located near Jūrkalne in Latvia.We discovered this place while driving around Užava, Pāvilosta, and decided to take here a quick stop to order some food for our toddler girl. Just later I learned there is a hotel also located.Zaķu krogs near JūrkalneLocated in Jūrkalne, Zaku Krogs is about 0.9 mi yards away from a Baltic Sea beach. It offers basic rooms with a work desk. Free private parking is…
Devil's Dam Embūte (Joda Dambis)
Devil's Dam of Embūte is an awesome place for hiking and trekking in the Courland region. We first discovered this site at the end of 2020, and plan to return here more often.Devil's Dam from a drone flightTaken with DJI MAVIC AIR 2Here is what I was able to find about this place (Source: Joda Dambis)At the western foot of the Indulis (or Curonian) castle mound is the Joda Lower Square, where open-air stages have been built several…
Vilgāle flat renovation - how it all starts
On September 18, I was lucky enough to win an online auction and bought a flat in Vilgāle village. It took a few more months before all legal procedures were done and I had the entry in the Land Registry before I was able to proceed.I first saw this flat about a week ago, when I got the keys from the previous landlady (ut turns out there haven't lived anybody for the last 27 years). There is no electricity and no water (yet). I have started…
Īvande Manor
Īvande Manor, also called Lielīvande Manor, is a manor house in Īvande parish in Kuldīga municipality in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia.The manor Groß-Iwanden was created by the merger of several small estates. In the middle of the 16th century the estate was owned by the family of Rudolf Steinrat.Ivande manorThree generations remained the property in the family Steinrat and was enlarged…
Ēdole Castle
Ēdole Castle is a Gothic Revival castle situated on the banks of Ēdole Lake, Ēdole parish, in the historical region of Courland, western Latvia.Originally consisting of two residential buildings linked by a stone wall, the castle is surrounded by a landscaped park. It is considered an architectural and archeological monument of national importance.Ēdole CastleThe castle was built for the bishop of Piltene …
Kronvalda Park in Riga
Kronvalda Park (originally Strēlnieku dārzs) is a part of the greenery of the Old Riga canal bank. The total area of the park is 11.92 ha. Kronvalda park which borders Elizabetes and Kr. Valdemāra Street, as well as Kronvalda and Kalpaka Boulevards.The city canal divides the park into two parts.Kronvalda park in RigaI spent a good hour with our toddler baby girl and DJI Mavic Air 2 drone to capture some nice aerial photography of Riga.Canal…
Apriķi Lutheran Church
Apriķi church is located in the Apriķi village, Laža parish, Aizpute district in the Western part of Latvia (Courland).Apriķi church is considered to be the pearl of Courland sacral art because the glory of its indoor interior is remembered by every visitor. Apriķi Lutheran ChurchThe stone church is built on Apriķi manor house land as Osten-Sakenu private church in the beginning of 17th century. The church got its glorious blue-…
St Nicholas Naval Cathedral, Karosta / Liepāja
The St Nicholas Naval Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral church located in Karosta in the north of Liepāja, Latvia.I have visited this cathedral just a couple of times, but always have been impressed by the glory of the place. It was at the start of November 2020, I got my new DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and I wanted to make some nice aerography, as we happened to be in the area, it was agreed to…
Rudbārži Palace
Rudbārži Palace is a palace in Rudbārži parish in Skrunda municipality in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia.The estate was, from 16th century to 1661, owned by the family of Eberhard von Goes and from 1778 till 1920 by the von Fircks noble family. Schloss Rudbahren was originally built (within the Courland Governorate) in 1835 for Baroness Thea …
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