The Stender’s Bar&Club in Kuldīga
I believe soon I will have a complete list of Kuldīga restaurants, but prior that I would like to introduce you another interesting place in this charming Curonian city, meet The Stender's Bar & Club. Stender's Bar&Club is located on charming street in KuldīgaIts address is Liepājas street 3Menu desk at Stender'sMenu at Stender's BarInterior at Stender'sDaily dose of CokeServed with icePoster at Stender's RestroomYes, I even take my camera to restroomsOutdoor patio at Stender's placeOutdoor patio at Stender's placeOr me learning my cameraMeal at Stender'sMeal at Stender'sI must admit in photos this meal looks much better as it tastes. Well it tastes pretty good - but instead of…
Home Remodelling - How It All Starts
Recently my better part and I became a lucky home-owners, we went through a long and bureaucratic procedure to inherit a house in scenic place in a very remote country. The house is in a very bad condition and asks for a lot of investments - one of the primary things we are looking to do next - is to change a roof (it is leaky), to dig the well, draw in water and to connect to the electricity. Since it requires a lot of money and a lot of time I decided to start a new blog post series - Home Remodelling - to document progress.Update: After a few years and a couple of thousand investment we lost ownership of this property and all the renovation works have stopped, instead we have a few other…
Širhans - Azerbaijani cuisine in Riga, Latvia
Širhans (Shirhan) is a lovely restaurant serving Azerbaijani cuisine located in the suburbs of Sarkandaugava in Riga, Latvia (Meža Prospekts 90).I visited this place just shortly after a visit to Riga Zoo.If you just like me enjoy Caucasian style cuisine you will enjoy this place. Although I must admit I'm very found of Georgian cuisine (Read my Tbilisi restaurant reviews) - this time I was pleased with Azerbaijani cuisine also. Thus take into consideration - to enjoy a real Azeri cuisine - you must visit land of fire. The local versions are usually adopted to local customer tastes. Restaurant Shirhan in RigaJust take a look at this lovely tiger - as seen in the…
Riga Zoo
Riga Zoo is a city-owned zoo in Riga, Latvia. It is located in Mežaparks neighbourhood next to the Mežaparks park, on the western bank of Ķīšezers lake. Riga Zoo houses around 4000 animals of nearly 500 species and is visited by 250-300,000 visitors annually.
Ocassionaly I love visitin Riga zoo, in this article some of my pictures and data when I visited Riga Zoo together with my mom at the start of May 2016
I took my DSLR camera with myself and captured more than 600 images here, just 17 survived to you my dear reader.
Entrance gates at Riga zoo
Riga Zoo is located in a lovely neighbourhood of Mežaparks.
Flamingos at Riga Zoo
A camel at Riga zoo
A peacock at Riga…
Dobele Castle Ruins
Right, lets speak about a topic I like a very much - Castle ruins. Recently I visited Dobele Castle Ruins (Republic of Latvia) and spent here some 30 minutes trying to make some decent photos of this place. History of this castle dates back to the 1335 AD. But prior to that there was another castle (Read more at the end of this post)Fortification walls of Dobele CastleFortification walls of Dobele CastleDobele castle ruinsDobele castle ruinsHere I laid down in the grass and experimented with a photography. Personally I have found this technique gives me best photos in case I'm not using a tripod. Actualy I did use here a small gorilla pad tripod. In a result I got a pretty interesting…
Dobele Evangelical Lutheran Church
I was surprised to learn that this church is more than 500 years old. Prior I learnt that I was even more surprised to learn that Dobele town has a lovely historical centre. This church is located just next to this historical centre.
I took my camera and tried to make some great pictures here.
Dobele Evangelical Lutheran Church
I believe all is said with just this one photo. Just marvellous.
Entrance at this church
Info table
This church is now already 520 years old
Back view
As usual in Latvian churches, the doors were closed (some construction works were held inside) and I hadn't any chance to photograph inside interior.
About Dobele Evangelical Lutheran Church
The…
The Historical Centre of Dobele - Marketplace Square
Dobele is a small town located in historical region of Zemgale in Latvia some 60 km South West from nations capital city Riga. One thing a tourist should visit while in Dobele definitely is it's historical centre - marketplace square. In recent years this place has gone through some renovation and last time I visited it - it looked just amazing.Well if you are hoping to see both old and new architecture, like it's for example in German city Bonn's marketplace, then no - you wont find here any skyscrapers. For some reason I got this feeling that time at this place has stood still from some 19th century.Historical centre of DobeleA tourist info board explaining history of this placeA fountain…
Cafe 'Dzirnaviņas' in Biksti
Cafe Dzirnaviņas is located on the roadside of Riga - Liepaja highway in a small county of Biksti. This place serves a traditional Latvian cuisine for a very affordable prices.Cafe DzirnavinasMenu at Cafe DzirnavinasAs usual it might happen in local Latvian restaurants - a pork chop is a most popular meal. Prices indicated here are in EUR. Portions? Enormous!A daily dose of Coca-ColaThey serves Coke with ice here (on request)Bread kvassAnother traditional element from Latvian cuisine - a bread kvassPork chopBoiled vegetablesThe Bottom LineCafe Dzirnaviņas seems is a very popular place among locals and foreigners I met here a few foreigners as well - Russians, Belarussians and even a…
Skrunda Bus Station
Skrunda bus station is a regional bus station serving local Latvian cities and town. It mainly serves Riga and Liepaja route, but you can get from here to Kuldīga, Kazdanga and other local routes. If you are heading to Skrunda by bus you can either hire some local taxi here or walk to the closely located Skrunda abandoned military town (Distance ~ 6km).
Speaking of this station building - for me it looks like a pretty standard Soviet time architecture built from a concrete.
Skrunda bus station
Platform at Skrunda bus station
Buses from Platform NR1 goes to Riga
Waiting room at Skrunda Bus Station
Bus schedule
Skrunda Bus Station
Rudzisu Stone
We discovered Rudzisu Stone (Rudzīšu akmens) by accident driving some remote roads in Latvian countryside. What at start seemed an easy task turned to be a mini hiking tour. Although there is a tourist sign right next to the road some (perhaps you) will need walk to this stone some 500 meters (at least) from that road. You will have a chance to meet some snails, cross two wooden bridges, dive into a spooky forest in case you are up to for this mini hiking tour.Here are approximate coordinates for this stone: Latvia, Kuldiga district, Laidi municipality, 300 m E from Snepele - Kazdanga road, in small gully 140 m N from Rudzisi.Snails near Rudzisi stoneWe met a lot of these small…
Berghof Restaurant Review in Dairy Manor, Sieksāte, Latvia
This restaurant is located inside the Dairy Manor Berghof complex. During my visit at this complex I had a chance to try a local delicacy like salmon tartar at this restaurant. I learned there exists a gadget called a tea timer while I enjoyed my meal here. Dairy Manor (Piena Muiža in Latvian) Berghof is located in the remote Latvian village of Sieksāte some 160 km from capital Riga. This manor complex serves a hotel, restaurant, museum and a lovely park. Outdoor Patio at this RestaurantI believe some (perhaps you) will enjoy this patio in mild summer evenings. Indoor interiorIndoor interiorIndoor interiorEmbroidered blanketSaying Enjoy your meal!Tea timerSome…
Dairy Manor Berghof
Dairy Manor (Piena Muiža in Latvian) Berghof is located in the remote Latvian village of Sieksāte some 160 km from capital Riga. This manor complex serves a hotel, retaurant, museum and a lovely park. Bicycle parking at BerghofSome (perhaps you) can rent a bicycle here and enjoy a lovely ride around this manor complexCamper parking at BerghofDairy Manor Offers 17 well-equipped campers and daravan pitches and facility house, thus enabling travellers to spend holidays as close as possible to nature, at the same time having all comfort options of the Manor. Picturesque landscapes and pastures, centennial alley planted in the time of Baron, murmur of the leaves in the autumn inspire you to…
The Northern Forts of Liepaja
If you just like me are into fortification systems you will definitely enjoy The Northern Forts of Liepaja.
Built by Imperial Russia at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century to provide the protection of Liepāja’s naval base in case of enemy attack. According to history - In November of 1908, Tsar Nicholas II approved a decision to shut down the sea fortress in Liepāja. It has been now over 100 years since these fortification walls don't function anymore and just recently they have been placed on tourist maps.
The Northern Forts of Liepāja
Over a century old but still in a pretty good shape
Wind Generator near Liepāja
Located just next to the old…
Caffe 'Lielā Pietura' Review in Grobiņa, Latvia
Caffe 'Lielā Pietura' literally translates as 'The Great Stop' and there is no surprise of this name, this cafeteria is actually located close to the ... a bus stop in Grobiņa, connecting capital city Rīga with Liepāja. This cafeteria serves traditional Latvian cuisine for a very reasonable price.Bus stop 'Grobiņa'Rīga - Liepāja interstate buses takes a stop hereCake 'Old Riga'Traditional Latvian cake named after a lovely Old Riga,filled with cottage cheese in sugar... or somethingRaspberry creamReally delicious deserts here at Lielā PieturaSolyanka soupInterior at Lielā PieturaChop dressed with cheese and tomatoes and served with potatoesThe Bottom LineCaffe 'Lielā Pietura' indeed is a…
Livonian Order Castle Ruins at Aizpute
I have always been into a digging stuff and walking around old ancient sites is just one of my favorite activities to do. Also I'm into a history. So it's no surprise I visited a site called Livonian Order Castle Ruins at Aizpute.
If you are not familiar with what a Livonian Order actually is - in short: The Livonian Order was an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435 to 1561. If you are up to for a longer version, please read this article on Wikipedia: Livonian Order
Meanwhile, please enjoy some photos I captured here:
Livonian Order Castle Ruins
Tourist sign near Aizpute castle ruins
Castle mound
Tourism…
Aizpute Saint John’s church
The Saint John evangelic Lutheran church in Aizpute is one of the oldest churches in Courland, historical region of Latvia. On a rainy day I took my DSLR camera and headed to Aizpute Church mound to photograph this ancient site. Latter I was surprised to learn that on this place, prior a church were built was an ancient Curonian castle.
Church mound in Aizpute
This church is built on a mound, you can see a view from this mound in above image
River Tebra near Aizpute church
And what a wonderful island on it
Aizpute church has been built in 1254
According to chronic's, prior to church building here, there was and Curonian fortress.
In the year 1254, in the place…
Kazdanga Mill Lake And Its Surroundings
Kazdanga Mill lake (Dzirnezers, Dzirnavu ezers in Latvian) and its surroundings is lovely I would even say a touristic place in a small Latvian village of Kazdanga.Someone (perhaps you) will find a lot of outdoor activities to do here - starting boat ride on that lake ending cycling around this area, I learned that you can even smoke a fish here (didn't try)Located in a very close distance to the impressive Kazdanga manor Kazdanga Mill Lake and its surroundings is a must-have attraction while you are in Kazdanga.The mill was built in 1840, it has been completely rebuilt and only the external façade provides a small insight into the times, while the mill dam is very well preserved…
Kazdanga Manor
Kazdanga manor is located in Courland historical region of Latvia.As I have already stated back when visited Snēpele manor - 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. As usual, I took my camera and headed here to photograph this manor.Old tree alley and cobbleI spent a few minutes on this cobble playing with my gorilla pad and my cameras aperture settings, and in fact, I really enjoy this image.Kazdanga manorI did find some similarities in this image with Chateau Mukhrani back in Georgia. This time I…
Valtaiķi Evangelical Lutheran Church
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 chance to see those stained glass in close, but by reading this church's history (see bellow) I did find that it's one of the best of it's kind in Latvia at least.
Valtaiķi church
Ahh, again…
Restaurant 'Kūriņš' In Jūrmala, Latvia
Restaurant Kūriņš in Jūrmala serves a traditional Latvian cuisine. It's located close to the seashore in Kauguri (part of Jūrmala). Rumour has it - in weekends it's hard to get a table here. The reason probably is a great food, large portions and a lovely location.aSignboard at Restaurant KūriņšLatvians are really into a carving, and Restaurant Kūriņš is no exception when speaking of wood and wood carving. Road to the sea from this RestaurantWorking hours for restaurant Kūriņš in JūrmalaAs said on this table - Restaurant is open every day from 12 to 23 (12 PM - 11 PM)Interior at Kūriņš restaurantMenu at Restaurant KūriņšWhen visiting a traditional Latvian cuisine you should expect a…