Latvia

Although this monument in Liepaja (in seaside park) is dedicated to the sailors and fishermen perished in the sea I decided to add this place in military heritage category, because for me it kinda reminds something from Soviet military. Well actually this is a great example of Latvian architecture, as it turns out it's designed by local Latvian designers Alberts Terpilovskis and Gunārs Asaris. Anyway - once in Liepaja, this place is a worth of visit.in case you are heading for a lazy walk on…

I'm continuing my Latvia travel guide notes I have taken (photographed) at start of the June 2015. This time I visited a lovely Liepaja Seaside Park and Blue Flag Beach.  Map of the Liepaja seaside park According to the official Latvia Travel guide - This is the Latvia's largest dendrological park, now extending for about 50 ha, was gradually developed from 1870 to the early 20th century. The park boasts more than 140 different species of trees and shrubs. Drums in Liepaja Liepaja is…

When it comes down to bank check redemption it's always a struggle to find a bank (at least in Europe) which offers such service. You may find my discoveries of finding a reliable bank in Republic of Georgia, when at the end I found Bank Republic. In case of Latvia, you have few options, like SEB or Swedbank, but both of them require you to have an active bank account at their branches for at least 6 months before you can start such a simple bank operation like check redemption. After a quick…

At the start of this August I traveled to Estonian capital city Tallinn from Riga (Latvia) to celebrate my birthday and I had a few options to choose on how to actually get there - like, car, coach (bus) or plane (I believe there is a rail connection as well, but I also believe it takes some 12 hours to travel a short ~ 300 km distance) The fact is as I believe it will be even cheaper or about the same to fly between those two Baltic Capital cities, rather to use a bus. But since I'm sick and…

Although this post should probably go into hotel review category, taking into consideration that I haven't stayed here overnight I'm listing this place under tourist attractions. And here are few reasons that made me think that Guest house Garīkas is worth not only of (perhaps) a lovely stay but as well for some good landscape photography. At first - Garīkas are famous shitake mushroom growers in Latvia, secondly they feature a lovely watch tower here and third... they have a cobbled driveway.…

Now, some of you already of you know my love of different agricultural farming things, like once I visited a dairy farm in Georgia, then I visited a fish farm (again in Georgia), this time I visited an agricultural company in Latvia - meet Bandžēni farm. Bandžēni farm in Courland Greenhouse for seedlings Greenhouse for tomatoes Seedlings Gazebo at farm Now, that's for sure - a decent farm must have a decent gazebo Gazebo at farm ..built on artificial island and connected to…

Cafe Bordertauna (Bordertown) is located in the Novadnieku parish in distance of some 3 km from Saldus city. I visited this place after a Kutaisi - Vilnius flight and then Vilnius - Mazeikai transfer. At time I visited cafe Bordertauna some local banquet were held on site and kitchen was closed, the only chance to get something was from salad bar. Cafe Bordertauna Cafe Bordertauna Billboard is saying - tasty, fast dinner Salads and a soup at Cafe Bordertauna The Bottom Line Pretty…

Riga international coach terminal or bus station is a major traffic hub in Latvia and Baltics. I last time visited this place and used Riga - Vilnius coach transfer and then departed from Vilnius to Kutaisi. This coach terminal is situated in the heart of city, close to the Old Riga and Riga Central Market. In fact I was surprsided to learn that here you can make really interesting landscapes.  Riga International Coach Terminal View to St. Peters Church in Old Riga Iron Bridge,…

Dali Cafe & Art is located in Spikeri quarter in Riga, I visited this place at night before leaving Riga (right next on the corner from this place is Riga bus station) and headed to Tbilisi (a long way, via Vilnius and Kutaisi). The night I visited Dali Cafe was the Eurovision song festival night, and folks gathered here of watching it. Dali Cafe in Riga Located in one of the brick houses of Spikeri quarter Interior at Dali Cafe Menu at Dali Cafe We order some coffee and a beer…

Spikeri quarter and promenade is recently renovated neighborhood in Riga and it has all chances to become a very popular tourist spot in Riga. This place is closely located to Riga Central market (I will write about in anytime soon), Riga International Bus station, Railway station and of course Old Riga. I visited this place for a very short time prior to waiting a bus to Vilnius (Lithuania) and then heading to Kutaisi (Georgia) at the end of May, 2015 Spikeri Quarter in Riga This quarter…