🇱🇻 Latvia

Hej! I’m sharing a glimpse of my experience visiting magnificent Latvia. I was there in the winter of 2023. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and does not cover all the wonderful local features and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Riga, Jurmala, Tukums.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Riga
   • Old Riga (Vecrīga)
   • House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju Nams)
   • Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms)
   • St. Peter’s Church (Svētā Pētera Baznīca)
   • Riga Central Market (Rīgas Centrāltirgus)
   • The Three Brothers (Trīs Brāļi)
   • Freedom Monument (Brīvības Piemineklis)
   • Riga Castle (Rīgas Pils)
2. Jurmala
   • Dzintari Forest Park (Dzintaru Mežaparks)
   • Jurmala Open-air Museum (Jūrmala Brīvdabas Muzejs)
   • Jomas Street (Jomas Iela)
   • Dubulti Lutheran Church (Dubultu Luterāņu Baznīca)
   • Aspazija’s House (Aspazijas Māja)
3. Tukums
   • Tukuma Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tukuma Evaņģēliski Luteriskā Baznīca)
   • Freedom Square (Brīvības Laukums)
   • Harmony Street (Harmonijas Iela)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇱🇻 Prāta Vētra / Brainstorm (band). Genre: pop
• 🇱🇻 Antra Stafecka (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇱🇻 Jumprava (band). Genre: retro-pop
• 🇱🇻 Otra Puse (band). Genre: pop
• 🇱🇻 Tumsa (band). Genre: rock
• 🇺🇳 Laima Vaikule (singer). Genre: retro-pop

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Latvian Gray Peas with Bacon and Onion (Pelēkie Zirņi)
• Latvian Black Bread (Rupjmaize)
• Layered Rye Bread (Rupjmaizes Kārtojums)
• Latvian Porridge (Putra)
• Latvian Balsam (Brand: “Rīgas Melnais Balzams”)
• Riga-Capital (Regional Special): Riga Smoked Sprats (Rīgas Šprotes)

🎬 Local movies:

• The Shot (Nošāva). Year: 2019. Genre: short / comedy
• The Cat’s Mill (Kaķīša Dzirnavas). Year: 1993. Genre: animation

🪔 Authentic features:

• Latvian Vernacular Architecture (Latviešu Tautas Arhitektūra)
• Latvian Christmas Eve (Ziemassvētki)
• Authentic Musical Instrument: Kokle (Kokle)
• Authentic Garb: Latvian Belt (The Lielvārde Belt)
• The Culture of Livonians (Lībieši / Līvlizt)
• The Heritage of the Livonian Confederation (Livonijas Konfederācija / Terra Mariana)
• Jurmala (Regional Special): Jurmala Festivals (Jūrmalas Festivāli)
• Riga-Capital (Regional Special): Riga Art Nouveau Architecture (Jūgendstila Arhitektūra Rīgā)

💐 National flower: Ox-eye Daisy (Parastā Pīpene)

🦉 Local wisdom: “A tree does not fall after the first cut” / “Koks nekrīt uz pirmā cirtiena” — Latvian proverb

👨‍🎓 The oldest university: Riga Technical University (Rīgas Tehniskā Universitāte), Riga, est. 1862.