White Night in Riga (12–13 September) was this year reasonably warm (around 15 degrees above zero) and full of curious observers and contemporary art performances. The already autumnal darkness of night allows one to play with illusions created by coloured light and to "see by blinking your ears," since "people, by blinking their eyes (coating the eyeball with fluid from the lacrimal glands), lose approximately 23 minutes of visual information every day."
On Thursday evening, 10 August, I attended the open class at the exotic dance centre Alegria, held at 4 E. Birznieks-Upīša Street, in the hall of the Young Technicians' Centre. Centre director Ilze Zariņa introduced four dance styles that can be learned from Alegria's teachers - belly dancing, Indian dance, flamenco, and Gypsy dance. To illustrate each dance style, there were teachers' performances (see video).
In the mornings, traditionally leafing through the press, I have for some time been making a point of reading the last page of the newspaper Diena, where Egīls Zirnis jokes. As a result, a number of fine sayings have accumulated - sayings that on reading make you want to smile at yourself, at life in general, and at life in Latvia. Here I have collected some excerpts from "Zirnis Jokes" that seemed truly witty and have stuck in the memory.
Literally just an hour ago we returned from a damp, now autumnal Jūrmala, where an evening concert "Enter My World" by Raimonds Ozols, concertmaster of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, took place at Dzintari Concert Hall. It drew a full audience, including the President with his wife. The concert consisted of two parts: the first lyrical and calm, the second dynamic, magnificent, and varied.
There were many fragrances here - aromatic herbs dried and sewn into beautiful linen sachets to be placed among clothes so they acquire a pleasant scent and repel moths. Especially pleasant were the lavender pouches, additionally embroidered with images of the herb's flowers found inside. Various teas packaged in attractive little bags. Each vendor knew how to explain the composition, and which teas are best suited for what purpose.
Although the festival events took place in several locations in central Riga, we spent our time along the 11 November Embankment. There, of course, the main attention was concentrated around the vintage vehicles. Everyone (myself included) considered it a matter of honour to be photographed beside one of the retro cars. All were in good technical condition, polished and ready to hit the road.
At the start of August at the weekend we made a detour through Zemgale, stopping to see a few noteworthy places. The route in broad strokes: Rīga – Jelgava – Tērvete – Bauska – Iecava – Rīga. Below, more detail on a few of the stopping points and some interesting facts we learned along the way.
Yesterday was a truly lovely day - sunny and warm. Good reason to leave the computer at home and head off on a longer walk along the seashore. This time we drove to the Vidzeme seashore and spent about four hours there, walking along the coast and swimming in the now-warmed sea water. We covered a stretch from Tūja to Ķurmrags (approximately 7 km one way). The sea views were worth capturing in photographs.
Each of us has our own cherished little things we would never want to part with - things we always look upon with warmth or happily pick up, use, and take pride in. It must be said that these things are usually not the most practical or the most necessary in everyday life. Moreover, they are usually well-worn, handled, and crumpled, and so a little scuffed - despite the owner's very best care for them. I invite you not to hide your light under a bushel - send in your stories of five cherished possessions!
It was a genuine discovery for me and a real pleasure to splash about at the foot of the Aiviekste Hydroelectric dam this summer and to stand under the powerful waterfall created by the water pressure. The Aiviekste River caters for water fun of all depths, from "water up to your ankle" to "no longer standing." The Aiviekste Hydroelectric Station turns out to be not only a picturesque spot but also once the largest power station in Latvia.
