Porins Liepaja

... It is small. There is a large park along the ocean. Only a few people, dressed warmly, are walking along the beach.

More than elsewhere, the Soviet influence on buildings is shown. Stark buildings intermixed with the old homes.

In talking with a couple of locals, very few Americans tour Liepaja. Other than other Latvians, it is mostly German and Swiss.

I find a great restaurant. There is ...

... bed up. Needless to say we were a little slow the next day and in fact stayed in bed until 12pm drinking cups of tea and reading books! We did pass a fleeting thought back to those at home and wondered what they were doing on this fine Tuesday morning. We dragged ourselves out of bed finally and meandered our way down to the markets where we ate anything in sight (which included 2 cakes and ...

... 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 ...

... line of them they turn in land, this must be the fort. With no sign or people to ask I wander around and try to fathom it for myself. The intact inland examples are open but unlit but clearly contain barracks, artillery positions, magazines and shell hoists. Having not brought my torch I explore by the eery red light of the anti red eye on my camera. Although now overgrown by the forest the interior of the fortress contains several smaller structures ...

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 ...

... this food element. From here we wandered out to the beach, about 10 minutes from the centre of town. A blue flag beach with lovely white sand as far as you could see both was right before us, and as we have found out very few people seem to go to the beaches at this time of year. The sun was belting down now, so we sunbathed for an hour or so before heading back to check out our rooms. I think that Hostel Blize used to be a hotel and ...

... Karosta Prison. It's nowadays a museum and they also offer accommodation (cells) for individuals... A grim place with a severe history and an unique hostel owner. Happy we got released this morning, priceless anyway. Now heading for RIGA where Jon flies out tomorrow to Venice and I'll have my last four days in the Baltics.

if you want any of the photographs in a higher resolution, just let me know abasty@gmail.com more information about Liepaja Liepaja, the Liepaja at Wikipedia Liepaja, official Liepaja website diary entry Schon die ganze Welt bereist ich hab' Vom Abend- zum Morgenland Vom Süd- zum Nordkapp Doch nirgendwo fand ich einen Ort wie an diesem Strand Ich ...