Author Archives: Kiki Maraschino

About Kiki Maraschino

I like catfish. Sure, we all like catfish, but I think for me it is somehow deeper.

Lats Do it in a Fancy Restaurant

We finally found 36 Linea down on the beach. It was a little chilly to eat outside, but the patio was gorgeous. When it came time to order the waiter started pushing soup. But I didn’t want soup. Bridin got … Continue reading

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Lats Do it with Heavy Metal

Our last day in Yurmula I had a backrub and we went to eat at Annoe’s Asian – Chinese, Indian and Thai. I stuck with the Indian. Standard Tikka Masala. For dinner on our last night we had fancy dinner … Continue reading

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Lats Do it by the Seashore

Jurmula, roughly translated as “by the sea” is a collection of towns along 30 metres of the Gulf of Riga. We spent a fantastic and rejuvinating three nights in the small resort town of Majori. The Jurmula Hotel and Spa … Continue reading

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Lats Do it in Ventspils

I kept calling this town Valdimort til I realized that was a Harry Potter villain. We went to visit more relatives. They took us down to the beach by the harbour. We also drove past a lot of public art, … Continue reading

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Lats Do it in the Way Out of Kuldiga

Our last morning in Kuldiga we stopped for breakfast at the Metropole Hotel. They served an amuse bouche for breakfast. We had a very nice egg sandwich I noticed this is the one place in Latvia where I have seen … Continue reading

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Lats Do it on the Road to Kuldiga

Kuldiga is one of Latvia’s older towns, with intact Gothic and Rennaisance buildings. On our way out there we finally stopped at one of the Hessburgers we had been seeing in the road. It was like a Big Mac but … Continue reading

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Lats Do it at the Opera

We went to the opera twice on this trip, once for the ballet, and last night to see The Nature of War, also interpreted as War Sum Up. It is a visual and auditory depiction of a war machine, with … Continue reading

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Lats Do it in the Tower

The Bell Tower of the Jelgeva Holy Trinity Church has views of the entire city from the 9th floor, around 80 metres high. Don’t ask me to change that into feet. It’s pretty high, but not Seattle Space Needle high. … Continue reading

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Lats Do it at the Palace

Yesterday we drove to Jelgeva to the palace of the Dukes of Courland and Semigallia. The palace was bombed during WWII but has been restored. It is the largest architectural monument in the Baltics. The only part of the palace … Continue reading

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Lats Do it at the River

Last night we went to a birthday party for Aija at a farmhouse next to the Lielupe River in Jelgava. The farm was gorgeous. We saw storks and storks nests.  This cat thinks he is a chicken The dinner party … Continue reading

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Lats Do it at a Dinner Party

Bridin befriended a woman on the plane whose daughter, Signe, happens to host dinner parties at 10 Lats a head. 10 Lats equals about 20 USD. When she told her daughter she had a returning Latvian to invite, they decided to … Continue reading

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Lats Do it in a Castle

Today we drove into the country to look at castles. First we visited “The New Castle” in Segulda. It was once occupied by Knights of the Sword. When you joined Knights of the Sword, you joined for life. Their city … Continue reading

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Lats Do it in the Market

  There are two things I pay attention to in new cities: Can you cross on red, and will you get run over? And whether you look at or greet strangers. The answer to the first question in Riga is … Continue reading

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Lats NOT Do it in Siberia

After going to the cemetary with Bridin’s cousin Aija and Aija’s beau, Alberts, we went for lunch in the hotel cafe, which was very elegant. We were all thrilled with the fried camembert that was accompanied by rhubarb.  I had … Continue reading

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Lats Do it at the Currency Exchange

We walk into the exchange and we are the only customers. Two bored-looking clerks sit behind the counter staring into space. I approach one and she gestures towards the other one. I turn to her and she gestures to the tickets. … Continue reading

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