Beach Scenes

Markets

On a Friday Afternoon



On my first Friday afternoon I discovered a half dozen market stalls set up at Rozu Laukums (Rose Square) across the street from the main university building. I thought this chair was beautiful, and it looked quite comfortable. I wanted to try it out but it was occupied...



Kids will be kids, right? Here in nearby Jurmala Park, they're taking turns riding their bikes on a skateboard slope. One older guy was pretty good, while some younger ones wiped out most of the time.

On my first Saturday in town, there was a car rally. People were really excited and this was just the place where the cars got checked in. I hope the rally itself was held out of town! There were scores of cars entered; they filled the adjacent parking lot. I was chased out by a friendly guard who apparently had been told to keep folks away.

This is the one end of Tirgonu Iela (Market St.), the city center pedestrian mall. It comes down to a point at Rose Square. I find the architecture quite charming! There are two of those yellow-and-green buildings although just one is showing here. They are several HUNDRED years old; this plaza used to be the local marketplace.

My First Day

This is Jurmala Park, located just 2 minutes from my apartment. Its west side abuts the beach.



This is a lovely fountain ringed with benches which are very popular with park visitors of all ages.



One morning I had an excellent cup of coffee here - in a ceramic cup and saucer! Very pleasant. The beach is just 2 minutes west.



This was my first view of the Baltic Sea. It was so beautiful it took my breath away!



I'm catching a breeze. Although it was the 3rd week in August, on this late afternoon it was quite chilly!



Well into September, people were still going out for a swim. Back home in North Carolina, you usually do not see people swimming in such rough water (except for the surfers, of course).



This is a beautiful monument of a woman forever looking seaward in search of her lost brother, son, husband or sweetheart.

My neighbor's cat is glad to see me return. She is very inquisitive!

Around Town



This is a typical street in the northern part of Liepaja, along my route when I go to my office/classroom building. This large apartment building was constructed in 1913.



Here's yet another beautiful example of building refurbishment. Notice the avant garde color scheme!

These lovely facade trims have endured.

This is an ice hockey facility, where the official Liepaja city team practices. 

This monument honors those who died during WW II

For hundreds of years a canal has connected the Baltic Sea with an inland lake that borders the east side of Liepaja, all the way from north to south. Two prominent hotels are located here, as well as a Latvian Navy ship I toured as part of a university-sponsored excursion in September.



Pictured here is Libava, a beautiful if small hotel and spa. The building demonstrates typical Latvian architecture of the period.



Here we see an example of post-WW II Soviet era buildings, next to a much older, abandoned building.



I'm told this beer manufacturer may go out of business! Latvian beer is 4.7% (or more) and is sold in 500 mL containers. It goes down very easily.



The world loves basketball! In this new, clean, well-tended neighborhood on the edge of Vecliepaja (Old Liepaja), contemporary houses are clustered.



The detail lavished on woodworking is remarkable!