KALEIDOSCOPE OF MY MEANDERINGS: TRAVELLING2014

Showing posts with label TRAVELLING2014. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

MY TASTE OF THE BALTIC REPUBLICS #11 AND LAST - FROM RIGA BACK TO TALLINN, VIA JURMALA, TUKUMS AND PARNU - END OF THE TRIP

Having left Riga behind and before heading to Tallinn, taking a detour to Jurmala, an expensive, pretty and mythical resort, was a must. Each residence is remarkable, characteristic of the Latvian architecture - end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century - and original at the same time. There are more than 4,000 with specific architectures. Many rich people live there and despite strict regulations in architecture, all buildings look different, somehow. Even though, sometimes it was not easy to find the differences among them. I wandered around in Jurmala like in Venice, admiring the seascapes, the few monuments as they come and breathing the atmosphere..

The payment of a car permit to go through that particular town was something very new to me...

The visiting card of the city is the main pedestrian street where one can look at others and show oneself!!!
Already during the Soviet period, the processions of the popular resort's festivities went along it.

The beach seemed to be nice but unfortunately I was there right at the tail end of the summer, so I was not able to take advantage of it.

From there a quick stop at Tukums, a small town that is said to be a romantic place. I didn't find it much so. However, I enjoyed wandering through its winding cobbled streets lined by ornate doors made by local craftsmen...a relaxing stroll, indeed.

Above, you see the local Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (1644) whose restored clock strikes every quarter hour... I found it a little bit unpleasant.

One more stop - this time at Parnu - prior to return back to Tallinn and take the plane to fly back home.

Parnu is a tiny health resort in Western Estonia, famous for its mud spa and fine sand beach.

Travelling is the element of my life that I'm most passionate about, however it's the hobby I find the most difficult to blog about due to the time taken to put a post together. I am fortunate enough to have travelled to every continent (Oceania excluded) whether it was on family holidays when I was young, or on my own since the early years of my adulthood.

Every year, I try to visit a new country and I spend hours upon hours looking at maps and planning new trips. At this moment, I haven't any clear idea, yet, what my destination will it be in 2015, however, I know if I am in fine health condition, I'll take a plane and land somewhere...

I could not put an end to this series without mentioning how I was really pleased to have you following me over all the journey. Without you, it wouldn't have been as much enjoyable as it actually turned out to be. Thank you!

Enjoy the last stage of my hopping through the Baltic Republics...

Friday, October 31, 2014

MY TASTE OF THE BALTIC REPUBLICS #10 - RIGA - THE CAPITAL OF LATVIA (PART 2 AND LAST)

Today, we are still in Riga and let's go on discovering the city, this time with no map, but enjoying the ancient aura of the old town . Once again, we will not take any of the local taxis - there are so many of these that I wonder they do good business, individually...

As it has been mentioned before, one third of Riga's old town is built in the Art Nouveau style, many of the buildings having been designed by the father of the famous Russian film maker Eisenstein.

Let's pass by the so-called Three Brothers Houses, at numbers 17, 19, and 21 of the same street. They are the oldest stone houses still standing in Riga, and an excellent example of medieval architecture.

I know some of you like sweets. Let's try and find some nice place. I know a tea-room off the corner, at a building on which façade there is a haut-relief.

Let's go in and you can indulge your sweet tooth with one of those specialities pictured below...

Now that you have your energy recovered, we will walk to the Town Hall Square, the heart of the city, dominated by the restored (originally 14th century) Hanseatic building known as the House of Blackheads. It belonged to the Guild of Unmarried Merchants. At the time it was the richest and most prestigious venue in the whole city. It was severely damaged and pillaged during WWII, but was rebuilt again in 1999 as an exact copy of the original with a magnificent Dutch Renaissance façade. Nowadays the House of Blackheads serves sometimes as a concert hall. Pity we are not allowed to go inside.

From there we are heading for the Dome Square and give a look at the St. Mary's Cathedral that is several hundreds of years old.

I guess you are feeling a bit tired so, let's hop on a tour mini-bus and go to the Central Market, while on the way we will pass by interesting buildings.

With views like the above ones and all the rest that we've seen so far, it's not surprising why this place is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites!

You see now the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Local nickname for this building is Stalin's birthday cake.

The building is a 'cousin' to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers. The architecture of the skyscraper resembles many others built in the Soviet Union at the time, most notably...

I took the above photo when I visited Moscow in 1972 (October). There had been a heavy snowfall and the snow-trimmed red flower beds made the view of the building not so heavy and gloomy as I believe it was in the reality.

We have arrived at the Central Market, one of the largest and oldest markets in Europe, with its five food pavilions, located inside vast converted Zeppelin hangars. You will be amazed as you step into the fish pavilion, where they sell both fresh and dried/smoked fish. The fresh fish is incredibly fresh - some still moving - but please don't forget 'taking photos of alive fish' is not allowed.

You will notice that people in Riga are kind when it comes to asking some information, but still cold.

I believe that the Soviet rule – which lasted until 1991, the year of Latvian independence – scarred not only the surrounding landscape of this capital, full of chimneys, ugly factories and anonymous dormitory buildings destined to the labourers, but also the people’s souls. Smiles are rare; everybody on the street looks completely lost in their thoughts about everyday-life concerns.

There’s a quote by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. It’s meant to describe people but it now reminds me of Latvia.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Let's wave farewell to the beautiful city that Riga is, by enjoying the slideshow and breath a bit more of the atmosphere of the city whose inhabitants are still emerging from the long night of the Soviet occupation which followed the even darker Nazi occupation.

~~ Having you together with me was a true pleasure ~~

~~ I'll come back to you soon... meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend ~~

RELATED POST #9 - RIGA - (PART 1)

~~ Thanks for stopping by ~~

Friday, October 24, 2014

MY TASTE OF THE BALTIC REPUBLICS #9 - RIGA - THE CAPITAL OF LATVIA (1)

Today, I would like to take you on a walking tour through Riga, the largest city of the Baltic states and one of the largest cities in Northern Europe.

Many large-scale restoration projects on old buildings have made Riga one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Most famously, Riga is home to the largest concentration of Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) architecture in the world. .

Let's start at the Freedom Monument, the symbol of Latvian independence and Riga’s major landmark -The monument proves that size indeed does matter, as at 42 metres high the monument is visible from many angles in the Central District. The woman at the pinnacle, known as "Milda'', holds three stars symbolizing the three regional parts of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale.

To the north of the freedom monument near the city canal we have a park green belt around the Old Town.

Let's now see the Orthodox cathedral on the main street of Rīga. This history of the naming of the street is interesting. When Tsar Nicholai was in power, it was called Nicholai street. When the Germans were there, it was Hitler street. When the Soviets returned, it was Lenin Street. Once the Latvians regained independence again in 1991, it became Freedom Boulevard

The Powder Tower is one of Riga’s fortification towers and was originally called the Sand Tower. It dates back to 1330. Rebuilt numerous times, it gained its current name in the 17th century when they began to store gunpowder in the tower.

From here let's walk along the narrow streets, stop at a tea-room and have a sweet and then we will reach The Philarmonica Square. On the right, you see the Great Guild, while the houses on the left remind dolls' houses, don't you think?

It's a fine morning, not very cold and people are enjoying the sunshine....

The Old Town is flat and not big, and we are going to have more fun by walking along its narrow cobblestone streets than by taking a taxi...

It's getting late and your legs may be asking you to rest. Shall we now take a seat in front of the monument to Halmans and view the slideshow? It seems you acept my suggestion...

~~ Have a wonderful weekend ~~