Feja Liepaja

... one other table in use on this Monday night. I start with an Asian chicken salad then what is said to be lamb chops but turns out to be delicious lamb stew. Lastly, chocolate soufflé. Portions, though, are small. Cost is $22. I also try to the Latvian liquor, Riga Black Balsam. It is very strong, black and tastes a little like cough medicine. It is supposed to have medicinal qualities which would be nice if ...

North up the coast we crossed the border into Latvia. A couple of km over the border we found this old woman's house by the sea, who is an obsessive compulsive beachcomber. Everything in the garden and adorning the house has been washed up on the beach, which she has then made into statues or just decoration (couple of photos above). She makes a side living off the amber she finds on the ...

... simple but so fill full (it was my first hot meal since i left Ireland) The meeting with Inese (friend of Liga) at the cinema and watch this Italian movie from the 20' (called Rocco and his brothers) (you should watch it)and this guy who were doing live translation from italian to latvian, after 15mn somebody complained so he stoped! Inese, Good luck to you in Minsk for this year in the Embassy! The first to days i spend on my own in old part of Riga, wonderring ...

... beds were empty. She told me that she "had never been on top before" and "couldn't wait to try it tonight"! No complaints from me! But why wait until tonight? Why not now? Carpe diem!!! We dropped off our stuff and had lunch at a very good restaurant (Pastnieka Maja) recommended by a hostel worker. Excellent food and a very good value. Given a chance I'd definitely return here. Off to the beach - it ...

... looking over my shoulder I look around and marvel. At the end of the beach what is a rocky outcrop which as I approach it appears distinctly man made. As I turn the headland I can see more structures of man made origin collapsing into the see for a stretch of a Km or so. These appear to have been part of the imperial fortifications with a few German/soviet addition, all off which have been pounded and destroyed by the sea. Again deserted and sign posted I ...

Our short stay in Liepaja just wasn't long enough. Our hostel was about 2 blocks away from the beach and it bloody rained. That didn't stop us from going to the beach though. We went out one night with some people from the hostel, but mainly just chilled out playing air hockey, wathing DVD's and drinking.

... and a TV in the room were good freebies and at least I ended up with a dorm room to myself, so was able to catch up with the news a little. Liepaja is a bit of an ugly, soviet industrial port city, with very little to recommend it. Even the town beach wasn't anything special, especially having just come from Neringa. However, the northern beaches near Karosta, a former soviet naval base, were ...

Got to the bus station fairly early expecting that we might have some problems trying to book 4 student tickets on a bus to another country, however the woman who dealt with us this time was more than helpful and even though she didn't speak any English we managed to get the ticket and with a student discount in minutes. The coach arrived and we put our packs in the hold and off we went. Arrived at the Lithuania/Latvia border after about an ...

... NEED HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS OF LATVIA? --------------------------------------- --------------------- ------------ Alla, I am thankful to you and your country, for that you gave me asylum. Now I feel strong again. Now I can go back to the even colder Russia and continue my studies of the language. In Liepaja we went to the ...

... for a long time now. I have made a decision a long time ago. In spite of this, my mind is still questioning me about it at an unhealthy rate. Sometimes it is like a battle of different people inside me. I can't do anything but watch. Traveling with such a feeling inside, it is difficult the beauties of a nation. However, in Latvia I feel much better. The reason is my dear friend and soulmate, Alla, and her beautiful country.