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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…
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…
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 Castle Fortification walls of Dobele Castle Dobele castle ruins Dobele…
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…
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…
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 Dzirnavinas Menu at Cafe Dzirnavinas As 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-Cola They serves Coke with ice here (on request)…
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…
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…
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…
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 Berghof Some (perhaps you) can rent a bicycle here and enjoy a lovely ride around this manor complex Camper parking at Berghof Dairy Manor Offers 17 well-equipped campers and daravan pitches and facility house, thus…
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…
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 here Cake 'Old Riga' Traditional Latvian cake named after a lovely Old Riga,…
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…
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…
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…
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 cobble…
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…
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. a Signboard at Restaurant Kūriņš Latvians are really into a carving, and Restaurant Kūriņš is no exception when speaking of wood and wood carving. Road to the sea from…
Zur Morschbach Hotel Review in Altlay, Germany
I booked this hotel in Altlay because of it's close location to Frankfurt-Hahn airport, cheap price and free parking. I had like only 10 minutes for hotel research back in the Linden town. I was hoping to use hotwire for selecting a fine hotel near airport area, but unfortunately hotwire this time didn't served any hotel in a reasonable distance here. So my next move was booking.com. I didn't paid much attention of overall hotel interior…
Restaurant 'Akropolis' In Linden, Germany
Welcome to my second restaurant review in Germany. First one happened some 90 km west from Linden. Read Restaurant Bellini In Andernach, Germany. Today I will write about a Greek style restaurant Akropolis in a lovely German city of Linden (Province of Hesse). The idea to visit this restaurant arise from our friend who had visited this place many times before. Restaurant Akropolis in Linden, Germany With my short knowledge of…
Linden (Region of Hesse) a Town in Germany
Linden is a small German town located in historical region of Hesse. We headed here to enjoy dinner at Greek restaurant, make some purchases at local store and say goodbye to a friend with whom we travelled in Germany and headed to Keukenhof's garden in The Netherlands during our short trip in this part of the World. Kaufland store in Linden, Germany Kaufland is a local German chain store and I find it pretty decent store, bought a thermos…
Cologne Cathedral - Germany's Most Visited Landmark
I have been into church photography lately and during our latest trip to Germany/ The Netherlands I had a chance to visit the Cathedral of Cologne. I was hoping to make here some good photos but unfortunately I'm not very satisfied with result I got it was a rainy day and I didn't use any tripod. There is still plenty of room to improve my photographer skills. But since I do find this object a pretty magnificent - I just couldn't resist to add…
Aachen Cathedral
As I already stated in my previous blog post about Gothic Aachen Town Hall (Rathaus) in Germany this was my first time in Aachen and I had little not to say no clue what to see here. After a lovely breakfast at Oebel Backerei we decided to spend a few more minutes in this German town of Aachen. Then we discovered Aachen's Town hall and then shortly we found this magnificent Cathedral. Unfortunetly during our visit here…
Gothic Aachen Town Hall (Rathaus) in Germany
After a lovely breakfast at Oebel Backerei we decided to spend a few more minutes in this German town of Aachen. Since this was my first time at this part of Germany, and frankly speaking this was my first time of hearing the name of Aachen I had no idea what I should see in this city. We just started to walk on one of the narrow streets and found this Gothic Town Hall. Aachen Town hall in Germany Tourist Signs near Aachen Town Hall At…