tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71984171049619510262024-03-13T22:45:43.094+02:00Adventures in LatviaI wanted to document my adventures over the next year for friends and family as I live and research as a Fulbright Fellow in Riga, Latvia.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-83520093856283501232008-09-24T01:47:00.004+03:002008-10-07T06:21:26.466+03:00EpilogueI arrived safely back in the US on July 25 (the same day I left Latvia). The airline didn't even charge me for my overweight luggage even though one suitcase was 10 kilos over! Which was great because I had spent all of my money on books and souvenirs.<br /><br />I just wanted to write one last blog post thanking all of my devoted readers who have read my blog to see what I have been up over the past year. I was truly an amazing experience and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to learn more about my most favorite country in the world. I am leaving Latvia to start my PhD at the University of Kansas this fall so its onward to different things while hoping that someday I will get to return to this amazing country.<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading about all of my Adventures in Latvia!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SNlyWwSHbMI/AAAAAAAAA68/zXPAVSJgIHk/s1600-h/Lawrence,+KS+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SNlyWwSHbMI/AAAAAAAAA68/zXPAVSJgIHk/s320/Lawrence,+KS+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249352575920598210" border="0" /></a>One last photo of me at the University of Kansas (or KU as everyone around here likes to call it).Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-1766796473442775892008-07-24T06:20:00.000+03:002008-07-28T06:50:18.680+03:00My Last DayI had a really crazy last day in Latvia..but I guess that kind of symbolizes my whole year in there, running around trying to take advantage of every opportunity with my research and cultural events.<br /><br />First I went to an exhibit on Latvian Folk Costumes at the Railway Museum. It cost three lats (around $6.50) which is quite expensive for a museum in Latvia but in the end it was totally worth it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08mVPTeZI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Ibish-Xbifs/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08mVPTeZI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Ibish-Xbifs/s320/Latvia..the+end+046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227901371681044882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08mslb4pI/AAAAAAAAA5c/vb05Gm4ZUiY/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08mslb4pI/AAAAAAAAA5c/vb05Gm4ZUiY/s320/Latvia..the+end+049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227901377947886226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08my2PK3I/AAAAAAAAA5k/A5x3vf9dPBA/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08my2PK3I/AAAAAAAAA5k/A5x3vf9dPBA/s320/Latvia..the+end+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227901379628968818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08nDHVmFI/AAAAAAAAA5s/IGwCfnksGkI/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI08nDHVmFI/AAAAAAAAA5s/IGwCfnksGkI/s320/Latvia..the+end+058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227901383995660370" border="0" /></a>Then I went souvenir shopping and took advantage of my last opportunity to take my photo at one of my favorite places in Latvia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09VYQW31I/AAAAAAAAA50/jOJGVBkhwGs/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09VYQW31I/AAAAAAAAA50/jOJGVBkhwGs/s320/Latvia..the+end+063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227902179944619858" border="0" /></a>After that I headed to Jelgava to see my two favorite Latvian Bands play.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09Vn2l-AI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZNwnScPuqk4/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09Vn2l-AI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZNwnScPuqk4/s320/Latvia..the+end+068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227902184131524610" border="0" /></a>The concert was across the river from the Duke of Courland's palace..you can see it in the background behind the stage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09Vqf1uhI/AAAAAAAAA6E/MizMUlPdPAU/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09Vqf1uhI/AAAAAAAAA6E/MizMUlPdPAU/s320/Latvia..the+end+071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227902184841394706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09V01x40I/AAAAAAAAA6M/wcxzKuaJstY/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI09V01x40I/AAAAAAAAA6M/wcxzKuaJstY/s320/Latvia..the+end+078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227902187617772354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-728Z6-I/AAAAAAAAA6k/1--Mfewitzw/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-728Z6-I/AAAAAAAAA6k/1--Mfewitzw/s320/Latvia..the+end+085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227903940529089506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-8L0RtbI/AAAAAAAAA6s/wD-j5mBg2Yo/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-8L0RtbI/AAAAAAAAA6s/wD-j5mBg2Yo/s320/Latvia..the+end+081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227903946132141490" border="0" /></a>Me at the concert.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-8gbdq4I/AAAAAAAAA60/tdwRKW5FPBo/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI0-8gbdq4I/AAAAAAAAA60/tdwRKW5FPBo/s320/Latvia..the+end+092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227903951665212290" border="0" /></a>The concert was really me coming full circle with Latvia. I went to a concert of Prata Vetra or Brainstorm in 2005. At that time I didn't really know who they were and my Latvian wasn't very good so I couldn't really understand the words. When I went this year not only did I know many of their songs, I could understand all the words and the meanings of the songs. This concert was truly the best way to end my year in Latvia.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-90399739993920918142008-07-23T06:07:00.000+03:002008-07-28T06:50:58.838+03:00Little Goodbyes...I had the brilliant idea to say goodbye to all my friends separately instead of having a party or something before I left. I thought it would be more personable and a better way to say goodbye to everyone. Instead it was actually kind of stressful to try and meet with everyone and finish up research and interviews in my last two weeks. But it was still great to say goodbye to all the friends, new and old, who made my year in Latvia great. Here are just some of my great friends who I will miss tremendously and look forward to seeing again, no matter where in the world they live!<br /><br />Kathrin, Kristina, Monika and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05_eMij_I/AAAAAAAAA5E/8nVsAe7uwiI/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05_eMij_I/AAAAAAAAA5E/8nVsAe7uwiI/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898505047216114" border="0" /></a>The girls from my Latvian language class and a few more friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05_9XcxZI/AAAAAAAAA5M/rS1uXXPzDow/s1600-h/Uli+and+Song+Festival+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05_9XcxZI/AAAAAAAAA5M/rS1uXXPzDow/s320/Uli+and+Song+Festival+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898513414473106" border="0" /></a>Mara and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mFvzIJI/AAAAAAAAA4s/AdvjuKka4mg/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mFvzIJI/AAAAAAAAA4s/AdvjuKka4mg/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898068987486354" border="0" /></a>My Latvian teacher and fellow Latvian classmate<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mbfQynI/AAAAAAAAA40/JOA9GULwULo/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mbfQynI/AAAAAAAAA40/JOA9GULwULo/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898074823707250" border="0" /></a>Fellow Fulbrighter Tim<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mUUfOlI/AAAAAAAAA48/Sb2ixdi-tr8/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05mUUfOlI/AAAAAAAAA48/Sb2ixdi-tr8/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898072899467858" border="0" /></a>Kathrin and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05ZDb2RPI/AAAAAAAAA4M/eM2qEr4Kb8E/s1600-h/Kathrine+and+I.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05ZDb2RPI/AAAAAAAAA4M/eM2qEr4Kb8E/s320/Kathrine+and+I.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227897845028635890" border="0" /></a>Britta and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05Zf8IhqI/AAAAAAAAA4U/7Ssh3si5PHU/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05Zf8IhqI/AAAAAAAAA4U/7Ssh3si5PHU/s320/Latvia..the+end+095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227897852680242850" border="0" /></a>Zanda, Amanda and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05Zj45SqI/AAAAAAAAA4c/Unh8ebUsCNQ/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05Zj45SqI/AAAAAAAAA4c/Unh8ebUsCNQ/s320/Latvia..the+end+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227897853740403362" border="0" /></a>My work colleague Martiņš<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05ZxP0BnI/AAAAAAAAA4k/TbMEWPh4uOg/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI05ZxP0BnI/AAAAAAAAA4k/TbMEWPh4uOg/s320/Latvia..the+end+067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227897857326188146" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-46516288999443972122008-07-20T05:42:00.002+03:002008-07-28T06:07:31.028+03:00Early Music FestivalToday I traveled almost the length of Latvia. I went north to Limbaži, well actually Lēdurga for an interview (for my research) and then went to Rundale Palace near Bauska in the south for the Early Music Festival. It was a long but eventful day.<br /><br />Once again at Rundale Palace<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008MNFUcI/AAAAAAAAA3c/KO2AxyO-yb0/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008MNFUcI/AAAAAAAAA3c/KO2AxyO-yb0/s320/Latvia..the+end+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227892951119909314" border="0" /></a>Latin American Baroque Music Concert in the White Ballroom of the palace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008Nu8KhI/AAAAAAAAA3k/HgKYczIIP08/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008Nu8KhI/AAAAAAAAA3k/HgKYczIIP08/s320/Latvia..the+end+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227892951530351122" border="0" /></a>Then we went outside for the final concert in the garden and it was raining so they handed us ponchos! Even President Zatlers who sat behind us watched the performance in the rain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008aPL-hI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Yt4xlUwo254/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008aPL-hI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Yt4xlUwo254/s320/Latvia..the+end+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227892954886830610" border="0" /></a>The final concert with baroque music and dancers. But what happens when dancers try to dance on a wet stage? There were lost of falls and stumbles which at first was kind of funny but then I just felt bad. Luckily no one turned an ankle and the audience was very supportive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008iwjEYI/AAAAAAAAA30/ArViY_VUM9w/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI008iwjEYI/AAAAAAAAA30/ArViY_VUM9w/s320/Latvia..the+end+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227892957174239618" border="0" /></a>No this is not a forest fire....its just fireworks in the rain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI03EqmlzZI/AAAAAAAAA4E/650VxXXPfgo/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI03EqmlzZI/AAAAAAAAA4E/650VxXXPfgo/s320/Latvia..the+end+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227895295742168466" border="0" /></a>The back of the palace light up because of the fireworks..you can see everyone in their fashionable ponchos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI03EDf6DtI/AAAAAAAAA38/LteYeD3Qrrs/s1600-h/Latvia..the+end+043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SI03EDf6DtI/AAAAAAAAA38/LteYeD3Qrrs/s320/Latvia..the+end+043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227895285245152978" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-3891066956174527752008-07-19T19:58:00.004+03:002008-07-19T20:14:40.347+03:00CinevillaToday I went with the embassy people to Cinevilla....or the Hollywood of Latvia. Basically its a city set that they built for the filming of the "Defenders of Riga" the biggest budget Hollywood like film in Latvian history. It was very interesting to see and definitely something I could never have done by myself (it was in the middle of no where 5 km down a dirt road). They let you walk around the set and even dress up in period costumes. Now after seeing the set I feel like I should go see the movie again (especially since they have it with English subtitles) but unfortunately I probably will not have time before I leave. Here are the photos from my adventures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIf16brEnI/AAAAAAAAA3U/33SuCzJggzE/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIf16brEnI/AAAAAAAAA3U/33SuCzJggzE/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773528782049906" border="0" /></a>This bridge actually only goes half way and is made of wood and mostly plastic which is why I didn't venture further out on to it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIfe9qFecI/AAAAAAAAA2s/sQIjnpr9qgs/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIfe9qFecI/AAAAAAAAA2s/sQIjnpr9qgs/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773134510815682" border="0" /></a>The church where a key fighting scene in the movie took place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffMkarcI/AAAAAAAAA20/FlVbIxFIcHk/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffMkarcI/AAAAAAAAA20/FlVbIxFIcHk/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773138513571266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffZohb5I/AAAAAAAAA28/0tEtkweUvGc/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffZohb5I/AAAAAAAAA28/0tEtkweUvGc/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773142020452242" border="0" /></a>The entrance to the bar in the movie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffoTfBDI/AAAAAAAAA3E/O4zG6OjRfMk/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffoTfBDI/AAAAAAAAA3E/O4zG6OjRfMk/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773145958745138" border="0" /></a>Me in old town..with German writing in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffpfOTpI/AAAAAAAAA3M/eGY5rMBWLrU/s1600-h/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SIIffpfOTpI/AAAAAAAAA3M/eGY5rMBWLrU/s320/Cinnavilla+and+goodbyes+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224773146276417170" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-31831610961487075712008-07-16T21:50:00.004+03:002008-07-16T22:09:35.308+03:00The AcademyMany of the capital cities in Eastern Europe have a very ugly remnant of communist times, some people call it Stalin's birthday cake, others call an eyesore or even the Kremlin. The Latvian Academy of Sciences Building which according to Wikipedia was a gift from the workers and peasants of the other Soviet republics to the Latvian people to mark the borders of Stalin's empire, is a constant reminder to many of the fifty years of Soviet Occupation. I had an interview for my research in this building today, which houses the foremost Latvian academics and scientists. The epitome of Soviet Architecture, you can still see hammer and sickles on it, has seventeen floors and an excellent observation deck but only one elevator (I was told later that they had two but maybe the other one was not working). Does anyone else find that ironic that this is supposed to represent Stalin and the power of the USSR but yet they only thought to have two elevators? Granted the building was built in the 50's but still it just goes to show you the lack of planning and thought that actually went into these gifts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5HTDzymOI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Xnvumko6IGc/s1600-h/Mo%C5%A1kaka+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5HTDzymOI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Xnvumko6IGc/s320/Mo%C5%A1kaka+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223691010561972450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzEIEwQI/AAAAAAAAA1w/O9kL6UW2i0g/s1600-h/Mo%C5%A1kaka+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzEIEwQI/AAAAAAAAA1w/O9kL6UW2i0g/s320/Mo%C5%A1kaka+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223688261867979010" border="0" /></a><br />I thought after my interview I would go up and see if the door was open to the observation deck. I got some lovely pictures from the top and superseded the ticket counter by looking like I belonged there (which I guess I actually did) and acting like I knew where I was going.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzJfnBdI/AAAAAAAAA14/yIg848N5KmQ/s1600-h/Mo%C5%A1kaka+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzJfnBdI/AAAAAAAAA14/yIg848N5KmQ/s320/Mo%C5%A1kaka+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223688263308871122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzV8IX-I/AAAAAAAAA2A/WPtd2K94Rbc/s1600-h/Mo%C5%A1kaka+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SH5EzV8IX-I/AAAAAAAAA2A/WPtd2K94Rbc/s320/Mo%C5%A1kaka+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223688266649722850" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-77645439167251934162008-07-13T13:37:00.008+03:002008-07-13T19:32:21.332+03:00Dziesmu SvētkiAlthough my fellowship was only for 10 months I decided to stay an extra month for the biggest event of the year, The Latvian Song and Dance Festival. I call it the Olympics of Latvian folk dancing and singing because it happens every five years and it brings the best Latvian singers and dancers from all over Latvia and the world to participate. Although there really isn't a first prize it is still amazing to see just how many participants there are. According to the Song Festival website over 35 000 participants gathered in Riga for the XXIV Song and XIV Dance Celebration in 2008. The tradition goes back for 135 years and in 2003 it was recorded in the UNESCO list of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.<br />I stood in line for more than four hours to get tickets to the closing concert for singing and dancing and it was worth every second. Also I was lucky enough to get my ticket situation fixed on my flight from Madrid so I made it just in time to see these concerts and the end of the week long festival. I went to the Closing Dance Concert on Friday night where over 13,000 dancers performed folk dances while forming ethnographic patterns. It was truly amazing and something that, as a retired Latvian folk dancer, was very cool to see. Then on Saturday night I went to the closing concert for the singing portion and final concert for the festival where there was both singing and dancing. There were over 12,000 singers, almost 1,000 dancers and even more people in the audience. After the encores and the end of the actual program the festival went into a sing along where people sang songs and danced until dawn! It was one of those moments in life that I will remember forever. Here are some of the pictures to show you just how huge it really was.<br /><br />The market in one of the parks with the list of events.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhs0ICNSI/AAAAAAAAAzw/GJbVmkgOL40/s1600-h/Spain+175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhs0ICNSI/AAAAAAAAAzw/GJbVmkgOL40/s320/Spain+175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222453402935637282" border="0" /></a>Another market<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhtCIPwqI/AAAAAAAAAz4/p0yV0g2NFVA/s1600-h/Spain+180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhtCIPwqI/AAAAAAAAAz4/p0yV0g2NFVA/s320/Spain+180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222453406694621858" border="0" /></a>The big wind orchestra pavilion in Dome Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhtVTwPNI/AAAAAAAAA0A/l6fh5qiS59Q/s1600-h/Spain+181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnhtVTwPNI/AAAAAAAAA0A/l6fh5qiS59Q/s320/Spain+181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222453411843161298" border="0" /></a>The Closing Dance Concert<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnikn5hH5I/AAAAAAAAA0I/Vw3u1YL3zIg/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnikn5hH5I/AAAAAAAAA0I/Vw3u1YL3zIg/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222454361726197650" border="0" /></a>The stadium seating where you could actually see the formations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHot1ugZs_I/AAAAAAAAA1g/cosiN8R_ICc/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHot1ugZs_I/AAAAAAAAA1g/cosiN8R_ICc/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222537118929761266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnjgLtkt2I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/1YSEeHcezoo/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnjgLtkt2I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/1YSEeHcezoo/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222455384952059746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnjgJ7lGyI/AAAAAAAAA0g/WFTYFnlUlos/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnjgJ7lGyI/AAAAAAAAA0g/WFTYFnlUlos/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222455384473934626" border="0" /></a>The closing ceremony for the entire song festival in Mežparks<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkU7rJeeI/AAAAAAAAA0o/UND6dWdGMbo/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkU7rJeeI/AAAAAAAAA0o/UND6dWdGMbo/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222456291179985378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkU1vorTI/AAAAAAAAA0w/bi2Rj1hQx3A/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkU1vorTI/AAAAAAAAA0w/bi2Rj1hQx3A/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222456289588194610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkVBuyz9I/AAAAAAAAA04/C0s8VWJtoRY/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkVBuyz9I/AAAAAAAAA04/C0s8VWJtoRY/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222456292805890002" border="0" /></a>Monika and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkVEKElbI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Y6LOnGWphP4/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnkVEKElbI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Y6LOnGWphP4/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222456293457171890" border="0" /></a>Me and the stadium<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlE-c_0UI/AAAAAAAAA1I/TK2tfELukus/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlE-c_0UI/AAAAAAAAA1I/TK2tfELukus/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222457116559659330" border="0" /></a>The view from the top<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlFDdrMbI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/GIKWPR4DzDM/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlFDdrMbI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/GIKWPR4DzDM/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222457117904679346" border="0" /></a>Monika and I showing that songs are strength as the sign says.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlFaJO_dI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/N10IQ8im58U/s1600-h/Dziesmu+Svetki+073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHnlFaJO_dI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/N10IQ8im58U/s320/Dziesmu+Svetki+073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222457123992960466" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-77090002588345232752008-07-08T15:54:00.002+03:002008-07-11T16:11:23.445+03:00Holy Toledo!I saw a Rick Steve's episode about this city and always wanted to go, so when I found out that I would be able to take a day trip there I was so excited. It was only 30 mins on a high speed train from Madrid and well worth the visit! They call it the city of three cultures because there are mosques, synagogues and churches there, remnants from the three religions that have been practiced in this city at one time or another throughout its long history. Here are the photos to show you how beautiful it was.<br /><br />The city is surrounded on many parts by the Arab wall and you have to climb up the winding streets to be able to get to the main part of the old city on a hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZInJumtI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TC3_s-LnVCo/s1600-h/Spain+109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZInJumtI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TC3_s-LnVCo/s320/Spain+109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221740297442990802" border="0" /></a>Me and one of the bridges that is still intact.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZIz0g_rI/AAAAAAAAAy4/WyxR1JM1maM/s1600-h/Spain+124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZIz0g_rI/AAAAAAAAAy4/WyxR1JM1maM/s320/Spain+124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221740300843679410" border="0" /></a>An old mosque (now a museum)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZJHbQ36I/AAAAAAAAAzA/j5852pL7t4M/s1600-h/Spain+127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZJHbQ36I/AAAAAAAAAzA/j5852pL7t4M/s320/Spain+127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221740306106474402" border="0" /></a>A cool looking church<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZJKKZJwI/AAAAAAAAAzI/yfdbkwpCra0/s1600-h/Spain+145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdZJKKZJwI/AAAAAAAAAzI/yfdbkwpCra0/s320/Spain+145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221740306841020162" border="0" /></a>Another gate to the city<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbOnnBrSI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/7oacapjhItk/s1600-h/Spain+148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbOnnBrSI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/7oacapjhItk/s320/Spain+148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221742599668346146" border="0" /></a>Me and yet another gate..on a bridge that was never taken.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbOmKGt2I/AAAAAAAAAzY/ptZ48zXwpyc/s1600-h/Spain+154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbOmKGt2I/AAAAAAAAAzY/ptZ48zXwpyc/s320/Spain+154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221742599278606178" border="0" /></a>Me and Toledo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbPHSBfHI/AAAAAAAAAzg/YVlkwuH7SdA/s1600-h/Spain+161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbPHSBfHI/AAAAAAAAAzg/YVlkwuH7SdA/s320/Spain+161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221742608170187890" border="0" /></a>Another view of the city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbPRs28fI/AAAAAAAAAzo/av2HftgGBZE/s1600-h/Spain+163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdbPRs28fI/AAAAAAAAAzo/av2HftgGBZE/s320/Spain+163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221742610967097842" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-36463519730992127732008-07-05T15:30:00.006+03:002008-07-13T13:34:36.329+03:00MadridIn addition to attending the conference I got to take in some of the sights! Even though it was very very very hot, sunny and humid, I braved the conditions to see Madrid and some great art museums. I even learned that Spanish women really do use those fans to cool themselves on hot summer days. Here are the photos from my adventures.<br /><br />Me and the Plaza Mayor (the main touristy I mean town square).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCGDP04I/AAAAAAAAAx4/l9tWDWVBKQ8/s1600-h/Spain+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCGDP04I/AAAAAAAAAx4/l9tWDWVBKQ8/s320/Spain+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221735787431711618" border="0" /></a>The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCIito5I/AAAAAAAAAyA/k63-2-jwsE0/s1600-h/Spain+052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCIito5I/AAAAAAAAAyA/k63-2-jwsE0/s320/Spain+052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221735788100559762" border="0" /></a>Me in the gardens of the palace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCZ7iVOI/AAAAAAAAAyI/-wKKQQJg7_0/s1600-h/Spain+060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdVCZ7iVOI/AAAAAAAAAyI/-wKKQQJg7_0/s320/Spain+060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221735792768079074" border="0" /></a>Close up at the Parque del Retiro (I wanted to jump in the pond I was so hot)!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdWO4qTofI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8lbOg2HTORo/s1600-h/Spain+097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdWO4qTofI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8lbOg2HTORo/s320/Spain+097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221737106687369714" border="0" /></a>Me and the Madrid Gay Pride Parade 2008 (I just followed the music and happened upon it).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdW0yvWLlI/AAAAAAAAAyo/437czvPtKsU/s1600-h/Spain+092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdW0yvWLlI/AAAAAAAAAyo/437czvPtKsU/s320/Spain+092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221737757932924498" border="0" /></a><br />El Rastro, the street market with lots of bargains every Sunday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdWPXDUC9I/AAAAAAAAAyg/evcTzqEkhdw/s1600-h/Spain+104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdWPXDUC9I/AAAAAAAAAyg/evcTzqEkhdw/s320/Spain+104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221737114845318098" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-6037505886407473252008-07-04T15:13:00.000+03:002008-07-11T15:32:11.506+03:00Women's WorldI was lucky enough to secure funding to attend the largest Women's Studies Conference in the world (3,500 people) called Women's Worlds/Mundos de Mujeres 2008 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. I learned a lot about the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies, presented my final paper research for my Fulbright, and got to meet feminist academics from the states and around the world. It was really a great opportunity for me and great closure to my year long research project.<br /><br />The opening ceremony of the concert with traditional Spanish music.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREAmHt_I/AAAAAAAAAxY/RjJQ8XnAgGo/s1600-h/Spain+073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREAmHt_I/AAAAAAAAAxY/RjJQ8XnAgGo/s320/Spain+073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221731422280595442" border="0" /></a>A panel about human trafficking and prostitution.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREA9xlcI/AAAAAAAAAxg/AOqjrK9wrrI/s1600-h/Spain+078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREA9xlcI/AAAAAAAAAxg/AOqjrK9wrrI/s320/Spain+078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221731422379808194" border="0" /></a>Me and the slogan for the conference.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREYcqhKI/AAAAAAAAAxo/Kds_pVxzTEw/s1600-h/Spain+107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdREYcqhKI/AAAAAAAAAxo/Kds_pVxzTEw/s320/Spain+107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221731428683383970" border="0" /></a>The closing ceremony in the botanical gardens of the university.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdRErfleLI/AAAAAAAAAxw/l5X3i7980H0/s1600-h/Spain+172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SHdRErfleLI/AAAAAAAAAxw/l5X3i7980H0/s320/Spain+172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221731433795909810" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-88929644978415416432008-06-28T09:42:00.001+03:002008-07-01T09:55:07.330+03:00Independence Day.......American StyleI heard the entire year about the US Embassy's legendary Independence Day bash and I was very happy that it was scheduled for the end of June instead of actually on July 4th (because I will be in Spain then). It did live up to its reputation of free food, beer and a huge American birthday cake! There was McDonald's and gourmet hot dogs from the Raddisson hotel..but the longest line was not for American food but for šašliks, a skewered meat on a stick that is originally from the Caucuses but really popular in Latvia. It was such a huge event that I think I also saw almost every American I know living in Latvia so it was a great time to catch up with everyone before I leave. I also talked briefly with the US Ambassador who mentioned that he enjoyed reading my blog, so I guess I do have a dedicated (and famous) readership after all!<br /><br />Happy Birthday America!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTZEYTUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/BH9kgJivmQM/s1600-h/Fourth+of+July+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTZEYTUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/BH9kgJivmQM/s320/Fourth+of+July+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217932873874033986" border="0" /></a>The Ambassador giving his Independence Day speech.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTWm4wzI/AAAAAAAAAxI/EmNPlMxIRzk/s1600-h/Fourth+of+July+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTWm4wzI/AAAAAAAAAxI/EmNPlMxIRzk/s320/Fourth+of+July+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217932873213461298" border="0" /></a>A balloon display that spelled out USA (if you can see it through the other person who was taking a photo).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTpjE7TI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/s4fF9pg2Z4k/s1600-h/Fourth+of+July+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGnSTpjE7TI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/s4fF9pg2Z4k/s320/Fourth+of+July+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217932878297754930" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-58862100772252860222008-06-26T10:59:00.002+03:002008-06-28T11:06:20.147+03:00Strategic DaysRight after my family left I went on a Strategic planning Retreat with my Marta Centre colleagues as a kind of a last hurrah before I leave to return to the states. It was in a very beautiful location on the Daugava River and nice to spend some time and relax with everyone before I had to say goodbye.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXv_pRGx2I/AAAAAAAAAwo/BAxzYniAyJI/s1600-h/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXv_pRGx2I/AAAAAAAAAwo/BAxzYniAyJI/s320/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216839620066985826" border="0" /></a>Lolita, Lena two of my colleagues and me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXv_jwVyjI/AAAAAAAAAww/1j4A55TMp0I/s1600-h/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXv_jwVyjI/AAAAAAAAAww/1j4A55TMp0I/s320/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216839618587380274" border="0" /></a>Zanda and me (looking very tall!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXwAC6ZijI/AAAAAAAAAw4/kRrHxRo0hYk/s1600-h/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXwAC6ZijI/AAAAAAAAAw4/kRrHxRo0hYk/s320/Brivibas+and+Marta+Centre+retreat+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216839626951068210" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-14669228211741032962008-06-24T10:42:00.000+03:002008-06-28T10:52:05.265+03:00JaņiJāņi is a Latvian festival held in the night from 23 June to 24 June to celebrate the summer solstice, the shortest night and longest day of the year. The day of Līgo (23 June) and the day of Jāņi (24 June) are public holidays in Latvia, people usually spend them in the countryside and Riga is empty. We decided to go to the seaside with a couple of my friends to check out the festivities there.<br /><br />My sister and I and the beautiful sunset.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXsj_W8TVI/AAAAAAAAAvw/UvimijQRPM0/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXsj_W8TVI/AAAAAAAAAvw/UvimijQRPM0/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216835846425824594" border="0" /></a>Lighting the fire<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXskGMbbyI/AAAAAAAAAv4/9yItsOJfjjg/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXskGMbbyI/AAAAAAAAAv4/9yItsOJfjjg/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216835848260775714" border="0" /></a>People jumping over the fire which traditionally people jump over to ensure prosperity and fertility.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXskKy79VI/AAAAAAAAAwA/rCRDZVyWRNw/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXskKy79VI/AAAAAAAAAwA/rCRDZVyWRNw/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216835849496032594" border="0" /></a>My friend Kristina and I and lots of smoke!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXtHLu5v-I/AAAAAAAAAwI/Q7_0jdHbcMU/s1600-h/Helsinki,_Tallinn_and_Riga_114%5B1%5D"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXtHLu5v-I/AAAAAAAAAwI/Q7_0jdHbcMU/s320/Helsinki,_Tallinn_and_Riga_114%5B1%5D" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216836451042967522" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-4978029902100444942008-06-22T10:52:00.005+03:002008-06-28T10:59:41.948+03:00Eugene OneginI took my mom and sister to see an opera of one of my most favorite Russian Stories (title above) by Alexander Puskin the Shakespeare of Russia. The opera was in Russian instead of Italian but they had both Latvian and English descriptions of the sings which made it much easier to understand. We drank Rigas Champagne and hung out on the balcony of the National Opera. It was all very glamorous!<br /><br />My sister, my friend Jill and I with the Brivibas Monument in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu44KpYKI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/DZwW4tzFi-g/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu44KpYKI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/DZwW4tzFi-g/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216838404295712930" border="0" /></a>My sister and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu5AqESlI/AAAAAAAAAwY/0zWONS_sMF0/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu5AqESlI/AAAAAAAAAwY/0zWONS_sMF0/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216838406574983762" border="0" /></a>Me and the inside of the Opera.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu5PT5COI/AAAAAAAAAwg/Wq4fosgfr6A/s1600-h/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXu5PT5COI/AAAAAAAAAwg/Wq4fosgfr6A/s320/Opera+and+Ja%C5%86i+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216838410508503266" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-20658028109316106032008-06-21T10:17:00.001+03:002008-06-28T10:38:20.999+03:00Road TripAmericans are really obsessed with palaces and castles. I think this is because we really don't have them and maybe because they are the quintessential sign of Europe. In order to fill my family's quota of necessary castles for the trip we rented a car and set off for the Latvian countryside. We visited Rundale Palace, constructed in the 1730s by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeo_Rastrelli" class="mw-redirect" title="Bartolomeo Rastrelli">Bartolomeo Rastrelli</a> (the same person who designed the Winter Palace in Russia) as a summer residence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Johann_von_Biron" title="Ernst Johann von Biron">Ernst Johann von Biron</a>, the duke of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courland" title="Courland">Courland</a>. Then we went to Mežotne, built in 1797 as a gift from Russian Empress Catherine II to Charlotte von Liven, the tutor of her grandchildren. After that we went to Lithuania to see the Hill of Crosses, known as the Mecca of Lithuania, a pilgrimage site for catholics from all over the world, even Pope John Paul II visited here. After that we headed back to Latvia to see the Jelgava Palace, also by Rastrelli, which was the Duke of Courland's official residence. Here are the photos.....<br /><br />My Mom, Sister and I at Rundale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXosmV1BWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/-ffrJvhiMAA/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXosmV1BWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/-ffrJvhiMAA/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216831596282578274" border="0" /></a>The gardens<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXos7iQFqI/AAAAAAAAAug/IlbD87SqXQM/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXos7iQFqI/AAAAAAAAAug/IlbD87SqXQM/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216831601971828386" border="0" /></a>Mežotne<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXos5tNwdI/AAAAAAAAAuo/dnaHeE1xsiI/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXos5tNwdI/AAAAAAAAAuo/dnaHeE1xsiI/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216831601480942034" border="0" /></a>The Hill of Crosses<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXotI5rStI/AAAAAAAAAuw/PHsH2pa-BDU/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXotI5rStI/AAAAAAAAAuw/PHsH2pa-BDU/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216831605559741138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXotTpkB1I/AAAAAAAAAu4/iXP7LJLMFwo/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXotTpkB1I/AAAAAAAAAu4/iXP7LJLMFwo/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216831608444946258" border="0" /></a>The church next to the Hill of Crosses where the altar piece is a view of the hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxjOcZDI/AAAAAAAAAvA/azJWvcJ1Iz4/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxjOcZDI/AAAAAAAAAvA/azJWvcJ1Iz4/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216832780857271346" border="0" /></a>The Latvian border and as always happy to be back in Latvia!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxmL6jMI/AAAAAAAAAvI/DIG3JBBXt7Y/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxmL6jMI/AAAAAAAAAvI/DIG3JBBXt7Y/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216832781651971266" border="0" /></a>Jelgava Palace<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxjGySiI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/-SqKI0_Tz14/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpxjGySiI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/-SqKI0_Tz14/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216832780825152034" border="0" /></a>My friend Monika and I..and the Riga sign.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpx41mfWI/AAAAAAAAAvY/2Rd_1DmSWkk/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXpx41mfWI/AAAAAAAAAvY/2Rd_1DmSWkk/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216832786658655586" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-43315719921313727952008-06-20T10:38:00.000+03:002008-06-28T10:42:15.410+03:00Jaņi MarketOn the Friday before Jaņi (Midsummers Eve) there is a green market in Dome Square where you can buy handicrafts and flowers from all over Latvia. I took my Mom and Sister and thank goodness we got to visit it before it started raining! <br /><br />Dome Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXqr-V9IWI/AAAAAAAAAvg/lRstbgkLCro/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXqr-V9IWI/AAAAAAAAAvg/lRstbgkLCro/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216833784568947042" border="0" /></a>There is always signing in Latvia!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXqsMxFhyI/AAAAAAAAAvo/LK33yyF4eG4/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXqsMxFhyI/AAAAAAAAAvo/LK33yyF4eG4/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216833788440839970" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-10572264565947318092008-06-19T10:03:00.000+03:002008-06-28T10:17:30.733+03:00Gender EqualityUpon arrival in Riga, after a long a stressful journey, we went to the Gender Equality Award Ceremony. This award is sponsored by Marta Centre, the women's centre where I have volunteered all year, and the coalition of Latvian Women's NGOs. It is given to politicians, the media and other public figures who have worked for gender equality in Latvia over the past year. The symbol for the award (you can see it in the background) is a triangle with pink and blue lines trying to balance on it. This symbolizes the struggle and need for balance with respect to gender equality.<br /><br />My boss giving a speech<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXjD6tZ3ZI/AAAAAAAAAuA/GYAz3ZSARGI/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXjD6tZ3ZI/AAAAAAAAAuA/GYAz3ZSARGI/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216825399817395602" border="0" /></a>The winners in the rocking chairs before they were rocked back and forth!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXjEetVVnI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/er-_fICxxcE/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXjEetVVnI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/er-_fICxxcE/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216825409480775282" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-83913644212693648042008-06-18T09:43:00.000+03:002008-06-28T10:03:34.273+03:00TallinnAfter staying in Helsinki for a night we took the boat back to Tallinn and stayed over night there. The city has changed significantly since I was there in 1999 and the old town was very medieval and touristy. Still it was nice to see just how western things were in this country that has the same history as Latvia. It just shows you what a little help from your Finno-Ugric neighbors can do! Here are some photos....<br /><br />Me in town square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXffBEXZJI/AAAAAAAAAtY/WZsEs4pMPvI/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXffBEXZJI/AAAAAAAAAtY/WZsEs4pMPvI/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216821467334272146" border="0" /></a>The city hall<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXffrZ6tlI/AAAAAAAAAtg/yNTMvLiqJtM/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXffrZ6tlI/AAAAAAAAAtg/yNTMvLiqJtM/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216821478698956370" border="0" /></a>The medieval gates with my mom in the background!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgMfP2CI/AAAAAAAAAto/E35ExqVAUO4/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgMfP2CI/AAAAAAAAAto/E35ExqVAUO4/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216821487579682850" border="0" /></a>The walk to the upper part of old town..reminded of Prague without the people selling things.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgTcN7zI/AAAAAAAAAtw/iav2KKY2e2c/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgTcN7zI/AAAAAAAAAtw/iav2KKY2e2c/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216821489446022962" border="0" /></a>The view from the top of Tallinn.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgrrBajI/AAAAAAAAAt4/qNYPg0qO8KM/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXfgrrBajI/AAAAAAAAAt4/qNYPg0qO8KM/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216821495950567986" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-52746589986410969932008-06-17T09:25:00.003+03:002008-06-28T09:42:57.413+03:00HelsinkiI took a bus to Estonia and then a ferry to Helsinki to meet my mom when she arrived for her visit to Latvia. Her flight ended up being delayed so I got a chance to walk around the city before she arrived. I knew that Finland was part of the Russian Empire but I didn't expect the architecture to remind me so much of St. Petersburg. Here are some the photos of my adventures..before it started down pouring!<br /><br />Me on the boat from Estonia..it was really windy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbzq4Z2cI/AAAAAAAAAtA/tr635K0Jdv4/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbzq4Z2cI/AAAAAAAAAtA/tr635K0Jdv4/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216817424109263298" border="0" /></a>The main town square..eerily reminiscent of St. Petersburg with a statue of Alexander II.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbz3Pc2KI/AAAAAAAAAtI/KZhjH9cMzd0/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbz3Pc2KI/AAAAAAAAAtI/KZhjH9cMzd0/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216817427427154082" border="0" /></a>Me and the Helsinki Cathedral (the city's most famous landmark).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbzRsmWlI/AAAAAAAAAs4/10TjZa8QlUo/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXbzRsmWlI/AAAAAAAAAs4/10TjZa8QlUo/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216817417348864594" border="0" /></a>The Helsinki harbor with an orthodox church in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXb0ZWr8AI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/iraNFlH_nGc/s1600-h/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SGXb0ZWr8AI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/iraNFlH_nGc/s320/Helsinki,+Tallinn+and+Rudale+088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216817436584308738" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-81050978796612557592008-06-16T13:57:00.003+03:002008-06-16T14:06:45.164+03:00LaimaLaima in Latvian mean happiness and I was very happy today because I got to go and get a tour of the Laima Chocolate Factory where they make my favorite chocolate in the world..Laima! It was something I looked forward to all year and definitely lived up to my expectations. Not only did we get as much chocolate as we could eat we but we also got to see where the magic happens and learn about the process. They also gave us cute little Laima bears as a souvenir....<br /><br />The factory was established by some German guy in 1870 and changed its name to Laima in 1921.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIajld4CI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/FPXg2HYE0b4/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIajld4CI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/FPXg2HYE0b4/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212433239794114594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIazP4SdI/AAAAAAAAAsY/EaoJB_DIWe0/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIazP4SdI/AAAAAAAAAsY/EaoJB_DIWe0/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212433243998538194" border="0" /></a>The US Embassy people eating all the chocolate they can!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbLTQTeI/AAAAAAAAAsg/5QtZFPAjyuk/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbLTQTeI/AAAAAAAAAsg/5QtZFPAjyuk/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212433250455145954" border="0" /></a>We weren't supposed to take pictures but I managed to sneak this one of the chocolate coming off the line.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbDUEFCI/AAAAAAAAAso/brwWMGuBXFI/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbDUEFCI/AAAAAAAAAso/brwWMGuBXFI/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212433248311055394" border="0" /></a>We had to wear these fashionable suits during the tour so we wouldn't contaminate the chocolate. Me and a Laima chocolate truck.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbby9diI/AAAAAAAAAsw/0nRa1bNsWk8/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZIbby9diI/AAAAAAAAAsw/0nRa1bNsWk8/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212433254883096098" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-12462104950662298442008-06-15T13:44:00.003+03:002008-06-16T13:57:18.629+03:00Skroderdienas SilmačosTonight I went and saw Skroderdienas Silmačos (Tailor Days in Silmači) a Latvian play about Midsummers Eve or St. John's Day in Latvia. I am happy to report that after almost five years of studying Latvian it is the first Latvian play I have seen or read where no dies and there is a happy ending. In fact normally when the description says comedy I expect it to be depressing and not funny at all. But I was pleasantly surprised not only did it have a happy ending everyone ended up with who they should have...it was great. This play was also quintessentially Latvian with singing, dancing, drinking, and eating. And the best part is I saw it all for less than a the price of a movie ticket at home!<br /><br />The view from my seat<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZGFFPD-7I/AAAAAAAAAsI/S6SLrOTfVtM/s1600-h/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFZGFFPD-7I/AAAAAAAAAsI/S6SLrOTfVtM/s320/Skroderdienas+and+Laima+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212430671846570930" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-3087941333014527962008-06-14T20:18:00.003+03:002008-06-14T21:02:57.535+03:00June 14thToday was one of the Victims of Communism Genocide Memorial Days in Latvia (the other is March 25). On this day in 1941 15,424 deported on were deported to Siberia and other regions of the Soviet Union, of these 46.5 percent were women, and 10 percent were children below the age of 10. While this number might not seem very big to many Americans it was huge for a nation of 2 million people. Additionally, the people that were targeted during this deportation were the intelligentsia and other people considered to be unreliable or dangerous to the totalitarian Communist regime. I went to the Occupation Museum today to take part in the memorial. I was chatting with some of my former colleagues (I worked at the museum in the summer of 2005) in English and this lady came up to us and started telling us that she was deported at the age of 7 to Siberia. She asked my friend to translate and I said I spoke Latvian so she continued telling me her story and how some of her family members didn't survive the deportation. She said that because I was a foreigner it was important for me to understand what the Latvians had gone through. It was really one of those experiences that I will remember for the rest of the my life. Here are the pictures from the memorial day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQG-N1_gzI/AAAAAAAAAro/uWweXD2UETU/s1600-h/June+14th+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQG-N1_gzI/AAAAAAAAAro/uWweXD2UETU/s320/June+14th+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211798334712283954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHAASkmuI/AAAAAAAAArw/yoI_zHJBDoU/s1600-h/June+14th+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHAASkmuI/AAAAAAAAArw/yoI_zHJBDoU/s320/June+14th+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211798365433797346" border="0" /></a>The president's speech<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHARtM1sI/AAAAAAAAAr4/DRlQR6772Rk/s1600-h/June+14th+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHARtM1sI/AAAAAAAAAr4/DRlQR6772Rk/s320/June+14th+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211798370108888770" border="0" /></a>Flower laying<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHAknYnwI/AAAAAAAAAsA/9AjX3yJ9zD0/s1600-h/June+14th+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFQHAknYnwI/AAAAAAAAAsA/9AjX3yJ9zD0/s320/June+14th+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211798375184768770" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-4683462733322305252008-06-11T20:03:00.003+03:002008-06-14T20:17:48.000+03:00New York, New YorkOne of the perks of being a Fulbright is that we get invited to really cool US Embassy events with famous and politically important people. On Wednesday I got to go to the opening of an architectural exhibit on New York. It was especially cool because when I walked in I noticed the person playing the piano was none other than my fellow Fulbrighter Whit. It was really cool to hear him play songs about New York and see all the cool photos.<br /><br />Here he is playing on the piano (my camera was almost out of batteries which is why it is so blurry).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFP7eQ1YZBI/AAAAAAAAArY/hLEtfVXfndg/s1600-h/New+York+Photo+Exhibition+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFP7eQ1YZBI/AAAAAAAAArY/hLEtfVXfndg/s320/New+York+Photo+Exhibition+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211785691131307026" border="0" /></a>The presentation<span><span></span></span> with the photos in the background<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFP7evtyS9I/AAAAAAAAArg/2lBQaTl8VZU/s1600-h/New+York+Photo+Exhibition+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SFP7evtyS9I/AAAAAAAAArg/2lBQaTl8VZU/s320/New+York+Photo+Exhibition+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211785699420949458" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-24988833766406546192008-06-08T22:18:00.003+03:002008-06-08T22:23:32.225+03:00GadatirgusThis weekend at the Ethnographic Museum craftsmen from all over Latvia descended on Riga to sell their the handicrafts and cheap prices. I went on Saturday and didn't have time to see everything so I went again on Sunday. It was great there was Latvian food, singing, dancing and tons and tons of crafts. There were so many that when we tried to find stalls again to go back and but what we wanted we couldn't find them and ended up finding more and more stalls.<br /><br />Here I am in the midst of it all...in Latvian craft heaven!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwxbyP8RyI/AAAAAAAAAq8/Z69DGrnY-UE/s1600-h/Uli+and+Song+Festival+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwxbyP8RyI/AAAAAAAAAq8/Z69DGrnY-UE/s320/Uli+and+Song+Festival+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209593222375687970" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198417104961951026.post-64349675660957257352008-06-06T20:52:00.000+03:002008-06-08T22:17:01.401+03:00TicketsRipe with jet lag, I went the morning after I returned to Latvia to stand in line for Song Festival Tickets. The Song Festival is the culmination of Latvian culture and is a week long festival of singing and dancing. My friends and I went at 8:00 am to stand in line for tickets that went on sale at 11:00...of course the technology here isn't the best so it ended up taking another 1.5 hours to actually get the tickets despite the fact that we were 25th in line. So after 4 and half hours I am now able to attend the closing ceremony of the Latvian Song Festival!<br /><br />Here we are waiting in line<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg13XGEUI/AAAAAAAAAqk/dYMUpYjCrLw/s1600-h/Uli+and+Song+Festival+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg13XGEUI/AAAAAAAAAqk/dYMUpYjCrLw/s320/Uli+and+Song+Festival+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209574978726793538" border="0" /></a>The line at the National Theater<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg2ijutmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/76K9EcIV3vA/s1600-h/Uli+and+Song+Festival+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg2ijutmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/76K9EcIV3vA/s320/Uli+and+Song+Festival+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209574990322513506" border="0" /></a>It was such a big event that the Latvian media came out<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg4HV0aOI/AAAAAAAAAq0/MeK-lK4Q4ys/s1600-h/Uli+and+Song+Festival+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VZzDzNI9Ots/SEwg4HV0aOI/AAAAAAAAAq0/MeK-lK4Q4ys/s320/Uli+and+Song+Festival+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209575017376147682" border="0" /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277537389564175859noreply@blogger.com0