This time I will not go into detail about each attraction, its artistic or architectural value - you can enjoy those visually in the photo gallery below. I will gather a few ideas: where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and shop, what to see and enjoy.
We were once again confirmed in the view that one need not travel far away to learn something new and interesting. Last weekend we devoted one afternoon to getting to know the neighbouring municipality and the town of Ogre itself a little better.
During the Midsummer holidays we stopped in at Malnava, in the Kārsava municipality, to walk through the old Malnava Manor park, find Hitler's bunkers, and take a look at the recently opened Latgale Šmakovka Distillery. Almost no one was to be seen - evidently owing to the hot, muggy weather, as it was Midsummer Friday and the more avid revellers were still recovering.
The Ludza municipality has eighteen lakes in total, but the two most familiar to me since childhood are Ludzas Mazais ezers (Little Lake) and Ludzas Lielais ezers (Great Lake). The latter is the 17th largest lake in Latvia by area, at 8.46 km². Both lakes are connected by a small canal beneath a bridge that separates the two parts of the town.
Thanks to an invitation from friends to a boy's birthday celebration, we discovered a new place for an exciting weekend - both for adults and children. The Beverīna Wooden Sculpture Park and several labyrinths in the open countryside, 11 km from Valmiera in the direction of Smiltene along the P-18 highway.
The idea of driving to Lithuania and walking through a forest 20–30 metres above ground had been on our minds since last year, when the Anykščiai Treetop Walking Path was discovered. But this path was only one of eight interesting natural and man-made attractions on this trip.
This time the story will not be about a journey, but a story about a story about a journey. Last Thursday evening we went to the restaurant Annas Dārzs for a meeting with two young people who, over the course of 8 months, completed a roughly 5,500 km hike from the Polish city of Ustka to Lisbon in Portugal.
Here is another destination about 100 km from Rīga for a weekend trip - as a couple, with friends, or with family. Rauna is a small, quiet, well-kept little town whose centre is marked by the junction of its three main streets - Vidzemes, Rīgas, and Cēsu - and a park with attractions. In and around Rauna we visited four noteworthy places.
On a Sunday afternoon we decided with friends to take a loop through Vidzeme and stop at two long-planned destinations. This time to the Amata municipality near Cēsis - the ancient Latgalian lands, one might say. Perhaps this will inspire someone to get in the car next weekend and go exploring Latvia right here at home.
This time we did not stay at a campsite or one of Estonia's celebrated SPA hotels, but instead chose to rent an entire family house on the seashore via Booking.com. The Kabli area was already familiar, as it is home to one of the few sandy beaches on Estonia's western coast. The other shores are either overgrown with grass or so rocky that entering the water without swim shoes is unthinkable.