Warm Relationship with Riga Black Balsam on Cold Season

I usually don't get that excited to write 4 tweets about the same thing in 15 minutes. But it happened to me today and I guess that's a sign I should write a blog about it... In fact, I already did it... a year ago... Here: Where to Get The Best Medicine Ever - Honey, Herbs and Riga Black Balsam? 

The thing is that this story will be about that one magical ingredient  - Riga Black Balsam. 

I know I've been lazy (again) and I actually should write a blog about my Poland - Italy trip, but there are some obvious reasons I feel I should write about Riga Black Balsam today.

1) My Riga Black Balsam season has started exactly today

2) Riga Black Balsam is one of the best things in Riga

3) 2 days ago I tried (yes, the first time in my life) Riga Coffee (with the same magical ingredient) - although home-made coffee with balsam has been my love for several years

4) With my flatmates today we discovered a new recipe to fight cold (with the same magical ingredient)

5)  I discovered @RigaBlackBalsam on Twitter

And here come some explanations:

Riga Black Balsam season lasts from around October to March, so - cold season. No,that's not any kind of official season, that's my personal season. This beverage is good on summer with ice-cream too, but there is one big reason why cold months of the year is Black Balsam season. I've got out of all winter colds and sicknesses without any strong medicine for 2 winters because I use this magical ingredient. No, it doesn't mean I've been walking around drunk. It means that if I say that remedy for everything is Riga Black Balsam  - I really mean it.

My flatmate caught first awful autumn cold, and we are not people who have medicine at home. I'm usually the one people ask how to get out of cold (probably my old traditional recipes that do not include medicine you get at your doctor or pharmacy work well and do not hurt wallets). You already know my answer for cold season, so we were running to shop to get it. Well, since today at least all cold season we will keep it at home as I've done it for previous winters. 

And here comes our new recipe to fight cold:

Mix together hot water, honey, Riga Black Balsam, some pieces of lemon, a bit of cinnamon and black pepper. Ehm... That all to taste... We find it not only delicious, but also extremely helpful hot drink. (We invented it today, just in case if someone else hasn't discovered it before us although I'm not so sure about it).

My German friends totally love Riga Black Balsam, but two days ago I met a guy from Brazil who told me - "Oh, you mean that strong dark brown drink! Well... Some shots with it was my mistake last night, so I was totally wasted..." I didn't ask how many shots he drunk, but talking about me - I definitely feel much better having coffee with Riga Black Balsam especially when the central heating in Riga is not on yet and cold is knocking on windows.

So, if you are coming to Riga - at least try it! You can get it in almost every shop, cafe and bar. I don't ask you to drink it plain, try it in cocktails or coffee - it is delicious!

Don't Joke with it in Latvia!

In every country there are some prejudices and hot topics to talk about and be careful talking about. Here are some things which, depending on the local person you meet, in Latvia can be offensive and unpleasant to hear or talk about. 

Latvia vs. Lithuania

There is no problem between Latvians and Lithuanians, we are friendly neighbors with similar languages, history, architecture, traditions and problems, even the names of these countries sound similar in different languages like Lettland & Litauen, Lettonia & Lituania, but... The same as Germany & Austria with the same language or Slovakia & Slovenia with similar names, Latvia and Lithuania are two separate countries. If you are in Riga and tell that you are glad to be in the capital of Lithuania, the face in front of you might change from friendly smiling to truly disappointed. Although it is not a big deal, but it is happening pretty often that foreign people being in Latvia keeps calling it Lithuania. The capital of Latvia is Riga and the capital of Lithuania is Vilnius. As a small country fighting for its identity and recognition, we just want people, who are visiting us, to know where they are. 

Latvians vs. Russians

You probably know something about the history of Latvia, you see in the map that Russia is our big neighbor and have heard something about Russians in Latvia. What’s the problem? It’s the BIGGEST problem for a lot of people in Latvia now. Just 20 years have passed since we have got the independence from Russia and there is a huge percent of Russian speaking inhabitants in Latvia, referendum about accepting Russian as the second official language in Latvia, Soviet time memories that are still alive. You don’t know you are meeting Latvian or Russian and both sides are quite nationally minded. If you discuss this topic with Latvian you will get a version of stupid, cruel, rude, uneducated Russians. If you talk with Russian you might get a story about stupid, racist, heartless Latvians and that Latvia actually is Russian country not Latvian. We are just all the time incited against each other by politics and mass media. Don’t say that Latvians and Russians have no difference between them. In fact, there is no problem for Latvians and Russians to be good friends, but if you meet some especially nationalistic person with strict opinion about what is happening and how it should be, this conversation can become never-ending and pretty uncomfortable.

Sex-tourism

A lot of inhabitants of Riga would throw eggs or tomatoes on me just because I mentioned it here. Stay calm: I’m not promoting Riga as sex-tourism destination! Riga has sparkling nightlife, more girls than boys and open-minded girls what leads to what is called "sex-tourism" here. You might also face people considering that every male tourist in Riga is sex-tourist. The word ‘sex-tourism’ in Riga is not used meaning the same as in Amsterdam or Thailand – it’s not about prostitution. This 10 minutes Youtube video gives some explanations: 

Freedom Monument

If you are in Riga there is no way you could miss seeing Freedom Monument – it’s 42 m high monument separating the Old Town from the new city centre with the majestic opera house on one side and the Bastion hill on the other side. We are all extremely sensitive about any joke you make about it. Mass media also have told us that many times foreign people find this almost holy place for relieving natural needs behind the monument. You get a penalty for this. Just don’t do it even if the police doesn’t see you (what is pretty impossible there in any time of a day).  This monument is embodiment of Latvian strength, history and identity. Read about it here:  Monument, Freedom & Flowers

At the end I should say that Latvians have sense of humor and they love joking about themselves (of course - we can joke about ourselves but are sensitive when others are joking about us - as anyone else). The picture below shows the world through eyes of a Latvian. :) 

If you have other observations, questions or something to add to this post - feel free to comment here!

Discovering Nature without Going Into The Wild

There are people always keen on visiting museums, but if it is not some really famous museum or something you have a special interest in, would you go there on a sunny summer day if it is not an open-air museum? Majority of us would say  - noooo.... But autumn/winter season is just perfect for visiting museums!

I remember myself as a child: I didn’t live in Riga, but my grandmother was living close to Riga.  Natural History museum was a place where my grandmother took me almost every time when I visited her on school holidays. I’m not so sure about the correctness of my own childhood memories to remember how many times she took me there, but I was never bored there and always happy that I’ll go there again. Natural History museum of Latvia is a place for people in all ages and just perfect for visiting it together with the children. It is located right in the centre of Riga, close to the Old Town & Railway station on K. Barona Street 4. 

Their website says: „The Natural History Museum of Latvia is the largest and one of the oldest complex museums of natural history and sciences in the Baltic States.”

Entrance fee: pupils (7 – 18 years old) 0,50Ls, students & seniors 0,80Ls, adults 1,50Ls, family ticket (1-2 adults with 1-2 children under 18) - 20 % off admission (proof required - student card, senior card etc.) For temporary exhibitions there will be extra charge, but half an hour just before the closing time you can visit for free permanent exhibitions! Working hours: Monday & Tuesday – closed, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10AM – 5PM, Thursday  - 10AM – 19.AM (with 2 happy free admission hours from 5PM – 7PM).

Try virtual tour in the Natural History museum of Latvia http://www.dabasmuzejs.gov.lv/media/360/index.html

Check out also these articles and places: Winter in Riga: What to do? , The Town Hall Square: Blackheads House & The Museum of The Occupation, Wonders of Art Nouveau, Botanic Garden: For Family Holiday and Nature Lovers.

Where Locals Have Fun III

Time to get to know other places where locals are having fun, in other words - places for your evenings and nights in Riga. Previously I took you to "Pulkvedis", "Greenwood", "Nabaklab", "Leningrad" and "Shot Cafe".

If "Pulkvedis" is a place with 16 years experience in making people to dance, then here is one other place with huge experience  - "Cuba Cafe" - coctail bar in the heart of the Old Town, on the same street with other bars like Spot Cafe and Greenwood next to the Dome Square. "Cuba" cafe doesn't give you a huge dancing place, but still - their DJs will make you to move. Quite romantic place, often filled (or really crowded) with tourists and locals. Kind of a place for tequila and heating the dance floor. 

One of newest most interesting places in Riga Old Town is folk club "Ala" on Smilšu street, close to the Powder Tower (War Museum). This place takes people in the journey around the world: folk bands from around the world are performing here, and when there is no foreign artists, you will be invited to join joyfull Latvian folk dances. This place in the basement is really charming - the first and only traditional music bar in Latvia. Dancing evenings are great here: you can watch traditional Latvian dances and get into the dancing like Latvian. If you are in Riga, I hope you will get there in one of these dancing evenings. 

Where Locals Have Fun I
Where Locals Have Fun II

1 YEAR HAS PASSED!!! What the Next Year Will Bring?

Let me be honest – I didn’t believe that I’m able to do something for so long time, but - it’s birthday of this blog today! One whole year has passed since the first post!!!  I know it’s not so long time, but still – here we are. 

What makes me happy in doing this: there are people reading it, enjoying it and finding it useful. THANK YOU!

Here is a little help for planning your trip to Latvia  in 2012 – dates of some  events  you can enjoy if you are in Latvia: 

10.02 – 12.02 14th International Festival of Ice Sculptures in Jelgava

10.02 – 12.02 „Balttour” in Riga - the biggest travel tradeshow in the Baltics annually opening the new tourist season

23.04 – 30.04 International Baltic Ballet festival in Riga - from classical to avant-garde

19.05 – International Museum Night – everywhere in Latvia (and behind)

26.05 – „Go Blonde” festival in Riga Read about it here

02.06 – „Sigulda Jazz 2012” – smooth jazz, funk and big band outdoors in Sigulda

15.06 – 17.06 – Riga Opera Festival

16.06 – 22.06 waiting for the magical Midsummer’s night streets of Riga will be filled with before-solstice events with traditional dances, folklore and markets

23.06 – 24.06 – Midsummer’s night all around Latvia. (Have you seen the movie „Midsummer’s Madness”? This is where you can get some impression of what the Midsummer’s night in Latvia is) Read about Midsummer’s night here

06.07 – Music festival „Summer Sound Liepāja” – 4 stages right at the beach – rock, hip hop, ambient, electronic and pop music in Liepāja

06.07 – 10.07 International Folklore festival „Baltica” ir Riga, Ikšķile, Madona, Ērgļi

09.07 – 15.07 6th International sand sculpture festival „Summer Signs” in Jelgava

11.07 – 14.07 Ancient Music festival in churches at the Riga Old Town and the most impressive baroque palace in Latvia – Rundāle: back to medieval, renaissance and baroque music

13.07 - 14.07 “Positivus” festival – definitely the biggest rock and pop music festival in Latvia, one of the top 10 summer festivals in Europe

14.08 – 15.08 – Catholic festival in Aglona which brings together pilgrims of all confessions from all around the world. Read about it here

17.08 – 19.08 – Riga festival: Riga city birthday party everywhere around the city

08.09. – Contemporary Arts forum "White Night"   Read about it here

15.11 – 18.11 – “Beaming Riga” – festival of lights Pictures from Beaming Riga 2010, Pictures from Beaming Riga2011

01.12 – 15.01.2013 – Festival of Christmas trees Read about it here 

02.12 – 10.01.2013 – Christmas markets and events

Winter in Riga: What to Do?

Winter is not just about Christmas, although that’s what we all think starting from November till first weeks of December. Till the middle of December majority of us  is already tired of Christmas on every corner. For those, coming to catch Christmas mood in Riga, see previous post about Christmas Markets and the Nutcracker.

But!

What  about other winter activities in Riga? Ok, it’s cold here, so you walk around get into some cafe to warm up, walk again and get again in some random cafe. Nope, it doesn’t have to be like this. Here are some options  for you to enjoy winter in Riga:

Day of Museums! The best time to visit museums is winter, for sure! Art lovers, you have a lot to see here – huge collection of Latvian Art history in a permanent exposition you will find at the  Latvian National Museum of Art (K.Valdemāra Street 10a) and walking through the Old Town, you will find a lot of small art galleries. History lovers, check the Occupation Museum at the Town Hall square and War Museum at Torņa street with impressive medieval Powder Tower or huge Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation at Palasta street 4 (Old Town). The sunniest place in Riga is Sun Museum at the Old Town – different Sun items from different places in the world, the most playful place – Doll Museum,  the hottest museum (just opened in Riga) – Museum of Erotic. Maybe Art Nouveau museum?

Skating! (Skating rinks are not opened yet, but will surely be there as soon as real winter is here). It’s a great  option to warm up in winter! You will find one skating-rink at the Old Town, one in the last stop of the Tram nr. 11 – Mežaparks (with natural ice) and many more. The most pompous shopping centre in Riga  - Galleria Riga - invites to the skating-rink on the top of the building! On the 7th floor above the roofs of Riga city center you can skate while enjoying panorama of Riga! /I’ll let you know as soon as winter is here and open-air skating-rinks open/

Some other winter sports? Take a day trip out of Riga - to Sigulda (around 1 hour drive from Riga) and get to know bobsleigh! Get to know it closer – not just watching, but also putting yourself into the place of a  bobsleigh sportsman! Bobsleigh season has already started! You can go there on your own, with your friends or join organized tours – almost all travel agencies are oranizing  tours to Sigulda, or ask at your hotel or hostel – a lot of them are really keen on it and glad to take Riga’s visitors to bobsleigh in Sigulda. By the way, Sigulda is also famous with its' beautiful nature and castles.

Nightlife in Riga? No changes there: Riga’s nightlife in winter is as active as in summer. Some cozy places for dancing and getting to know local people see here:  Where Locals Have Fun I, Where Locals Have Fun II

Picture:  The Entrance of the  Latvian National Museum of Art

Christmas Markets & The Nutcracker. Your Travel Destination in December: Riga

Already the next week December will be here and if you are coming to Riga on December, I’m glad you will catch our Christmas mood. Do you know from where comes the tradition of decorating Christmas tree?  The tradition spread all over the world comes form Northern Europe: the 500 years old story of decorating the Christmas tree comes from Riga!

I’m pretty sure one of the first places you will want to see will be the Old Town  where Medieval architecture lives side by side with Art Nouveau houses. And that’s the right choice – that’s where you will find Christmas markets filling cobbled streets with goods from Latvian ecological farms and hand made knick-knackeries (starting from 1st of December), that’s where you will be able to warm up with hot tea or wine. Do not forget to taste unique Riga Black Balsam, which you can get almostly in every cafe/bar with hot coffee, hot blackcurrant juice or in different coctails. One of options to enjoy it,  is Black Magic Bar (since 1752) where you will be able to get to know almostly everything about Riga Black Balsam (except its’ well kept secrets).

Another market: an old-fashion fair at Bergs Bazaar (at the city center) will be opened on 10th and 24th of December from 10am to 3pm at The Bergs Bazaar (Elizabetes Street 83/85) 

To enjoy Riga from height of birds flight, you can choose St. Peter’s church at the Old Town, you can get out of the city center to the TV Tower  or enjoy lights of Riga from the 27th floor of Radisson Blu hotel „Skyline” bar (working from 4pm, free entrance from Monday to Thursday). TheTower of the  Academy of Science is closed during this season. 

For enjoying  Christmas atmosphere with good Latvian food, Latvian music and people dressed in Latvian folk costumes you should  get out of the city centre to visit ‘LIDO’. If you are here with kids, it is a really good option: you will find there a lot of activites not only for you, but also for your kids: skating rink, place where to play with other kids (with a person who will look after children)  and other attractions. 

For those looking for entertainment with arts, you should check what Latvian National Opera (LNO) can offer you! Opera is also one of these things Latvia is famous aborad: Latvian opera singers are highly appreciated worldwide, singing on all famous stages of the world and great foreign opera singers are performing on LNO stage in Riga, historical building with pompous interior. If you like ballet,  in December 2011 LNO offers you to enjoy „Anna Karenina”, „The Sleeping Beauty” or (what can be better than this on December!!) „The Nutcracker”! Want opera? Here you are: „Don Giovanni”, „Madama Butterfly”, „Turandot”, „La Traviatta” or Latvian opera (also interesting for kids) „The Bird’s Opera”. Ticket prices from 1.50 to 18.00Ls. Check the calendar here. 

 

More options for your December in Riga on this blog coming soon! Feel free to ask, share your questions and impressions or experiences!

Festival of Lights, Riga, 2011

Holiday in Latvia with Independence Day and Festival of Lights "Staro Rīga" (Beaming Riga) is over. Now Latvia too will switch to Christmas mood.  Festival of Lights is growing every year bigger and bigger. This year there were 85 objects around the city. In these 4 days of festival (17. - 20. November) I didn't manage to see all of it.  Lights and sounds these days have been making people dizzy. You know  - it's not possible to put in  a picture live light, video projection and feelings, also - this is just a simple camera which in dark makes wonders :) Beaming Riga/ Staro Rīga  - festival of lights which changes the streets, parks, gardens of Riga in darkness with lights - from small candles till big installations and projections changing the appearance  of buildings.  

This object looked calm and quite in the urban environment. Like other people I was smiling seeing how nice this object looks and attached to discovering how it has been made, but thanks to a small child who was explaining his vision to his parents I also was able to see what it is - these are not lamps, but that's how a city with its blockhouses looks at night!

Riga channel is always surprising with light & water games in the city center, but I have never been able to make a good picture of it, well - I guess you just have to see it with your own eyes.

Public toilet! It was standing there like any other day - quiet and simple. Then it started to whisper: "Please,  look at me!" And then it turned into the Coliseum!

 The Bastion hill was filled with candles and flying ships:

Door to imaginary reality:

And at the end enjoy some fireworks from Independence Day - 18th of November right after singing national anthem  - thousands of people together at the river Daugava.

Here you can find some pictures from Beaming Riga 2010

That Surrealist Place - Beaming Riga

I guess I've told you about this event already twice. "Beaming Riga" (Staro Rīga). This year the event will take place  form 17th to 21st on November. You just need to get to Riga and the lights and sounds will guide you through the city which will surprise you with colors, lights, music, technology and CREATIVITY.

So I found some pictures I took at Beaming Riga last year. Well, these are definitely not the best pictures because of darkness, bad camera, snow etc., but anyway might give you some insight of this event.

If you have attended Beaming Riga and have some great pics, I would be glad if you share them with me! You can post the link on comments, tweet (@friendinriga) on Twitter or send me the mail. While I don't see your beaming pictures, enjoy these ones from 2010!

Riga Shopping: just cheap or original & exclusive as well?

Tourism-review.com today dropped into my mailbox news about tax free tourism attracting travelers to Latvia. Seems interesting: prices in Latvia sometimes seems too high for ourselves (ok, that’s a talk about salaries), in spring there appeared news that Latvia is the cheapest destination in Europe, but this summer talking to travellers and also travelling a bit, Lithuania, Poland or Romania appeared cheaper than Latvia. Shopping in Latvia is a quite huge topic to write about. And I feel it’s quite hard to write just about shopping here – these places I would like to tell about has more than just place-for-shopping value.

Riga Central Market is listed among bigger markets in Europe, but I have heard that this one really is the biggest (if we count also all that illegal market). Riga Central Market definitely is worth visiting it: Check my previous post From Zeppelins to Food – Riga Central Market.

Shoping centres you will find everywhere in Riga. In the city centre the most popular ones are Stockmann – between the central bus station and train terminal, Origo – at the train terminal, Galerija Centrs at the Old Town and the newest one of these – Galleria Riga. If you want shopping centres I personally would advice you to go to these last two – Glerija Centrs at the Old Town and Galleria Riga.

Galerija Centrs at the Old Town  is a place with stores like Bik Bok, Oasis, Guess, Hogl, Cropp Town, Cubus, Moskito, Reserved, G-star, Lindex, La Senza and others. This place also has nice photo or painting exhibitions quite often on the first floor, so you won’t miss some culture when going for shopping.

Latvian stores with high quality original products you should pay attention to in Galerija Centrs: LAUMA lingerie , MADARA ecocosmetics , STENDERS – cosmetics, parfumery.

Another shopping centre Galleria Riga  (on Dzirnavu Street 67) is more posh, luxurious and pompous with stores like Pierre Cardin, Gaudi, Elegance Paris, Bonita, Leny Tomy Factory, Roberto Verino, Triumph and others. They also have terrace on the roof (7th floor) where in summer you can go for a meal, but on winter season it becomes a skating rink – skate and enjoy the view over the roofs of Riga.

There are more than these opportunities, but I personally think that the real charm of shopping in Riga is in it’s small original shops – and believe me, Latvian shopkeepers and small business owners are extremely  creative people. More about these shopping options another time.

Related posts:

From Zeppelins to Food – Riga Central Market 

Riga Central Market on Travelers blog

3 in 1: Art gallery, Shop and Restaurant

Bohemian Street – Away From Touristic Riga

Riga is going to take you away to the magical world of arts and dreams this autumn!

Riga is sparkling form cultural events, arts and parties. All summer it has been like a one big festival here. The summer is over, but the life doesn’t stop here. Here start new life: students are back to universities, workers back from vacations – that’s a reason for culture, arts and nightlife to get into new level. From lazy summer to autumn full with colors and new energy. Here it comes:

„WHITE NIGHT 2011” (BALTĀ NAKTS) /10th of September/ – The contemporary arts forum White Night presents art, theatre, music, movement and other art projects and performances. Every year White Night is organized all over the city at the end of August/beginning of Spetember. This year White Night will be here on 10th of September. More than 25 art, music, theater, survival, performance events in former factory VEF, Spikeri, Miera street, Old Town, and the centre of Riga. Enjoy the beauty of arts all night long for free, heading form one place to another! („White Night” is part of the joint “European White Nights” project by Brussels, Madrid, Paris, Riga and Rome. This idea is also adopted by Amsterdam, Bucharest, Porto and Valletta (Malta), as well as Toronto, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago and other cities)

 

Riga International Film Forum ARSENĀLS 10th – 18th of September 

Adventurous Music and Film Festival SKAŅU MEŽS (SOUND FOREST) /15^th – 17^th of September/ 

International Festival of Film Actors BALTIJAS PĒRLE (BALTIC PEARL) 15^th – 27th of September 

„BEAMING RIGA” (STARO RĪGA) – /17th – 20st of November/ this is the festival of lights which transforms the panorama of Riga in dark evenings of November. 18th of November is also a birthday of a country called Latvia, so coming to Riga on these dates are  „2 rabbits with 1 shot’. ‘Beaming Riga’ is a festival all around the city which transforms the city using light, video and other technologies  - buildings, squares, monuments, streets are live and talking thorugh technologies and creativity. 'Beaming Riga' really takes you away from reality to some mystical world, sirreal dreamland.

„White Night” and „Beaming Riga” is what I advice you not to miss this autumn. Pictures from „Beaming Riga 2010”. Riga is going to blow your mind with these events.

Bohemian Street - Away From Touristic Riga

 The Street of Peace (Miera iela) is like a little Riga's secret out of the touristic centre, - new born  bohemian paradise, but still in the centre of the city 20 - 30 min walk away from The Old Town. No drunk crowds, no screaming party-people, but special places to celebrate the life everyday. My heart belongs there and it's not because I was born there.  It's also not because already more than one year I see how the sun goes down and how it's rising on mornings over the roofs of this street through my window.  

 The street long time ago was made as the road to cemeteries out of the city. Close to the main street in Riga - Freedom street, close to the one of the biggest theatres in Riga "Dailes Teātris". On this street you will find the factory of the best Latvian chocolate "Laima". (Yes, sometimes the smell of chocolate is really impossible to avaoid, because it comes in over the opened windows and takes over the street). You will find here houses where 200 years ago lived aristocrats and you will see beautiful wooden architecture. 

One of the reasons to come here is it's bohemian atmosphere. DAD cafe - on Miera iela 17 - piano, jazz, vintage furniture, poetry, photograpy... TAKA on Miera iela 10 - colorfull  place with origami birds in windows & comfortable sofas, home-made wine from Latvia, sometimes tasty smell of soup makes you to stop passing by this place... Tea-room "ILLUSEUM" on Miera iela 19 - to collect your thoughts over the cup of tea: exceptional collection of teas from all over the world... Vintage shops and high quality handicrafts. People with bicycles, the tram nr. 11, cobbled streets... It's like peacefull Sunday mood or evening talks over the cup of tea are living right on this street.

If you keep walking this street 5 more minutes the direction away from the Freedom Street (Brīvības iela) you will see in front park - cemetery called The Great Graveyard: one of the most interesting cemeteries I have seen. See some pictures here: The Lost World Cemetery With The Soul

Creative Sand Sculpture Park „Magic Sand Riga 2011”

Cross the river Daugava, take a walk on the Stone Bridge - the view to Riga from there is wide and beautiful. On the other side of the river this summer till September is creative sand sculpture park. It's not big, but worth seeing it.

"Magic Sand" is an international festival. In Riga you will see artwork by 12 professional world class sand masters. Entrance fee - 2Ls, for additional fee you can create your own sand sculpture. Sand sculpture park also offers other activites - like "Game Station" for children, workshops and early morning yoga classes. Working hours: every day 10AM - 9PM.

 I went there today. There are less sculptures than I was expecting, but - real masterpieces, the view to Riga is wonderfull and the atmosphere there today was really meditative & peacefull. Artists working, and not only kids playing in a big sandbox. I also enjoyed playing with the sand! This place will calm you down and inspire.

Free Live Music Open-Air concerts Every Evening – hot spots in Riga this summer!

There are 3 hot spots for live music every evening in The Old Town – 3 open-air cafes, beer gardens which offers enjoy not only different tastes of foods and drinks, but also good music.

Livu Square (Līvu laukums) close to the Freedom monument (on Kaļķu street) is full

with summer cafes. Near the terraces like „Kaļķu vārti”, „Mad House”, „Blue Cow” and others you will find a place called „Zelta Fīlings” (Golden Feeling)! Taste one of 36 sorts of local and world famous beers they offer and enjoy latino & jazz!

If you keep walking the same (Kaļķu) street you can turn right on Sķūņu street. You will reach another square - Dome Sqare – with the Dome cathedral and some other summer terraces: „Planeta Sushi”, „Double Cafe”, Summer cafe of „13 Krēsli” (13 Chairs) with Mitrokhin’s Master band performing live regularry and my favorite place – „No Problem”. „No Problem” has nice atmosphere and good live music – rock, jazz, sometimes country. And this is the place which with it’s music quite often make people to move from their chairs and dance. Also the prices here are really reasonable.Just sometimes it’s too crowded to find a place to enjoy the music there.

The 3rd place which sometimes makes me to stop to enjoy the music is cafe „Egle” near the Town Hall square – Rātslaukums – with famous Backheads houses you see on almostly every postcard from Riga. You can get back to Kaļķu street and you will find it soon. There is a Christmas tree made from peaces of mirror, Souvenier shop with a big black cat next to it called „Riga Cat” and there is this cafe „Egle” – open air leisure venue with live music every evening from 8PM. Traditional music, classical rock songs, jazz, popular latvian rock & pop bands – all kinds of music.

Free entrance & nice concerts in all 3 cafes. And all summer long there is Summer Stage at the sqaure near the central station with different concerts, mostly on weekends. Enjoy!

The Bastion Hill – Have Some Rest in The Centre of Riga

If you are in Riga I’m sure you will see the Bastion Hill near the 42 metres high Freedom Monument , in front of the Opera House. Bastejkalns (Bastion Hill), Riga's second highest hill at a towering 16m (52ft) above sea level, was created from 1857 to 1859 to replace the old defensive sand bulwark. With the removal of the earth fortifications, a new period in the development of Riga set in. The former defensive moat became a winding city canal.

The first plantings in the area were performed by A.Vendt, an engineer from Luebeck. The gardener Reims continued planting from 1863 to the autumn of 1879. From 1880, when the Town Council established a Garden Committee under the guidance of G. Kuphalt, the vegetation was considerably remade taking into account developing traffic. Higher demands were set for the art of gardens. Stone embankments with small cascades and waterfalls were arranged here to resemble a mountain river in accordance with G. Kuphalt’s design in 1888.

Several paths lead to the top, which provides excellent views of the surrounding sights in the winter months.. Cannons, limestone busts and other curiosities recovered from damaged buildings following World War II were embedded in its walls for posterity. Within its precincts are memorial stones to five people killed by Soviet bullets during the January 1991 disturbances. Among the dead were camera operators documenting the stormy events... Romantic paths, bridges, sculptures... Sometimes cultural events are taking the place here. Perfect place to get rested during the summer in a green grass  -in shadows of hundred-year-old trees.

Other posts you might be interested in:

The Lost World Cemetery with The Soul

The Art in Stone: Mysterious Easter Island in Riga

See Riga from Hight of Birds

The Highest TV Tower in EU

Where locals have fun II (Shot Cafe & Leningrad)

Travelling around is a great thing to do, but when I came back home, Riga doesn’t allow me to get rested. If you came to Riga it’s sparkling life from morning to morning will take you in. My favorite question for toursits I meet here is, of course,  - why Riga? The nightlife is one of these reasons.Yes, also bars and clubs you can find here opened till 6 – 7 am. Check my previous post: Where locals have fun 

Two more places with great atmosphere I would like to add the the list of places to enjoy & have fun:

„Shot cafe” in the Old Town of Riga right next to the War Museum (Torņa street 4) – small, cosy bar with around 100 different shots and other drinks with reasonable prices. The place where during the day time you can get your lunch and during the night you can enjoy parties till morning, and if you get there at the happy hour you get 3 shots paying just for 2. That’s the place which has became the favorite place for a lot of Rigans and guests of Riga.

„Leningrad” – also in The Old Town (Kalēju street 54) – artsy place to meet with friends or young Latvian artists. DJ events, literary meetings and art events provide the necessary spice to keep you coming back time and again. You can come in and feel like home there, take a book from the book shelf, play some games or even piano. 

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.

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!

Sunny Afternoon in The Centre of Riga.11.05.2011.