Beautiful Latvia...

Latvia was a total surprise for me. Travelling so far East for the first time and having images of this country only from maps and late research online, it was impressive to see traces of the horrors (in the Russian and German occupations) and the grey, aligned buildings from communist architects.
The complex language as become one of my current projects and the walks by 'old Riga' and it's historic buildings, amber jewellery everywhere, nice food and cultural offers of great quality where good signs of the growing identity of this small country by the Baltic Sea.

First days :)



The white blanket was beautiful and the cold had this pleasant feeling, despite freezing the nose... Heading north-east it was time to see the heart of the country and head to the mountain to try myself into snowboarding!! It was more like a small hill when compared to the Sierra Nevada or The Alps, but for my own safety and counting the time one falls, it was just perfect...

Marcello :)



One of the furriest cats I've ever seen and held (even if he only let me do it on the very last day...)
Very moody and funny cat, with an owner that loves him like a baby :))
When building a Christmas tree, with natural candles and all, he was our biggest supporter and you have to agree - a great model too :)!!

Last day...



After more then a week and with the temperatures going down seriously, this sunny day was like a bonus!! Just a short drive from home base, the lake "Baltezers" is an ice-hockey ring and ice-fishing area in the winter and a beach and water sports area in the summer... warmer evenings and whiter nights are surely something to look forward too... :)

I became a fan of the white scenery, operas in Christmas, Lido's traditional food, the huge market, dill mayo, smoked chicken, hot black currant with black balsam and natural candles in Xmas trees...
... All with a warm welcome and a feeling of being at home!

Liels Paldies!! (Thank you very much!) :* :* :*