All the narrow alleyways wind up and down the mountain like a serpentine. The city seems to consist of floors, of layers, but from the top a fantastic view opens over the city lying in the haze at the foot of the mountain. A day spent in San Marino left pleasant memories and the wish to return here again someday.
When visiting Venice for the second time, a small superstitious worry nags: that returning to a place you once loved greatly might spoil the impression. But it did not.
We decided to spend this day with a walk by the sea, which was just one block from the hotel where we were staying, a spot of shopping, and a visit to the porcelain museum. Heading to the museum we had picked out on the city map turned into a wonderful walk through an autumnal park.
What was once a major undertaking - travelling to another country's capital - is today no different from a trip to any moderately close city. So on Friday evening, after work, we got in the car and by midnight were already in Tallinn. About 310 km and 4.5 hours on the road. The next day: Lennusadam - the Estonian Maritime Museum, Olde Hansa, and the Medieval Torture Instruments Museum.
This time the destination of our trip through Estonia was a town on the western coast - Haapsalu. We chose it for its celebrated restorative atmosphere, beautiful old wooden architecture, and proximity to the sea.
Every year in April, the spring festival known as the Feria de Abril de Sevilla takes place in Seville, the capital of Andalusia, Spain. It usually begins 2 weeks after the Semana Santa procession, typical of Easter in all Catholic countries in Europe including Latvia. The festival lasts a full week, brimming with joyfulness, music, dancing, treats, performances, a festive parade, and a fairground. This year it takes place from 24 to 29 April.
We had not been to Turaida since our student days (last time about ten years ago), yet it seems nothing has changed. The same Gūtmanis Cave, Dainu Hill, Turaida Castle, Rose of Turaida's grave, church with the rooster on the tower, paths leading up and down, springs, and so on. This time in an atypical season - winter (4 December), though the hills are almost lushly green and the wind howls in the bare tree branches.
A "Romantic Cinema Evening in Sigulda" package, gifted by colleagues from the Dāvanu serviss gift experience service, was used this weekend. It included two tickets to a chosen film at KinoLora, an overnight stay in a semi-deluxe room at Hotel Segevold, dinner at the restaurant, and champagne in the room.
A trip to Vecumnieki brought many interesting discoveries and pleasant surprises. Initially only one final destination had been chosen - the Rabbit Town - but in the end we managed to visit three places in all.
On the way back to Latvia we decided to take a loop along Estonia's southern border - along the highway from Häädemeeste to Valga, stopping at the settlements along the way and at sights marked by brown signs. Near the settlement of Helme we saw the ruins of a Teutonic Order castle. A discovery was the Barclay de Tolly mausoleum.