Blog Archive: April 2015
Skrunda-1 Abandoned Soviet Military Ghost Town In Latvia
Update: Originally I visited Skrunda - 1 in Summer 2015, Skrunda -1 is closed for public visitors in 2022Skrunda-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 Union. Skrunda was strategically important to the Soviet Union as its radars covered Western Europe. The two barn-like radars were one of the most important Soviet early warning radar stations for…
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. 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 to you. The outhouse near Snepele manorRoad Sign to Snepele ManorAs well a bus stop - probably you can take a bus from Kuldīga hereView to the Snepele villageThat tall building on the…
Bangert's Restaurant Review in Kuldiga
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 KuldīgaWood carved naked lady at Bangert's restaurantInterior at Bangert's RestaurantWorking hours for Bangert's RestaurantInterior at Bangert's RestaurantBar counter at Bangert's restaurantMenu at Restaurant Bangert'sBar counter at Bangert's…
The Venta Waterfall (Rapid) - Widest In Europe
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 wet
I didn't listened this time to this advice
View to the Venta Waterfall through the Brick Bridge
Kuldīga is a very interesting town from tourism point of view - you have a…
The Old Brick Bridge Across The Venta River In Kuldīga
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 place for local fisherman, I met many of them today.
Bridge over Venta River
This bridge is opened both for motorized vehicles and pedestrians.
According to the road building standards…
Bakery Lāči
Some Latvians prefer to call Bakery Lāči a top notch place for foreigners to visit. So I decided to visit this place and make some short review of it.This bakery is located outside the capital Riga and you can reach it by driving route A9 (which is a highway connecting Riga to Liepāja) - in case you are up for a Courland tour, you can make a stop here and enjoy some local brunch/lunch and/or to buy Lāči bread. And don't be surprised if a Latvian brings you a gift from Latvia exactly the Lāči bread. This is the phenomena I never could understood truly, but hey this article is not about that, right?Bakery LāčiParking lot near Bakery LāčiParking lot is located just near route A9Lunch menu at…
Neighbourhoods of Riga: Iļģuciems
Iļģuciems is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Riga. History of this neighborhood dates back to the early 13th century. Back in 1236 a small manor was built here and given the name of Hiligen geest hove (Heiligen Geist Hof) in English meaning - "Holy Spirit Convent", from which latter originated name Iļģuciems in Latvian - at first Hilgzeem, then Ilgezeem and finally Iļģuciems.
Unfortunately less has left over from those days. In our days much of Iļguciems is dominated by Soviet-style block house architecture, with rare 19th centuries wooden houses. I took my DSLR camera and decided to practice a little bit photography here. Well, speaking of images - I found them rather average, not…
Bakuzi cemetery
Bakuzi cemetery (Latvian: Bākūžu kapsēta) is located in region of Courland (Latvia) in parish of Rudbarzi, Skrunda Municipality. The history of this cemetery dates back to at least to mid 18th century (I found old grave cross with dates of 176o-ties). I believe back in those dates some German nobles were buried here. In history of Courland and Latvia German nobles plays a major role. The cemetery is really small - I doubt there are more than 100 burials on this cemetery.Frankly speaking I was not expecting to ad a cemetery as a tourist object on my blog - but hey - what's wrong with that? As long as you are quiet and still in places like that - and you pay a proper…
Riga Airport
Riga International Airport, also know as RIX is a largest airport in the Baltic states located in capital of Latvia. Airport is located some 13km distance from city centre of Riga. I was agreeably surprised by noticing it was quiet and still here at Riga airport comparing it to Tbilisi airport. I decided to add a few photos taken at Riga airport travelling with two cats on board.Cat just landed at Riga airportTwo cats just landed at Tbilisi airportParking lot at Riga airportairBaltic banner at Riga AirportRiga airport is a main hub and base for airBaltic aircraft-carrier.About Riga International AirportRiga International Airport is the international airport of Riga, the capital of…
Tbilisi Aerial Tram: Rike Park to Narikala
When I first wrote about the Tbilisi aerial tram in 2015, it still felt like a relatively new and very practical way to get from Rike Park, near Europe Square, up towards Narikala Fortress. It remains a short route above central Tbilisi, with views over the river, Old Town and the hills.
The Rike–Narikala cable car is a useful alternative to walking uphill. It brings passengers from Rike Park to the Narikala area, close to the viewpoints and the Mother of Georgia. I still prefer taking the cable car up and walking down through the old streets when time and energy allow.
View from Narikala towards Tbilisi
From the upper side, the view in this photograph includes the Bridge of Peace,…
Flea Market Near Dry Bridge In Tbilisi
The Flea market near Dry Bridge in Tbilisi is an interesting place to visit, just to look on old Soviet time relict's, starting medals, belt buckles from Soviet military, ending movie posters of famous Soviet day films.
As well you can find here a lot of old tableware (some might be even antique). Most of the items you will find here is pretty much useless but they still can give you some fun if bought as an souvenir. Well that's why we call it a flea market right?
On the lovely afternoon at the start of April I went to Saarbrucken square to buy a minced meat (they have one of the best meat in the town on a small shop some 100 meters from restaurant Tiflisi) I decided to make a…
Tbilisi By Night - Cycling Old Town To Didube
The other day we took again our bikes and made a pretty lovely night ride in Tbilisi. From Old Tbilisi to Didube and back. For some reason my GPS tracker (MapMyRide) didn't worked properly, it missed at least first 2 km from this route. Another thing to mention - I have a pretty bad camera for night vision shots back at the time I didn't know how to shoot night photography the right way, please don't judge too hard my shots of nightly Tbilisi.Speaking from cycling's view of point - this route is pretty easy and it's hard to call it a real workout, speaking from Tbilisi by night view of point - this route offers really spectacular views - and if you are into cycling…
Rike Park in Tbilisi
Rike Park is on the left bank of the Mtkvari, beside Tbilisi Old Town and below Avlabari. These photographs are from my 2015 walks here, when the park was already one of the easiest places to combine the river, the Bridge of Peace and the route up to Narikala Fortress.
From Old Town to Rike Park
You can reach the park across the Bridge of Peace from Old Town or by the stairs from Avlabari. The lower station of the Rike–Narikala aerial tram is by Europe Square, making the park a practical starting point for the views above the city.
The Bridge of Peace
Aerial tram station at Rike Park
The park is useful as a pause between Old Town and Narikala rather than a destination that needs a…
Chashnagiri Restaurant Review in Natakhtari
For many hearing a name of Natakhtari first associations might be related to those tasty Georgian lemonades branded under 'Natakhtari' name. Well, turns out Natakhtari actually is village located in Georgia's region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, pretty close to nations capital Tbilisi. This village is advanced enough to have pretty sold restaurants located here, and today I will wrote about one of them - Chashnagiri Restaurant.This restaurant was recommended by a friend of mine, and recently by doing together a short Jvari monastery - Château Mukhrani tour (Be sure to check those posts and learn how with help of friend of mine I tried to became a better photographer) we decided to head here to…
Château Mukhrani Winery
Château Mukhrani is a winery located in Mukhrani village, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region (somewhere between Mtskheta town and Natakhtari village), Georgia . Idea to head here first arise to friend of mine (another expat) living here in Georgia. Friend of me pre-booked a guided wine tasting tour at this place.
On a rainy Saturday morning, after a short visit of Jvari monastery we straight headed to Château Mukhrani. During this tour I learned a few interesting things and facts about Georgian wine making, but most of the time I was practicing my DSLR photography (again with help of my friend).
Although we had agreed our tour will start at 10:00 A.M. arriving on site some 10…
Anchiskhati Basilica in Tbilisi
Anchiskhati Basilica is one of the oldest (if not the eldest) Georgian Orthodox church's located in Old Town of Tbilisi. The history of this church dates back to the 6 th century AD. Though I have visited it so many times, I haven't yet effectively photographed it. Recently I acquired a new DSLR camera and soon I decided to improve my photographer skills. A walk in Tbilisi is a great both for photo - hobbyists and professional photographers.
Now back on the subject: Anchiskhati Basilica:
Shadow of Anchiskati Bell Tower falling on Basilica
I'm proud of myself that I managed to capture this interesting composition - shadow from bell tower falling on basilica.
Information…
Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi
The Bridge of Peace is a pedestrian crossing over the Mtkvari River, linking Tbilisi Old Town with Rike Park. It opened in 2010, so it was still a relatively new part of the city when I first started exploring Tbilisi.
I first noticed it in 2011, soon after arriving in Georgia. I was staying in Avlabari and had not planned my first days in the city particularly well. On my third day, I headed down from near the Presidential Residence via Baratashvili Bridge and saw the unfamiliar steel-and-glass shape over the river. I did not cross it immediately, but returned a few months later and quickly understood why it had become part of so many walks through central Tbilisi.
The Bridge of Peace…
Art Studio 'Kon-Tiki' In Tbilisi
The other day taking a walking tour around Tbilisi and by in-liking a new camera, after visiting Ancshikhati church (and taking marvellous photos there) my next photo stop arrived unexpected - meet Art Studio - Kon Tiki.
A lovely and narrow street in Old Tbilisi (Ioane Shavteli street)
On this street in distance of some 100-150 meters from Anchiskhati church is located art studio Kon-Tiki
Welcome sign at Art Studio Kon - Tiki
Here is the fun fact - We would probably have missed this charming place if owners of this studio wouldn't kindly and kinda in funny manner invited us inside. We were like just blazing inside though studios street windows, when owners through the window invited…