For the second year running, the exotic dance festival was held at the Madona Culture House. The concert consisted of modern belly dance performances with certain show elements, khaleeji, saidi, and oriental. Šarma had taken care to include the Hawaiian dance style in the programme. However, compared to last year, a certain uniformity was noticeable; Indian dances, tribal dance, and Andalusian dance rhythms were lacking.
We have just returned from Bauska, where we attended the Wedding Musicians Festival organised by Ilze's Events Agency. It took place at the Bauska Castle Hill outdoor stage, began yesterday 1 August at 16:00 and ended today 2 August somewhere around 2:00 or even later. Despite the relatively small attendance and number of participants, there was no shortage of songs, dances, beer, good spirits, or positive atmosphere.
On 11 October this year at 17:00, the world's foremost pioneer of Nouveau Flamenco, guitarist and composer Ottmar Liebert, will perform at the Great Guild. He will be in Latvia with a solo concert, delighting us with his finest compositions in the programme: "An Evening with Ottmar Liebert: Guitar and Conversation". During his spiritual journey, a couple of years ago he was ordained as a Zen monk.
At the weekend we had broken free and shot off to Germany for a cousin's wedding celebrations. We lived it up, celebrated, explored the lovely little city and mingled with the locals. The feelings that characterise this trip I cannot help but describe in the words of a song - "behind the clouds the sun is shining, behind the clouds is everything, behind the clouds it is good, please take me along." Here is a brief summary - 10 things worth seeing and enjoying in Trier.
No, these are not the sand sculptures that have now become popular throughout the Baltics - this is something more flowing, more fleeting, and in constant motion. With just a few handfuls of sand seemingly scattered at random on glass and with unusually nimble finger movements, an entire painting is conjured. It tells its story, as the contours change ceaselessly and transform into a new form. Words are unnecessary here - simply watch and enjoy the video!
A little mini-competition of sorts... Browsing through photo galleries on the computer, I realised that over the years several photos have accumulated of various spots around Riga that would be interesting to look at - and to reflect on how well I know this city. For when taking them, some of these spots were a genuine discovery for me. So, please go ahead - take a look and write your answers in the comments: what is it and where is it?
Shortly after the Midsummer holiday, so that the stomach would not forget how it had been pampered, a friend invited me over for a cocktail evening. The centre of attention was the strawberry daiquiri. The day weather-wise was not very lucky - overcast and even drizzling a fine rain. So we sipped the cold daiquiri and mused that there would be nothing better on a properly hot summer evening. Well, the hot days and evenings are here. Let's mix a strawberry daiquiri!
Today, 27 June, the Latvian Fruit Growers' Association is holding - for the second year running - the Strawberry Festival at the Spice shopping centre, bringing together local strawberry growers from across Latvia. The event programme, with trading, musical performances, and various competitions, is scheduled from 10:00 until 22:00. So if anyone didn't know or hasn't made it yet - there's still time!
On the way to Aglona Basilica we discovered and visited the Bread Museum, where the hostess welcomed everyone in a Latgalian folk costume, with folk songs and a speech. I must say that the museum's founder and bakery manager Vija is a very charismatic, energetic Latgalian woman who is herself this museum. It is precisely her storytelling and personality (not the exhibition itself) that lures hundreds of tourists to visit her home each summer.
However informative and brief I am about this annual event in Old Riga, it is without a doubt, for me, an occasion for the joy of life. Traditionally, two days in June, in the picturesque inner courtyard of Konventa Sēta, there is an opportunity to taste many different wines and listen to lovely music. Here, then, are a few shots and observations from it all.
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