The next 2 weeks this blog will be silent, but I promise to be back soon

My dear friends! 

I'm glad to have you as readers & followers! I hope this blog can be usefull and/or entertaining! 

On 23rd of June I'm leaving Riga for some hitchhiking trip through the Eastern Europe. That's why the next 2 weeks I'll have no time, and not so much access to the internet. This is approximate plan (we are not going to stick to it if the road takes a little bit different way). The last destination has to be Romania (and we are going to stick to it). I'll definitely tell you as soon as I'm back in Latvia (it has to be around 8th of July). ~2300 km one way. Who knows, maybe we will meet on the road :)

The Midsummer's Night - Summer Solstice all over Latvia!

It’s today – Summer Solstice. And, yes, it really is important here: one of the most important holidays for people in Latvia. By the way of the Sun it’s usually on 21st or 22nd of June, when the day is longer than night. By calendar the shortest night over the year is celebrated on 23rd – 24th of June. These ar official holidays. It’s totally pagan tradition and we love it. If you are in Riga you will see different festivites starting from the 21st of June on squares, streets, markets, parks etc.

Summer solstice is the time when all powers of the nature are stronger than any other day, so you have to go to sauna with herbs, take herbs from meadows to dry them for tea, to decorate your home and yourself with flowers. Forget gardens and take all the flowers you can find in meadows. The main things on Midsummers celebration are beer, cheese, fire, flowers, songs and dances. And mistycal blossom of fern...

1)      Everyone has to stay awake all night long near the fire until sunrise;

2)      It’s the night you have to drink beer and jump over the fire;

3)      You have to sing and dance a lot;

4)      There are a lot of activies in cities/towns, but this is the time people really get out of the city to the countryside;

5)      Girls decorate themselves by flower wreaths on their heads, boys named Jānis are decorated by leaves of oak trees.

And these ferns... Actually  - ferns don’t have any  flowers. But this night they have. Not everyone can find them. Usually people go in pairs to look for these blossoms, some people say you can find them also alone – and you get luck for all the rest of life if you find it. But we all know – only going in the wood in a couple can help you to find the blossom of fern. Kids also can be found in ferns...

Swimming naked, dancing, singing about your neighbours and other Līgo songs, putting special branches at home that witches can’t come, eating yellow cheese – the symbol of the sun, cooking meet, looking for wonders, washing your face in mornings dew to be beautiful.. Names like Līga (for girls) and Jānis (for boys) are celebrating their names day on Midsummer. It’s a wonderfull night.

If you are in Riga these days – check the Old Town, The Central Market, actually – flowers, midsummers songs, traditional dances you will find everywhere. But better – get out of the city – closer to ferns.

There is a movie - comedy made about Latvian Midsummers traditions with popular Latvian, French, German and other actors – about foreigners who have arrived in Latvia at midsummer – all these traditions which seems so strange for foreigners, but they enjoy them. It is in English and it’s called „Midsummers Madness” . If you are a little bit scared of these pagan traditions, watch the movie and you will see how much fun (and how magic) this night can be!

The Old Town - Heart of Riga

Last Saturday I took the camera and went for a walk at the Old Town. I'm not a professional photographer, but I hope at least some little part of the atmosphere here you will see. 

It’s in the heart of Riga near the river called Daugava. The official year of foundation of Riga is 1201, the beginnings of the city was build by German bishop Albert. Small streets will lead you to gothic churches, medieval buildings – it really has some special aura. At the same time it’s also the centre of sparkling nightlife which usually gets it’s highlights starting form Wednesday’s evening and getting again more peacefull just on Sunday mornings. This part of Riga never sleeps. 

During the day time you will find here great variety of shopping opportunities from expensive chich to street markets with souvniers, hand-made crafts and paintings etc, museums and art galleries. At summers The Old Town gets filled with all kinds of open-air cafes and beer gardens, street performances, live music and celebrations. And when the night comes over The Old Town it’s streets are filled with cheerfull people for active night life: bars, pubs, clubs for taste of everyone. 

For visitors of Riga you will find here variety of hostels and 5 star hotels. Different guides/exursions on summer you can get here right on the street – no need to book your excursions before coming if you don’t have any specific interests. This place is more than enjoyable not only to Rigans, but also visitors of the city. Even for me – when I get there inside, it’s hard to leave.

Daugavpils – Different City: Russia, Fortress, White Swan & Culture

Last weekend I was there. It was a great, sunny day with a lot of activities on the streets. Daugavpils (previously called Dinaburgh) is the second biggest city in Latvia, the city near the banks of river Daugava – called The River of Destiny (the same river you will see all the way from Riga to Daugavpils) It’s multicultural city (I would actually say it’s totally Russian city), the city of many fates. It’s located around 270 km from Riga, close to the borders of Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. Ancient stones of the fortress and splendid art nouveau in the heart of the city, low-rise wooden houses... It’s another Latvia. Last week there was the City Festival and, believe me, Russian songs are still in my head sung by kids and adults.

The historical centre of Daugavpils presents itself a specific monument of urban construction, but here are some interesting things you shoul see here. Rigas Street: one of the first streets in Latvia with the pedestrian traffic. Currently it is the liveliest street in the city with a wide range of shops, cafes, banks and offices.

Fortress of Daugavpils is considered one of the most significant symbols of Daugavpils. The fortress is an architectural monument of state importance and a unique object of the cultural and historical heritage of the city. The history of the fortress begins in 1772, when the council of War of the Russian Empire made a decision to begin the construction of the fortress. It is the only model of the fortress in Eastern Europe dated back to the first half of the 19^th century, that has been preserved unchanged. 

Church Hill. Every traveller, who wants to see the sights of Daugavpils, should visit Church Hill this unique place where churches of four different confessions are situated. You will find in this city big, impressive churches not only at the church hill.

And I think you will have a question „what’s that?” once you see a huge, white bulding entering the city if you come from Riga. It’s a prison (people call it The White Swan). No worries, it’s not a criminal city and people there are very nice. If you take a train from Riga to Daugavpils you will already be prepared for Russian community. :) Oh, and I forgot to mention – it’s also students' city: a lot of higher education opportunities are offered in this city – music, law, languages etc.

See more pictures of Daugavpils here 

Find the bell from Daugavpils in this collection 

Riga = Algier? Nature doesn't stop surprising

We are never bored here. Things are changing all the time. This summer the temperature in Riga is 10 degrees over normal. Look at this map: Algier and Riga look the same :) That means - water is nice & warm, beaches  crowded, cold beer & icecream is mandatory.

You might want to know:  What to do when it's too hot in Riga? & Beaches:The sea is within easy to reach

Beaches: the seaside is within easy to reach

It’s hot here. And I should inform you about beaches you can find close to Riga. Just remember – the most popular beaches will be absolutely crowded when the weather is like this. We do have really nice beaches close to Riga and the seaside is easy reachable.

The hottest month in Latvia is July. On the internet you will find that the average temperature 21 – 23 degrees (Celsium) in Latvia on summer. Well... It’s not really true... Last years we have really hot summers. Right now already two weeks average temperature every day is around 30 degrees. Ok, that high temperature is not so common for the beginning of June, but 23 degrees is definitely not true anymore for summers in Latvia. So you need to know how to get to the beach.

The most popular beaches where you can easily get by train are located on Jūrmala – train stations called Majori or Dubulti. Another very popular beach easy accesible by train is Vecāķi. In summer  there are additional trains because the traffic to these beaches is quite busy. Don’t be surprised if on the way back from the beach, for example from Vecāķi, the train will be so crowded that you will have to stand on one feet to get back to Riga.

There are two beaches accessible by City's Public Transportation from the centre of Riga. You can go to the lake Ķīšezers, take the tram nr. 11. and get out at the last stop or near Riga Zoo. And you can reach the Baltic Sea by the bus which goes to Bolderāja. This definitely is my favorite beach close to Riga. No, it’s not just close – it’s in Riga! It's not so popular  beach and it's usually not mentioned in any advices for foreigners. But it's a nice place!

To get to this nice beach with  Blue Flag in Bolderāja you have to take bus nr.3 and go to the last bus stop. When you get out of bus on one hand you will see the meadow with  the land rote. That’s the way you have to go. Going through the meadow use the opportunity to check the view from the observation tower you will see there. It’s made for observing birds in these meadows. Then you will have to walk some more metres through the wood and you will reach the sea. Enjoy it.

Getting away in Latvia: absolute peace and simplicity. Part II

 And here comes some more pictures from the countryside. It's another life there. It's simplicity.

They eat more, but healthier food. They move more - not only to official work and back, but also in their gardens. They have more things to be happy about in a daily life: peacefull evenings when you can guess which is that bird singing there, first mushroom you find on summer growing next to your house, the smell of flowers in fields and the sound of flying bees... They talk to animals and trees (no, they are not crazy).


Actually countryside is all what you sometimes need to rest. Take a deep breath and open your eyes, ears and heart :)

Getting away in Latvia: absolute peace and simplicity. Part I

Last weekend I had a wonderfull trip away from Riga, away from masses, away from hot pavements. Close to the Nature. As I promissed before leaving - you will see some pictures of places where tourists haven't stepped - untouched nature, old countryside houses, green grass and peace, peace, peace... 

Too bad that I can't tell you that feeling, I just can't give you tohusands of birds songs at the midnight when you come out of sauna to jump naked into a small pound. The water is as warm as milk. (I'm just really keen on Latvian sauna - it's the biggest pleasure you can get. Don't  miss it when you are in Latvia! Go to sauna in a countryside, with herbs and flowers, and just relax...) But I can show you some pictures of what I call "Getting away" or actually getting closer to the nature and yourself. Romantics, peace & harmony betwean people and nature in the countryside of Latvia: best enjoyed slowly.

Where Do You Wanna Be Now?

Do you wanna see what’s happening in Riga now?
Check web-cams:

http://www.coolwebcams.net/latvia.html

Camera nr. 2 – Old Town, Blackheads House

Camera nr. 3  - Building The National Library

Cameras nr. 4 & nr. 7 – Salu bridge

Camera nr. 5 – The Left coast
 

But actually here you will find not only Latvia and Riga. Wanna see what’s happening in Osaka, Toba,  Puerto Vallarta, Riccione, Antalya, Cape Town and even Antarctica!!! Really a lot to see!

The Lost World Cemetery with The Soul

About the Great Graveyard I have told you a little before. It really is one of my favorite places in Riga and I’m amazed by the beauty of 200 years old chapels and monuments in this cemetery. Unfortunately I must say that nothing is renovated there  - what means that it looks a little like lost world there. And now it’s more like a park not cemetery. I have posted some pictures of this place previously – on early spring – with the snow (It’s here: http://friendinriga.blogspot.com/2011/04/riga-which-you-dont-find-in-tourist_01.html). Some pieces of how it looks there now at the beginning of summer you can see here: 

The Art in Stone: Mysterious Easter Island in Riga.

Pauls Jaunzems is Latvian sculptor who has made a lot of great works, he had participated at the exhibitions all over the world and his sculptures you can find not only here in different towns of Latvia, but also in Reykjavik (Iceland), Istanbul (Turkey), Scarborough, Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), Bramming (Denmark), Lithuania, South Corea, Finland & Egypt etc.

I wanna tell you about his workshop in Riga... It’s amazing place and not even Latvians/ Rigans know about this amazing place... Like a little Easter Island – near the river Buļļupe is located his workshop with great, really great stone masterpieces! Discovering this place is like discovering amazing secret! It’s beautiful, exciting and gives the feeling of sirreality....

Check his home-page to see some of his sculptures. And do not hesitate to contact him and visit his workshop when you are here! http://www.paulsjaunzems.lv/en/skulpturas

What to do when it's too hot in Riga?

Huh, it’s again really hot today! The best thing you can do is just to stay at the office/hotel/home behind dark curtains so the heat will not get you. Or you can enjoy it! Here is your how-to-enjoy-hot-weather-in-Riga guide:

 

Icecream. Everywhere and any amount of it. Our neighbours in Estonia say that Latvians are too strange with eating icecream (even in winter)  - and it’s normal, because we have sooo many sorts of it!

 Beer. What can be better than cold beer in one of these summer cafes! I usually go to „No Problem” at the Doma Square – the best place on summer with live music on evenings. Another popular and easy-to-find place is in Līvu Square. Ok, it’s not just one place, it’s more thabn one summer cafe, so choose which you like. But drink fast – in this sun beer will warm up quite fast.

Put your feet into fountain: near the Opera house you will find water nymph fountain, at the Vermann’s Garden you will see all 4 seasons in the fountain.

Since it’s allowed again to lie in the grass at the centre of Riga  - you don’t even have to go to the beach! You can stay near the Freedom monument, Bastion Hill, Opera House, Riga channel and catch the sun there!

Take the tram Nr. 11. or  take a Riga tour in a vintage tram to get out of the city centre - to Mežaparks – nice place near the lake: Riga Zoo,  roller skaters, water sports, children playing ground, wood... It will take around 30 min to get there from the centre.

Go to the Etnographical Open-Air Museum! One of the biggest Open-Air museums in Europe representing Latvian regions, traditions, household. It’s located near the lake and you will get there a lot of shadow. Houses, windmills, latvian traditions, people in traditionl costumes, folklore and events. To get there you should take a bus nr. 1 and get out at the stop „Brivdabas Muzejs”. It will take around 30-40 min. 

Ok, there is nothing else you want  - only The Sea, Baltic Sea, long white sand beaches, refreshing water, sun on your skin... Go to the train station and get a ticket to Vecāķi, Dubulti, Saulkrasti – the most popular beaches.... I think I’ll write a post about beaches close to Riga soon...

Well, you know – it’s the best to be at the countryside enjoying quite lakes, shadows from big trees and the smell of flowers when it’s too hot outside... Get out of the city!