Latvia

When I was back in Germany and visited Germany's most visited landmark - The Cologne's Cathedral my travel mate said to me - it (Cologne's Cathedral) doesn't impress me as much as Valtaiķi church in Latvia. I looked at her - and asked, what? Seriously? Yes, she replied - the stained glass at Valtaiķi church are more impressive than here at Cologne.  I was left with no options and decided to visit this church by my own. Unfortunately, as usual in Latvia, this church was closed and I hadn't any…

On May 21, 2015 3rd Eastern Partnership Business Forum happened in Riga, Latvia. This Business forum was a part of the greater Eastern Partnership summit. I visited this forum as a representative of Georgia based foreign company Caucasus Translations. Such events like business forums are great for networking, establishing new contacts and ... bragging on my blog. Anyway - this business forum unlike the last one I did took a participation (Read Latvian - Georgian Business Forum) had attracted…

I have been lately a lot in church photography. Perhaps Georgia as an Orthodox country has learned me this lesson. Churches are interesting for photography, I believe it's pretty hard to take a decent image of a church by not using some good lenses and a tripod. Churches looks great from a distance, they are majestic and impressive.  Kuldiga Orthodox Church As I have been taught and have find many times - a tripod is a must have for the landscape photography, unfortunately I haven't yet get…

Daigas Bakery (Daigas beķereja) is one of my favourite bakery places in Kuldiga. The reason is plain simple - the pastries Daiga and her team is baking here are one of the best in the whole region and I'm not afraid to say - they are among the best in Latvia. Discovered by accident in the summer of 2014, Daigas Bakery has found its way to my heart instantly. When I'm visiting the town of Kuldīga - Daigas bakery is a must-have. And I mean it! The bakery is located on Liepājas street 26 in a…

One thing I really enjoy at small Latvian towns - they offer a charm and a personal touch. And you will find a lot of from both in the town of Kuldīga located in Western Latvia. On a lovely Wednesday morning I was doing some random photography around Kuldīga Old Town when I noticed this lovely confectionery shop 'Kukulītis' - literally meaning "a loaf" located on Liepajas street 35. I was so impressed of it, that I went straight in, asked for permission to do a few shots, so I can share this…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…