The back of things – Riga and the medieval restaurant. Join in with Cee’s challenge for more!
Tankar
WPC: Boundaries
Boundaries – physical or others are essential to mankind and society. On visiting the open air museum in Riga, I found some old beauties – an elegant garden fence and a rustic pigsty fence. I love them both. Join in and let us see your choices!
Thursday Thoughts – A breathofgreenair
I have taken a year off, and tomorrow is, once again, my birthday. So, Time is a tiny bit more on my side this year…even if in fact time is more on the ”running out” side…
Life is difficult, strange and wonderful. You never know what is waiting around the corner – no matter what your plans are. My intention is to use Thursdays for writing down some reflections made the current week…on anything that comes my way. I hope you would like to join me!
A whole year off – or forever? I don’t know anything but the need for slowing down. Maybe searching for the woman I once was… I used to paint and write poetry before the wheel started spinning too fast. Could I find my way back to… anything of what I once was? Maybe i don’t know what I will find. I will know more in August next year.
I read two posts on Seonaid’s blog this morning – breathofgreenair. Her posts always lift my spirits. She has that effect on me (and many others) – It’s the harmony, her way with words…and magical photography.
We met up in August last year, and in August again this year. From the start, I came to see the Tattoo, but deep in my heart I knew that for me, it was mostly to see Seonaid and her family again. To my great joy, she could have us for one day and one night.
Edinburgh is a great city, and I dearly love everything about it. Even in festival times, even if I’m not a real festival person…I used to avoid big happenings like parties and events. Somehow, as years go by, you are more or less forced to get used to them.
An hour or two is great fun, especially as Edinburgh city has got – Harry Potter!
I had two wishes, where the first one was a day out – to some of the beautiful places Seonaid weaves her stories around. Just to feel the atmosphere, letting her words come back to me. My second wish was to meet her lovely dogs again. My Bearded Collie, Amanda, left me in the year 2000, but I will never forget her. She was in colour just like Maisie and Willow. And her coat flying in the wind…
The fresh air against my skin and the joy of the dogs running free with the winds and waves…make me come alive and remembering.
I think we all enjoyed this, and I’m forever grateful to Seonaid and her girls.
It wasn’t that easy to get all three of them in the same picture – but here they are! Maisie, Willow and Molly.
Seonaid told me that on all beaches in Scotland, dogs are allowed to run free anytime of the year! Oh, the joy! In Sweden dogs are only allowed during winter time and for the rest of the year only on special ”dog beaches”.
Just before leaving Scotland, Edinburgh and this lovely family, we made a quick visit to the green oak forest as well. Of course the dogs found their way to cool water. This time floating in a river of sunny spots.
I cannot thank you enough for having us and giving us some of your precious time, Seonaid! I found a piece of my old self again, and I left a piece of my heart with you, your family and Scotland.
CFFC: Sense of Smell
For Cee’s Sense of Smell, coffee would have been my first choice, then flowers and soft rain on leaves…but all of them nicely taken! So…another favourite of mine is this – biking home in late evening through fields full of delicious rolls.
4 Million Books, but…Where are they?
Riga is the capital of Latvia, and situated on the river Daugava. Inhabitants about 707 000, a third of the country’s total. Riga is also the biggest city in the Baltic area. Together with Umeå in Sweden it was the 2014 European Capital of Culture. More: USA Today’s readers voted Riga as Europe’s most attractive city and CNN Travel and Lonely Planet also give their praise to the city.
We visited for three days and fell in love with the mix of green areas, old and new, worn, dilapidated, beautiful houses, Russian style ”boxes”, the massive Jugend areas and the restored gems. And the people. The span is refreshing and we enjoyed every minute.
One of the newest buildings here – which you cannot miss when you arrive – is the National Library. Gaismas pils, or The Castle of Light, at Mūkusalas iela on the river Daugava opposite Riga’s Old Town. Latvian architect Gunnar Birkerts, was inspired by Latvian folklore in his construction.
The building is 40 000 m2, built in 13 stories, where the two on top is only meant for cultural arrangements and for rent (having a party? I didn’t ask the cost…) There are approxiamately 1000 study seats in several rooms, and storing room for six million books.
The Library opened August 29, 2014.
Already in the entrance, I loved it…but with a strange feeling in my stomach…
We had to put all our things in lockers and you were not allowed to bring any drink or food – not even water. You had to get a visitors’ badge too and display it clearly. Then you had to pass the gates and a sighing lady…who looked like ”it would be really nice here… if it weren’t for the visitors.”
Large empty spaces and mirrors called for a selfie first…
As we went searching for the books, suddenly there was a marvellous display right ahead – up in the air.
Beautifully displayed – we headed for them immediately. But, being there, we realized that they were locked in behind glass – only eye candy…
We entered stairs and elevators, slowly becoming more and more desperate…where were the books? And the people? Students? Children?
We tried every door on every floor, but no. They were all locked. We saw the children’s books department – but only through a tiny window…the door was locked.
Finally we managed to find one door open. Some students were sitting there, studying. You could hear a needle drop…And, there was something strange about the room. Not the artsy furniture….not the silence…but – look up in the right corner of the photo: There Were Some BOOKS. In a LIBRARY ?- WOW.
In fact, these were the only books we saw and were able to touch in this building…But the view of Old Town was not so bad.
Giving up on the books and about to leave we saw another open door and peeped in. No people of course, but a beautiful aula.
We decided for a last try to reach the uppermost rooms on level 11 and 12. Found an elevator, and a cleaning lady on her way up. No admittance except for guided tours…She agreed on her being our guide and up we went.
This was only for special guests – and no panorama view was possible to photograph because all windows were filled with giant black dots.
As we went down again in the elevator, passing corridors after corridors after corridors…
…we talked about how much this reminded of North Korea and the library in Pyongyang. My husband’s pictures in my head, and he could confirm the feeling…
Leaving through the entrance, we agreed on this: What you can do here is enjoy the architecture and the fine materials used – and fiddle with your phone – there is no joy in books or reading visible here…
…as there is in this old ”biblioteka” where there is soul and warmth! A true home for books, readers and the joy of stories.
What do you think? Do you go to the library still? Should it be ”alive” or only for display?
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Sense of Taste
Taste? Get hungry at Cee’s Fun Foto this week!
I love food – and most of all vegetables, fruits and berries…
…together with a nice cake is OK too.
But generally direct from the plant, picking them myself.
WPC: Change
Change – few things in this life we can say will be constant, but one of them is change, and a second one is death.
Architecture’s changings are always interesting – not always in a positive way… but, interesting. Here’s an example from Bellinzona in Tessin, Switzerland.
Nattens Prinsessa – The Princess of the Night
The Queen of the Night (Nattens drottning, Selenicereus grandiflorus) and The Princess of the Night (Nattens Princessa, Epiphyllum oxypetalum) are two species both flowering during night time. Both of them with big, white flowers emitting showers of exquisite scent. The flowers are almost identical, but the stems are different.
My flower – the epiphyllum originates from Mexico.
I was sent a leaf last year from my blogging friend Maria, at MariaYarri, and now, for some weeks, a giant bud was growing, fast, by the day…
We went to Riga for a couple of days, but I was constantly thinking about the fact that I might be missing out on this glorious event. But I was so lucky…
Yesterday we arrived home again – the bud was rising and now measuring about 20 cm.
Suddenly, towards evening, my daughter called from the living room that the Wonder was happening…an about 25cm large flower was unfolding.
I cut the corners short – meeting the flower from behind it looked like a star or a rocket…I was totally mesmerized by it and could not leave the room but for my cameras.
The lovely scent filled every corner, every tiny space of the room, and the two of us were both sinking into a trance…
…I simply had to catch this moment…tried the flash…but no…
It had to be natural…and from every thinkable angle. True beauty – I could not breathe.
Inside…
…another world
We stayed with her through her best, 2-3 hours, but went to bed when she started to fade and lay back her petals.
This morning – she was gone.
So grateful for this moment we had together. Nature is magnificent in all her splendour.
.
Travel theme: Move
For Ailsa’s Travel theme this week – move – here.
Right now it’s harvesting time and the farmers are on the move – and so are many migrating birds and birds of prey. (On the photo a great kite) So…
…animals are my first thought when I hear ”move”… horses, yes, and…
…a newcomer like this little puppy is full of life and joy!
Or this newcomer, making me absolutely nervous…trotting away in the middle of all traffic. Didn’t move away from the cars…just kept walking…straight on…determined…
WPC: Grid
WordPress – Grid, make it the most important in your photo. Well, grids are not always manmade – you find nature’s grids everywhere…My choice fell on a Vanda, a remarkable Asian orchid, intensely coloured with a splendid grid. This Vanda I found standing in Denmark, outside a hotel.
For more grids – click here.
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