Exceptional Experiences in Latvia

Checking what's on my computer I found this list of exceptional experiences in Latvia that was made many months ago for some other website... But it never got published anywhere, so I'm giving myself the green traffic light to share this list with you. Some adrenaline, some adventures, some childhood dreams that can become reality. Take a look at this list and let me know if there is something you can add!

1) Spending a night in a jail

In 2009 The Ghost Hunters International team announced: the Karosta jail in Liepāja is one of the most haunted places in the world. This KGB prison, where more than 150 people got shot, is one of the most unusual hotels you can find around the world. Entering this place every visitor becomes a prisoner, and staying overnight there you will get a real prisoners cell. It should be noted that this place is not recommended for emotionally sensitive people.

2) Flying with no belts, ropes or parachutes

In 1979 Jean St. Germain, Canadian-French inventor, built the first vertical wind tunnel, and last 30 years  ‘Aerodium’ in Latvia has been working to develop this invention and make flying real for any person with no special previous training. In Sigulda you can fly without safety belts and rubbers, no ropes and no parachutes – just jump into the vertical wind tunnel to enjoy adrenaline and taste of freedom.

3) Song and Dance Festival where thousands are singing like one

Since 1873 Song and Dance Festival in Latvia has been significant event which brings together more than 20 000 performers - singers and dancers in Riga – all dressed in traditional costumes from all parts of Latvia. The festival is held in summer once per 5 years taking over the streets of Riga, concert halls and even the public transport. The next festival will take place in 2018.

4) Midsummer’s Night

The pagan tradition of celebrating the summer solstice is absolutely alive in Latvia. 23rd of June people are getting to the countryside to make bonfires at night, to drink beer and jump over the fire, to decorate themselves with flowers, to sing and dance, to look for magical ferns in dark woods at night and run naked around meadows staying awake until the sunrise.

5) Park of modern arts

Pedvāle Open-Air Art Museum is the area of 200 ha full of original and surprising sculptures, installations and art objects created in workshops for specific place using mostly locally available materials. Be ready to spend your day in meadows, forests and hills on the banks of the river Abava observing wildlife and interaction between the nature and modern art where every step in the trail can bring new surprises.

6) Bobsleigh for speed lovers

1420 meters long bobsled track where high-level competitions are held is available also for non-professionals to enjoy adrenaline when bob curves down in landslides with a speed of 100kph. Accompanied by athletes, visitors can enjoy winter bob, summer bob on wheels or special tourist bobs in the track built in 1986 and regularly bringing here bobsled professionals from several countries for their trainings.

7) The Secret Soviet bunker

2000 sq m large bunker 9 m underground has been a secret since it was created in 1980-ies. It is located in Līgatne, and the veil of secrecy has been removed only in 2003. Soviet memorabilia, projections of what would happen in case of a nuclear war, telecommunication unit for communication with Moscow Kremlin and more original features you can see there now. For brave visitors there is a possibility to participate at the reality game.

8) Latvian Sauna

Traditional Latvian sauna is a real trip into the world of power of nature: right herbs and branches of trees into sauna open the world of aromas and natural healing, jumping into the water of pond or lake (even in winter) right after sweating in the temperature of up to 100° C strengthens body, and a massage with leaves and herbs (which looks more like hitting a person) removes the stress better than any spa.

9) Off-road driving with Russian military cars

Off-road park in Saldus district near the lake gives the adventure of off-road driving through forests and rivers in Russian military jeeps in the former military landfill Zante. There are special tracks for several difficulty levels, and after the training and orientation rides groups are also invited to challenge everyone's driving skills in a competition.

  

10) Lonely beaches and naturally blue cows 

Western part of Latvia – Kurzeme offers to enjoy beautiful, quiet, lonely beaches on the Baltic Sea – for hiking, bird watching, nude swimming or being alone with the wild nature.  This part of Latvia is also the only place to see naturally blue cows. The secret of this natural color is nothing else than the water of the sea.

 

Moscow Suburb: don't go there in Riga. Or better - do it!

If there is a district in Riga locals are telling tourists to stay away - it's Moscow Suburb - that shady place with old wooden buildings, black market and every second house selling illegal drugs. And now it's time to be honest - I live there. I've been walking around there at daylight hours and totally alone at nights as well. Nothing ever happened to me. Nobody even tried to harm me or my street-walking peace there. I'm sharing apartment with two other people and nothing bad ever happened to them as well. My intuition is whispering that this district is not that bad. 

 

Ok, here is something not so nice - you will see old haunted wooden houses, drunk people on streets, some stray dogs, you will probably witness drug dealing, someone might ask you a cigarette and the main language spoken there is not Latvian, you will hear Russian. If it sounds scary to you - don't go there. 

So called Moscow Suburb is the oldest district in Riga (right after the medieval Old Town) and its history starts dated back to 14th century. So, Russian district, then Jewish district, the poorest district in Riga... If you are interested in history of this part of Riga (and some more pictures), check here: Russians of Latvia

Talking about nowadays: as I mentioned before - I can perfectly deal with this district where haunted houses are displayed to view but private palaces are hiding behind high fences. I even find it somehow romantic place... Start your tour with Riga Central Market, then head to the Soviet skyscraper The Academy of Sciences and "dive" into Moscow Suburb with   Jewish memorial places, Grebenshchikov Church - one of the largest congregations of Old Believers in the world, independent theater, small shops and other things to wonder about.

Oh, you can find there the most amazing flea market I've seen - Latgalīte - it's just awful at a first glimpse, but definitely a place where you could find even Devil if you were looking for it - you can find there everything. As we joke - if you have lost something in Riga, you can buy your things at this flea market.  (Note: it won't hurt to watch your pockets and bags if you go there).

Posh and shine is staying away from Moscow Suburb- it still is the poorest district in Riga. Well, probably this district looks also a bit sad and depressive in rainy days, but it has it's own atmosphere and historical breath. And shiny, colorful autumn seems the most suitable season for this district. That's something you don't get to see at the city center.

P.s. You can click on pictures to enlarge them.

Where to Get The Best Medicine Ever - Honey, Herbs and Riga Black Balsam?

Inspiring #TTOT (Travel Talk on Twitter), cold and dark November outside and my own home pushed me to write about it (finally). When I say that remedy for everything is Riga Black Balsam  - I really mean it. (And everyone is laughing at me). So here is my Latvian recipe of surviving cold and dark period of the year - the content of my Latvian medicine cabinet: honey, herbs and Riga Black Balsam. 

You probably are aware of medicinal properties of honey (I mean real countryside honey made by real bees from real nectar from flowers). Our ancestors knew it and used it and we keep doing the same. Such a nice medicine - even children love it! If you are in Riga, here are some places to get ecological Latvian honey: for example Honey Room next to St. Peters church in the Old Town.

Another important thing - herbs for tea. I have no idea how aware of all this herbs thing you are, but in Latvia it's a must in summers to go to meadows and woods and gather herbs for yourself, dry them and use. A lot of magic in Latvia is around Summer Solstice and Midsummers Night - it is also the best day to gather powerfull herbs. Using the right herbs at the right time will save you from all disasters of cold and winter viruses. If you've been lazy on summer and haven't picked herbs from meadows, you can get them at Riga Central Market or at one of these small eco-shops which are growing in Riga like mushrooms after the rain.

Honey + herbal tea is almost perfect combination. But there is 3rd component not less important than previous two: Riga Black Balsam. It is petty strong – made in Latvia –  herbal liquer since 1752. Add it to your herbal tea with honey, to your morning coffee, mix it with backcurrant juice, enjoy it in cocktails and party with it. You can get it everywhere around Riga, everywhere in Latvia.

Now I have told you all 3 secret components. All of them tasty separated and tasty together. I have them all at home. I really avoid useing pharmaceutical drugs and this combination of 3 (including a lot of variations of herbs) - is the key to say happy "Hi!" to cold season and enjoy it!

To tease your taste buds get to know Latvian food at Taste The Place

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 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

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

The Dream of Flying

I think we all at least once have been dreaming of flying... How does it feels? What a great feeling of freedom!

 That's true. There is a place where you too can fly. And it's here - in Latvia - the heart of Baltics. Maybe you remember Olimpic games 2006. There were flying people at the opening festival. They are Latvians. Maybe you have been to Shanghai Expo 2010. They are these guys who gathered around them thousands of people.

Do you also wanna fly? http://www.aerodium.lv/en/

Wonders of Art Nouveau

It would be a sin not to write about Art Nouveau in Riga, because Riga boasts the largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. Art Nouveau makes Riga to be a little wonderland – this architecture is unsurpassable.

The architectural and artistic answer to the literary Modernist movement that began in the late 19th century was the Art Nouveau movement in Europe. The Art Nouveau movement reached its peak in the early 20th century, which is when the majority of Riga’s Art Nouveau houses were built. Riga’s term for the movement, Jugendstil, comes from the German and Scandinavian movement named after the avant-garde periodical Jugend (“Youth”). Unlike the stiffer sensibilities of Victorian style, Art Nouveau stressed a complete creative freedom, mixing fantastic elements with a tendency to show all utilitarian construction elements as artistic value, with very characteristic elements such as dynamic, undulating, and flowing lines and geometrical ornaments.

Riga is one of the largest centres of Art Nouveau, with more than a third of the buildings of its Central District built in the style; other significant centres include Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Krakow, Moscow and St. Petersburg, among others. The main street for Riga’s Art Nouveau architecture is Elizabetes street, which intersects Brivibas Boulevard. In addition to Elizabetes Street, Alberta and Strelnieku Streets also feature impressive examples of the style. In total, there are over 800 Art Nouveau buildings in Riga.

Riga Art Noveau centre can help you. Here you will find the information about architects, maps and routes: http://www.jugendstils.riga.lv/eng/turisms Of course, you are welcome to visit Art Nouveau museum!

Latvia @ Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has been the best guide for a lot of travellers trying to discover something new, something special. I have no idea why I didn't check it previously, but look what's on Lonely Planet web-page about Latvia: 

"If you're yearning to hit Europe's untrodden jackpot, cash in your chips in Latvia. Still undiscovered by the tourism masses, this sizzling Baltic sexpot is poised to become the continent's next A-list star. A country in transition, hellbent on shedding its stalwart old-Soviet image, the Latvia of today is vibrant, enigmatic and altogether mesmerising. Refreshingly unpretentious, Latvia manages to tantalise even the most jaded traveller. Many arrive expecting little and leave overwhelmed, certain they've uncovered long-buried treasure. 

Bustling Riga, with its pumping nightlife, cobbled streets and marvellous art-nouveau architecture is one of Eastern Europe's most fun cities. "

Check it out: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia

"Rīga has always been the big boy of the Baltics - a metropolis with a big-city atmosphere hard to find elsewhere in the region. Funky and vibrant, it pulsates with a magnetism that traps travellers long after their planned departure date. Set on a flat plain divided only by the 500m-wide Daugava River, the city answers the quaintness of Tallin and Vilnius with impressive Art-Nouveau architecture of its own, a historic old quarter and large parks. You won't want to leave once you're settled into a candlelit bar or lost on winding, sun-dappled or snow-covered cobbled streets. Rīga manages to couple its toy-town cuteness of steeples and turrets with a glitzy nightlife and thriving restaurant scene. Business is booming, with eager backers pouring much-needed money into its infrastructure. Old Town may be a Unesco World Heritage site, but this fairy-tale city, once dubbed the 'Paris of the East, ' is building so fast that Unesco has warned Rīga it may withdraw its protected status due to the number of glittering glass hotels and business centres springing up faster than mushrooms after the rain."

Check this out: http: //www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/riga 

The highest TV Tower in EU

Towers are a manifestation of the dream of ancient civilisations to get closer to the sky.  Millions of people visit towers to enjoy their unusual panoramas and to experience the feeling of being ‘up there’. Riga’s contemporary silhouette is not imaginable without the radio and television tower at Zaķusala, which differs to other standard towers through its individuality and expressiveness.  However, this is not just a building which symbolises Rīga, but is also a technical structure which has to perform specific functions —  to broadcast radio and television programmes, and provide electronic communications services.   The 368 metre high tower in Riga is the tallest in the European Union.

In late 1972, M. Shkud, the chief engineer of the All-Union Planning Institute of the USSR Ministry of Communications, and the chief expert I. Ostrovsky visited Rīga to provide advice on the construction of the tower, they aslo emphasised that television towers were no longer built solely as technical buildings, but also as tourist attractions with an observation deck and restaurant.  They insisted that it should be located in the centre of Rīga, and the most appropriate place, to their minds, was on an island in the centre of the city which they had seen driving from the airport.   The next stage involved deciding on a design for the tower.  The author of the visual design is the Georgian architect K. Nikurdze.  At that time very similar reinforced concrete towers were being built in many other places — in Lithuania, Estonia, Moscow and Berlin, with the only difference being the top section.  K. Nikurdze considered that the tower should be built from steel, in this way gaining a more impressive look. 
 

The Rīga radio and television station at Zaķusala started to transmit its first broadcasts in 1986.  The transmitter began regular transmission on Channel 28 in January 1986.  Building and assembly work continued until 1989, and work on the tower was completely finished over a ten year time span.
 

You are welcome to visit this great tower! The observation deck, which is located 97 meters above Zaķusala, is the highest publicly accessible viewing point in Riga.  From there you can easily see the city and in the right weather conditions you can see the Riga HES at Salaspils and the highest points at Sigulda, as well as the Gulf of Riga and ships in the gulf. 

You can book an excursion there (around 45min) or just go there and enjoy the view. For detailed information (mission, history, services, technical information etc.) check their site: http://www.tvtornis.lv