We made a short stop at the secret ex-Soviet communication center (known as Zvezdochka) located in the woodlands near Irbene. It was used by the KGB during the Cold War to spy on communications between Europe and the United States. It originally consisted of a 32-meter telescope, along...
Today we made overnight in the harbor (Southern Pier) in Ventspils in walking distance to its nice beach with ‘Govs-Matrozis’ (The Sailor Cow) – a giant blue-colored cow dressed as a seafarer. The city is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea. The city’s name literally...
It is quite unlike any place we have visited in the country – the Kuldiga is definitely the most beautiful and charming town in Latvia. It is an ancient town with unique, distinctive architecture. The oldest church of St Catherine from 1252 is named after the patron of the town. The Old...
We made overnight on Latvia’s ruggedly beautiful west coast in the third biggest city of Latvia. Liepāja is a port city with pristine beach and architecture ranging from elegant timber houses to Art Nouveau masterpieces and grand old warehouses turned into luxury hotels. It has a nice...
We went through central Latvia to explore some famous castles and palaces. Our first stop was the Castle of Livonian Order in Sigulda. It was built in 1207 in Gauja valley by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword (military order comprised of German “warrior monks”). It was destroyed and...
Today we crossed the border with Latvia. At the first gasoline station we paid the highway fees for a week (12 tones / 22 € – it would be 2 € cheaper if we would do it online). Our first impression is that towns and villages look poorer than Estonia and also many roads are in...
We spent two nights in Pärnu – the ultimate summer holiday destination in Estonia. It is a very quiet and cold place with a large sandy beach, numerous restaurants, cocktail bars, spas, and a relaxed, laid back vibe. Pärnu (Perona) was founded by the bishop of Ösel–Wiek around 1251...
We made it to Tallinn – the capital city of Estonia, just by chance, during the 27th Song Celebration and the 20th Dance Celebration. The Song Celebration tradition began with the first Song Celebration organized by Johann Voldemar Jannsen in Tartu on 18–20 June 1869. One of the...
we spent two lovely days in the leafy town of students, intellectuals, and creatives. It is home to one of Northern Europe’s oldest universities. Tartu is very compact, with most sights, restaurants, and nightlife nestled across a couple of parallel streets. We have parked on the main...
Late afternoon the rain was not so heavy so we made one more stop for evening mass at The Pühtitsa Dormition Convent, located in the center of Kuremäe. It had a great unforgettable spiritual atmosphere. It was established in 1891 and is the only functioning Russian Orthodox nunnery in...