Latvia

That happened in Summer 2015 on a highway connecting Liepaja with Riga in Latvia. We were returning home from Liepāja and enjoyed a newly constructed (renovated) Liepāja highway, when suddenly we had to stop our car because of a Swan family walked just in the middle of the highway in front of our car. Swans looked confused, they were trying to get somewhere, as we later learned - they were searching for a lake. Swan family walking in the middle of highway Swan family Lady helping to…

There have been some positive improvements for raising the minimum wage in all three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in recent years. And there are more to come. In 2016 minimum wage is set to rise in all Baltic states. Estonia will have a minimum wage of EUR 430; Latvia - EUR 370 and Lithuania - EUR 350. Update: Minimum Wage Set to Rise in the Baltic States in 2018 Here are my previous articles about minimum wage in Baltic states: Minimum wage in the Baltic States 2013 and…

Podnieku lake is located close to the Kalvene in Western Latvia. We headed here while returning back from Liepāja (probably we were eating paella's and empanadas at Tex-Mex Klondaika restaurant prior). This lake seems in past has been some popular recreational area, there were a lot of camping sites and rumor has it here even was a cafeteria. Nobody knows for sure what happened to this place and why any development tasks has stopped. I believe it won't take long and Podnieku lake will be…

Tex-Mex Klondaika in Liepāja is among one of my favorite Liepāja restaurants. I can't say I'm visiting this seaside town too often, but once I'm here I'm looking for this brand. Located on lovely Stendera street in almost Liepāja city center, this restaurant has a lot to offer - starting traditional Tex-Mex style cuisine ending traditional Latvian cold soup (made from beets). Menu at Tex-Mex Klondaika restaurant Refreshing water with mint drink Traditional Latvian Cold soup Paella…

If you are having troubles with engine, need to change a tire or just looking to replace oil and you are stuck in Kazdanga area (Latvia) there is one car service I can recommend. Since I believe it's the one and only one in Kazdanga, let's name it  - Kazdanga car service. At this service we fixed a leaky muffler and straightened  a dent on car's surface for about EUR 50 Car service in Kazdanga Since this service is located in rural Latvia they mainly specializes on repairing tractor…

As I stated in my previous post about beautiful poppy fields near P104 Jaunipils - Tukums road in Latvia, there is a hidden treasure inside those lovely fields - an abandoned airfield.  I doubt it has been used for any military means, more for agriculture (field spraying from a biplane). So I headed in and here is what I got: Abandoned airfield near Tukums The same concrete plates for runaway structure as seen in Skrunda Abandoned Military Ghost Town Abandoned airfield I just love…

Riga Central Market as I believe is among of of the top Riga attractions a tourist might want to visit and see. First opened to public in 1930, with main structures of the market built by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars, it now has become Europe's largest market and bazaar. There are not many markets from which I have seen I could compare this one. The closest I can compare is La Boqueria market in Barcelona, Spain.  One of the Riga Central market pavilions In total there are 5…

Some might think what's so special with those poppy fields in some place called near P104 road in Latvia, and I might reply - probably there is nothing special, but since we used this bypass road to get to Riga all the Summer along, we just noticed them every time we drove past this district. Now I took those images on June 26th and today being back in Tbilisi I tried to locate this place on map, unfortunately I couldn't find an easy task to do this (that's why I love cameras with built in GPS…

Ēdole Castle is a Gothic Revival castle situated on the banks of Ēdole Lake, Ēdole parish, in the historical region of Courland, western Latvia. I had an opportunity to visit Ēdole castle and taste some of the 17 cheeses few days before Summer Solstice Līgo was held (back n 2015). During my visit a fair called Emīla market (Emīla tirgus) took action. Famous Latvian film Emīla nedarbi was filmed here in 1985. So that's the reason why this fair is named after Emīls. If you enjoy medieval…

Cafe Staburadze is located on Liepajas street in Kuldiga. Here serves a traditional Latvian cuisine (pork chops and other stuff) and ... I just love this place.  After I had tried almost all of the Kuldīga cafe's and restaurants I have concluded that exactly cafe Staburadze is among my favorite dining places in lovely Kuldīga town.  And here are just a few reasons you will love Staburadze as well - it's centrally located in Kuldīga (on central Liepajas street) - it has a budget friendly…