Blogs from Zemgale Region, Latvia, Europe

After an early breakfast, I rushed to the supermarket in order to buy some lunch and then made my way, with my luggage, to the waiting coach. An hour after leaving, the bus pulled into Rundales Palace, last used by the Soviets as offices. It was built between 1736 and 1740 as a summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland, one of whose descendants was Gaston Palewski (of Nancy Mitford fame). After viewing the house, with its interesting variations in decorations, I took lunch in the garden before getting back to the bus ... and Lithuania.... read more

I will try any ethnic food and drinks. I love the whole experience! In Riga I tried kvas...good, interesting flavor only slightly similar to American beer but sweeter and not alcoholic. Today I tried barzu zalu, a fermented drink made from birch. It was great. The brown lump in my cup is a piece of birch wood in the drink. I love these experiences!... read more