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🍸 What to Drink in the Baltics: A Guide to the History of Baltic Drinks Culture
Vodka Anthropology: Drinking Habits and Traditions Under Soviet Rule in the Baltics I’ve been studying wine & spirits for over a two decades. One of the things I’m most interested in when we travel is what I call cocktail anthropology – what can you learn about a country through their cultural drinking habits and traditions.…
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🏢 Soviet Architecture in the Baltic States: If It’s Ugly, the Soviets Built It
We just returned from a trip to the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There is much to be fascinated by in this corner of the globe, but one thing – instantly and in particular – pulled my focus: Soviet architecture. The ubiquitous, drab, depressing structures that litter the Baltic states. The basic rule…
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📸 🇱🇻 Photo Essay: Latvia
I take a lot of pictures when we travel. A LOT of pictures. Probably approaching an annoying amount of pictures. But when I post them, I try to curate. I choose the top 10-15 photos that represent the day and edit them. Because no one wants to see 113 un-edited vacation photos. No one. After our…
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🍷🇱🇻 What to Drink in Riga: A Sip-by-Sip Guide to Latvian Drinks Culture
I’ve been studying wine and spirits for over two decades. One of the things I’m most interested in when we travel is what I call drinks culture – what can you learn about a country through their cultural drinking habits and traditions. I’ve been known to order several drinks off a menu – just so…
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🇱🇻 🇱🇹 Baltic Road Trip #2: A Castle, a Palace, and a Hill of Crosses
Road trip to Lithuania today. We’re on our way from Riga, Latvia to Vilnius, Latvia. Another new country for all of us! (This brings my country count to 39. Ken is at 34. Not that anyone is keeping track.) Pit Stop First stop – unscheduled – the castle of unknown significance. Our driver said this…
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🇱🇻 Eating Our Way Through Riga: A Latvian Food Tour
Today, we walked through the Riga Central Market on a Latvian food tour with our lovely guide, Ilze. She guided us through the market, gathering up typical Latvian foods for us to try at the end of our tour. The market is fascinating architecturally – it’s housed in five relocated German zeppelin hangars that were…
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🇱🇻 Exploring Riga: Art Nouveau & Soviet Architecture
Exploring Riga today – on a walking tour. I am so freaking cold. All of these Baltic women walking around in furs are starting to look pretty smart. You know what would be really handy? If menopausal women could summon a hot flash on demand. Sidebar: Breakfast fish (Baltic herring) is tough to face first…
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🇪🇪 🇱🇻 Baltic Road Trip: Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia
On the move again today – a Baltic road trip from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia. And another new country for all of us! Weather update: A Last Word on Tallinn I was very impressed with Tallinn. 9/10 – would absolutely recommend/revisit. On the Road – Tallinn to Riga Stopped to stretch our legs in…