In the forests of Latvia

Today is another short stage of the journey. Today, for once, Adrian Stern is shortening my time. Let's see if I can emotionally handle that...

We are going to Sidulga, a town in Latvia, 53 km northeast of Riga on the eastern shore of the Gauja, in the oldest national park in the country. Due to its picturesque landscape, the region is often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland. That's why I have time to visit two tourist attractions.

First, a visit to the Latvian Ballenberg is on the agenda. The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe, is located on the shore of Lake Jugla, just a half-hour drive from the center of Riga. This museum is different from similar museums elsewhere in the world in that the exposition was already established in 1935, before the war ravaged the country, and therefore many objects have been well preserved.

118 old buildings from all historical Latvian regions - Kurzeme, Livland, Semigallia, and Latgale - from the late 17th century to the second half of the 1930s were brought to the museum and installed. The museum is beautifully located in a forest on the lakeshore, and there are also craftsmen in action to be seen. It's worth a visit. However, today there weren't many visitors present, so you could calmly take a look at everything undisturbed.

The second item on the agenda is again a very profound one: The Salaspils Memorial commemorates the victims of Nazi terror from 1941 to 1944. It is located on the site of the former concentration camp. This emotionally impressive ensemble was unveiled in 1967 during the Soviet occupation and naturally reflects the style of that time. It covers an area of 25 hectares. The most moving thing for me was a gigantic metronome that imitates the beat of a heartbeat and can be heard throughout the entire area. It is very touching and also a bit eerie when you enter the area and eventually hear this constant pounding. Spooky! There are hardly any visitors here either. So I can ponder my thoughts.

Afterwards, we continue to the daily destination. For once, I reserved yesterday evening, and it paid off. The place, Lakeside Camping, is fully booked. There is still plenty of space, but the young owner, Arturs, wants to provide his guests with the necessary space and comfort and therefore does not overbook.

I am welcomed very friendly and Arturs explains everything to me, also giving me excursion tips for tomorrow, and then I set up.

There is still time for a little swim in the beautiful lake and then it's time to cook.

For the first time, I also have closer contact that goes beyond a friendly hello. A neighbor noticed that I must come from an exotic country, and soon we are engaged in a cheerful exchange about Latvia, the Baltic States, and Switzerland.

I will definitely stay here for two nights and then see how things go. Time flies by and I keep discovering new things that fascinate me.

Sleep well and don't forget to stay cool. By the way, it's also warm in the Baltic States!