Latvia

Restaurant Istabas in Talsi is among the best restaurants I've tried in Latvia lately, located on Liela street 31 in Talsi city, the restaurant offers great views of Lake Talsi . Istabas restaurant serves great European/American cuisine. First visited back in the Summer of 2017, since then have returned here for a couple of times. Restaurant Istabas in Talsi Located in a three-storey building, seems there is a hotel available as well.  Lovely patio (during Summers) Salmon tartar Well…

On the top of the abrupt Baznīcaskalns (Church Hill) stands the white masonry Talsi church – the dominant of the old town. It was built in 1567 and later rebuilt for several times. A transept and sacristy are attached to a rectangular, elongated building. Talsi Evangelical Lutheran Church The square bell-tower is attached on the west side of the church, it has a pyramidal spire with a sphere, rooster and a cross. The church spire, the rooster, the tiled roof, the façade and the interior…

Talsi has been on my radar since the Summer of 2017. One of the first tourism attractions I discovered here is Talsi Regional Museum.  For a long time, I thought it's probably some manor house or something, but doing a Google search I learned I was wrong. Well, as I have never been inside the museum, instead I love wandering in the nearby park.  Talsi Regional Museum There are storage, history, art and nature departments in Talsi Regional Museum. In 2006 a new building of museum…

Kemeri National Park in Latvia is special for its great biological diversity, the unique Kemeri Bog, mineral waters and therapeutic mud found here. It was on a lazy Sunday afternoon we decided to visit Kemeri National Park, as we had no idea what exactly to look for, we decided to make a stop at first "look-a-like" place, so we ended at Forest House, located some 45km from nations capital Riga. I was equipped with my Canon DSRL camera and in a good mood to make some panoramic photos here:…

Daugavpils has been on my travel radar for a very long time, in fact I've been in Daugavpils for couple of times in the past. According to Booking.com there are no 5-star hotels in Daugavpils, but there are a few 4-star and a lot of 3-star hotels located in the city and in the neighboring vicinity.  Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you…

During the past few years, there have been some positive improvements for raising the minimum wage in all three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). In 2018 minimum wage is set to rise in all Baltic states again. Estonia will a have a minimum wage of EUR 500; Latvia - EUR 430 and Lithuania - EUR 400. That' s a pretty decent leap if compared with 2016, when minimum wages were set at EUR 430 in Estonia, EUR 370 in Latvia and just EUR 350 in Lithuania. See: Minimum Wage Set to Rising…

We received a special request, from a special person, to deliver park rose Rītausma, which could translate as Dawn in English. Rītausma is a local, Latvia selected park rose breed. To get one (seedling price was about EUR 5), we had to cross half of the country, to find this special, precious rose at Dailas Rozes, located in Sēme parish, some 5km from Tukums. After spending an hour at Dailas Rozes park, I felt impressed, made a few photos here and would highly recommend this place to all rose…

Abava Rumba is the second widest waterfall in Latvia (after Venta Rumba) ,up to 1 m high and 35 m wide. I had a chance to visit it and spend some hour in lovely photography session at the end of May 2017, just after our Germany trip in the Mossel Valley. There is a camping area located just next to the rapid.  Abava Rumba in Latvia I find such places tranquil and quite inspiring for my photography.  Hiking trek near Abava Rumba As an active outdoors fan I could resist to go deep in the…

Peter's market is centrally located on Kuršu street in Liepāja, Latvia. There are more than 200 sales outlets. It's the largest market in Liepaja and second largest in Latvia (after Riga Central market).  Make sure to visit Peter's market once in Liepāja. Although not so impressive than those in Philadelphia, Barcelona or Riga, it's still quite interesting place. I believe over the time Peter's market has potential to become one of the most visited tourism attractions in Liepāja. Peter's…

I now have a great selection of Jurmala hotels, in todays article the latest addition - Hotel Sunset on Pilsonu street in Jurmala. When traveling to or from Riga and looking for a cheap stay I prefer Jurmala (as it's close to Riga) or some suburbs in Riga. Although some might think Jurmala is an expensive city  in fact - it's not. For a decent hotel room in Jurmala you could easly find value deals for about EUR 40.  That's how we booked Sunset Hotel in Jurmala. Hotel Sunset in Jurmala…