Liepaja, "The city where the wind is born"

Liepaja from the top of  the
Lutheran cathedral 

Next stop Sweden

 

It was the third time Valerie and I have visited Liepaja, which is the third largest city in Latvia and known as "The city where the wind is born" it is the most westerly city as well. This time we would be going with the teachers from school which always makes for an interesting day.

Having checked the weather forecast and found  it would be "sunny with some clouds" we both took coats which stayed on the bus as it turned out to be a lovely september day, not hot, not cold, just very pleasant.
It was just getting light as we set off at 7am as Liepaja is 239 km from Stelpe and settled in for a good 3 hour coach trip and only stopping once for a comfort break,we found ourselves rolling into the outskirts of the city at just after 10.

The sun was out the air crisp, what delight's would
Liepaja hold for us today??

The first activity of the day was to be a trip around the old town complete with tour guide. Sure enough there she was waiting for us as we all got off the coach, Having said a few introductory words she lead us off at what you could call a brisk pace taking in places of interest  one of which was a gift shop, where one or two things were bought,

Four wheels on my Lada, but no steering wheel
this one's not going far!!

Under renovation one of the city's older properties.

Flowers always brighten the day, one of the
market traders stalls.

St Anna's Lutheran church

another place of interest was the town market , unfortunately we were through it like a dose of salts  so never got to see  very much. Then  back to  our coach, which then took us to a very nice park where there was a fascinating "tree"

The tree of ghosts, made from 4000 steel rods in memory of
the rock band "Livi" One can sit and listen to some of their
songs

Liepaja's long sandy beach where it is still possible to find
pieces of amber along the waters edge. 

 then off to a  pathway that  led down onto the beach where we enjoyed a lovely stroll before taking a look at a monument erected in memory of a US military airplane which was shot down in 1950 during the cold war years.  After a tour of narrow streets we arrived outside of the cafe where we would have dinner alfresco in the back courtyard, we sat and enjoyed the sunshine while we waited for dinner  to be served.









Lunch over it was back on the coach round a few more narrow streets where we would visit a very interesting house in which there were several artisans working and talking about their particular craft.Liepajas Amatnieku nams (Liepaja craft house)

Craft house,

 In the entrance the first thing you see is a large wooden machine, that has to be a printing press I told Valerie how wrong could I be!! You learn something new every day.

Well it does look a bit like a printing press.

The house was set up to enable traditional crafts to continue, weaving, (both material and willow) ceramics, leather work and many more were being demonstrated, we watched fascinated as new items were produced, I could have stayed much longer but we had an appointment to keep in the cities Lutheran cathedral.

Traditional costumes

Beautiful quilts

Felt pictures

This lady made baskets from willow set on natural wooden
bases of all shapes and sizes. 

 At one time it must have been a splendid sight, built in 1742-58 it has the world's largest mechanical organ which has not been reconstructed.
 we were to be given an informal organ recital after we had looked round the inside of the church, [sorry no photo's allowed],we , well some of us climbed the 55 meter tower which was an adventure in it's self,  but well worth the effort as there were  splendid views over the city. we then had to get down the stairs,  mmm !!!, quite a slow and careful job ,, we then got settled into the not too comfortable pews then our recital began, to hear such a splendid instrument put through it's paces was an amazing experience from the highest to the lowest notes which vibrated throughout the building one could feel the power produced by the organist who we were able to visit at the organ console, some of our party were bold enough even to try playing a few notes. I was content to leave it to the master.

This was nothing!!  there was more to come.
Onwards and upwards,it will be worth it
when we get to the top.

A pause for breath as I take a look at the clock 

So this is how they drive the four faces of the clock.

After the church  the next "port of call", was Karosta (war port) which now joins Liepaja  this was once home to the Soviet's major naval base in the baltic region and we drove through what once was the home to up to 30,000 naval personnel and their  families one could only guess at what life was like for Latvian families who lived anywhere near by and reflect upon the sheltered upbringing those of my generation had.

An easy stroll before the journey home

The beach at Karosta, it seemed a little strange as in the
trees that backed the beach were the remains of what
was once a huge navel base.

 Our last stop was a car park which was the start of the northern breakwater which is 1800 meters long and while some of our party were prepared to walk out to the end Valerie and I decided we had had enough exercise for the day and stayed close to the coach,  enjoying the view of the beach, sun and sea,   and the a little stroll along the breakwater, but not too far .










Oh yes the printing press turned out to be a communal laundry press most large villages had one somewhere, ladies would bring sheets, blankets and towels  to press, and gossip no doubt. How wrong can you be!!

Go on Valerie put you back into it!!!