latviski
Our Latvia album, p. 3
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Jaunmokas Manor
Jaunmokas Manor
Jaunmokas Manor
Jaunmokas Manor
Hunting lodge of the former Rīga mayor
Hunting lodge of the former Rīga mayor
Jaunmokas Manor
Hunting lodge of the former Rīga mayor
Hunting lodge of the former Rīga mayor
Jaunmokas Manor
Tile fireplace with scenes of Riga
Tile fireplace with scenes of Riga
Jaunmokas Manor
Tile fireplace with scenes of Riga
Tile fireplace with scenes of Riga
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile
Fireplace tile
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile
Fireplace tile
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile detail, City Theater (now National Opera)
Fireplace tile detail, City Theater (now National Opera)
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile detail, City Theater (now National Opera)
Fireplace tile detail, City Theater (now National Opera)
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile, Alexander Boulevard
Fireplace tile, Alexander Boulevard
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile, Alexander Boulevard
Fireplace tile, Alexander Boulevard
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile
Fireplace tile
Jaunmokas Manor
Fireplace tile
Fireplace tile
Jelgava
Jelgavas Pils, arriving at the palace
Jelgavas Pils, arriving at the palace
Jelgavas Pils, the palace makes an imposing sight
Jelgavas Pils, the palace makes an imposing sight
Jelgavas Pils, the palace bombed out in WWII
Jelgavas Pils, the palace bombed out in WWII
Jelgavas Pils, the palace's interior courtyard
Jelgavas Pils, the palace's interior courtyard
Jelgavas Pils, the palace crypt where the Herzog dynasties lie burried
Jelgavas Pils, the palace crypt where the Herzog dynasties lie burried
Jelgavas Pils, artifacts in the palace's crypt
Jelgavas Pils, artifacts in the palace's crypt
Jelgava, fishing on the Lielupe river, alongside the palace
Jelgava, fishing on the Lielupe river, alongside the palace
Jūrmala
Jūrmala, the Baltic Riviera, serene and peaceful after the summer rush
Jūrmala, the Baltic Riviera, serene and peaceful after the summer rush
Kolkas ragsCape Kolka
Kolkas rags, a view towards the Baltic Sea by Cape Kolka
Kolkas rags, a view towards the Baltic Sea by Cape Kolka
Kuldīga
Along the road to… Kuldīga
Along the road to… Kuldīga
Kuldīga's Rumbas waterfall… not the highest, but the widest in Europe
Kuldīga's Rumbas waterfall… not the highest, but the widest in Europe
Kuldīga
The Venta Rumbas waterfall
The Venta Rumbas waterfall
Kuldīga
The Venta Rumbas waterfall
The Venta Rumbas waterfall
Kuldiga, 1745
A metal sign hangs on this obviously very old wood building. How amazing it would look if it were restored!
A metal sign hangs on this obviously very old wood building. How amazing it would look if it were restored!
Kuldiga, 1745
A metal sign hangs on this obviously very old wood building. How amazing it would look if it were restored!
A metal sign hangs on this obviously very old wood building. How amazing it would look if it were restored!
Kuldīga 1745
A closer look at the sign.
A closer look at the sign.
Kuldīga 1745
A closer look at the sign.
A closer look at the sign.
Liepāja
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view toward the rear of the church and the magnificent organ
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view toward the rear of the church and the magnificent organ
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view of the altar
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view of the altar
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, as experienced by the organist
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, as experienced by the organist
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, close-up of the 1885 expansion plaque
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, close-up of the 1885 expansion plaque
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, the four manuals from top to bottom: Oberwerk, Brustwerk, Hauptwerk, and Echowerk
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, the four manuals from top to bottom: Oberwerk, Brustwerk, Hauptwerk, and Echowerk
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, the organ pipework
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, the organ pipework
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, Manuals and stops
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, Manuals and stops
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, well-worn seating arrangements, sitting at the console
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, well-worn seating arrangements, sitting at the console
A stately old mansion
A stately old mansion
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view of the altar
Liepāja, Holy Trinity church, view of the altar
Liepāja, one of the old seaside villas, a long time since it was painted but curtains in the windows
Liepāja, one of the old seaside villas, a long time since it was painted but curtains in the windows
Liepāja, an old wagon parked along a side street, oherwise a scene likely not changed in nearly a century
Liepāja, an old wagon parked along a side street, oherwise a scene likely not changed in nearly a century
Liepāja, Annas church, interior
Liepāja, Annas church, interior
Liepāja, Annas church, altar under wraps while
eradicating woodworms from the delicate carvings
Liepāja, Annas church, altar under wraps while
eradicating woodworms from the delicate carvings
Liepāja, Annas church, detail of the altar crucifix, looking in under the wraps
Liepāja, Annas church, detail of the altar crucifix, looking in under the wraps
Liepāja, an old seashore house still in relatively good shape
Liepāja, an old seashore house still in relatively good shape
Liepāja, this seashore house on Hika street appears done for
Liepāja, this seashore house on Hika street appears done for
Liepāja, the swan lake with its small pavilion in the seaside area, still here from before the war
Liepāja, the swan lake with its small pavilion in the seaside area, still here from before the war
Liepāja, statue looking out to the sea for lost sons
Liepāja, statue looking out to the sea for lost sons
Liepāja, No. 10 still hints of its glory days
Liepāja, No. 10 still hints of its glory days
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, "Hero of the Soviet Union"
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, "Hero of the Soviet Union"
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, "I have been a person and a fighter for…" More like a terrorist, Sudmalis bombed an anti-Soviet protest in 1943
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, "I have been a person and a fighter for…" More like a terrorist, Sudmalis bombed an anti-Soviet protest in 1943
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, only loose bricks remain where Imants once stood
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, only loose bricks remain where Imants once stood
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, only nameless heroic figures remain
Liepāja, Imants Sudmalis, only nameless heroic figures remain
Liepāja, a view of the old market across the street
Liepāja, a view of the old market across the street
Lizums
Vēju dzirnavas
Peters' grandfather, Jānis Ķulle, was a miller. We visited his first mill, a windmill, in Vidzeme, near Velēna. This was where it all started, when he was 20, in 1888. It's now a museum dedicated to local personalities and a popular place to hold weddings.
Peters' grandfather, Jānis Ķulle, was a miller. We visited his first mill, a windmill, in Vidzeme, near Velēna. This was where it all started, when he was 20, in 1888. It's now a museum dedicated to local personalities and a popular place to hold weddings.
Vēju Dzirnavas
Peters' grandfather's first mill
Peters' grandfather's first mill
Vēju dzirnavas
Another view of Peters' grandfather's windmill—Peters looking up and recalling his mother telling the story of the time his grandfather fell off while repairing the sails!
Another view of Peters' grandfather's windmill—Peters looking up and recalling his mother telling the story of the time his grandfather fell off while repairing the sails!
Veju Dzirnavas
Another view of Peters' grandfather's windmill
Another view of Peters' grandfather's windmill
Mordanga
Mordanga's “garden house”
Stove as still life
Stove as still life
Mordanga's “garden house”
Stove as still life
Stove as still life
Mordanga's mill
Looking sadder each year
Looking sadder each year
Mordanga's mill
Looking sadder each year
Looking sadder each year
Mordanga
Lake view
Lake view
Mordanga
Lake view
Lake view
The mill, the old turbine is being taken out
The mill, the old turbine is being taken out
The mill house is slowly deteriorating
The mill house is slowly deteriorating
The mill, the old turbine bypass water tunnel has collapsed
The mill, the old turbine bypass water tunnel has collapsed
The mill house's new porch simply doesn't have the character of the old
The mill house's new porch simply doesn't have the character of the old
A view of one of the lakes from the cemetery
A view of one of the lakes from the cemetery
Cross in the Muižnieku cemetery
Cross in the Muižnieku cemetery
The gravesite of "Mīļā māte", Peters' mother's name for her grandmother
The gravesite of "Mīļā māte", Peters' mother's name for her grandmother
Wild flowers stand as sentinels in Muižnieku cemetery
Wild flowers stand as sentinels in Muižnieku cemetery
A small platform juts into the lake for washing and toe-dangling
A small platform juts into the lake for washing and toe-dangling
Garden flowers
Garden flowers
A quiet scene on the lake
A quiet scene on the lake
Storks nest by the side of the road
Storks nest by the side of the road
The mill, turbine blades
The mill, turbine blades
The mill, the turbine Peters's grandfather installed
The mill, the turbine Peters's grandfather installed
The mill house kitchen
The mill house kitchen
We head out to Mordanga in family friend Jānis' transit bus, restored using nothing but hand tools—we visited his machine shop, all its heavy equipment looted out during the Soviet exit
We head out to Mordanga in family friend Jānis' transit bus
After nearly half a century, only 7 more kilometers for my mother to return to her family home
After nearly half a century, only 7 more kilometers for my mother to return to her family home
Working on rebuilding the pottery kiln— destroyed by arson shortly before the Soviets left, on good authority to destroy it to prevent it from falling into the hands of its rightful owners
Working on rebuilding the pottery kiln
The old mill house, once holding machinery to the left and living quarters to the right
The old mill house
Peters' aunt Laura out back of the family house
Peters' aunt Laura out back of the family house
The mill machinery has been evacuated and the sawmill destroyed, look for the massive gear coming up from the water turbine
The mill machinery has been evacuated and the sawmill destroyed
One of Mordanga's lakes feeding the mill
One of Mordanga's lakes feeding the mill
Another view of Mordanga's lakes
Another view of Mordanga's lakes
Two Ruble Lake (near Mordanga)
Nearby is Two Ruble Lake, so named because the property owner used to charge the locals 2 rubles for fishing rights.
Nearby is Two Ruble Lake, so named because the property owner used to charge the locals 2 rubles for fishing rights.
Two Ruble Lake
The property owner used to charge the locals 2 rubles for fishing rights.
The property owner used to charge the locals 2 rubles for fishing rights.
Two Ruble Lake
Another view of the lake—it was too difficult to pick just one picture!
Another view of the lake—it was too difficult to pick just one picture!
Two Ruble Lake
Another view of the lake
Another view of the lake
Mordanga (Peters' Grandfather's second watermill)
Later, Peters' mother's family relocated the family to Kurzeme. Here is Peters' grandparent's third, and final, mill and home, "Mordangas Dzirnavas", at twilight.
Later, Peters' mother's family relocated the family to Kurzeme. Here is Peters' grandparent's third, and final, mill and home, "Mordangas Dzirnavas", at twilight.
Mordanga
The mill house at twilight
The mill house at twilight
Mordanga, big sky Latvian style
Mordanga, big sky Latvian style
Mordangas Dzirnavas I
We also spent some time out in the country. The old mill, "dzirnavas,"" was not doing well. Every year, a few more cracks appear, a bit more of the stucco where my grandfather painted the watermill's name falls off. The foundation is being washed out slowly by water leaking through a bad runoff pipe running under the road, from the lake. This led to some serious ditch digging, however, that's another story. I thought–well, actually, fantasized–that it might be possible to sell a few "artistic" pictures of the old mill as a way to help raise some money towards its repair. Here, the road winding past the front reflects off the front door's window panes.
We also spent some time out in the country. The old mill, "dzirnavas,"" was not doing well. Every year, a few more cracks appear, a bit more of the stucco where my grandfather painted the watermill's name falls off. The foundation is being washed out slowly by water leaking through a bad runoff pipe running under the road, from the lake. This led to some serious ditch digging, however, that's another story. I thought–well, actually, fantasized–that it might be possible to sell a few "artistic" pictures of the old mill as a way to help raise some money towards its repair. Here, the road winding past the front reflects off the front door's window panes.
Mordangas Dzirnavas I
he road winding past the mill house reflects off the front door's window panes
he road winding past the mill house reflects off the front door's window panes
Mordangas Dzirnavas II
The back door to the mill house has been left open to air out the hot summer's heat. It's not difficult to imagine the flower garden that lies beyond.
The back door to the mill house has been left open to air out the hot summer's heat. It's not difficult to imagine the flower garden that lies beyond.
Mordangas Dzirnavas II
The back door to the mill house has been left open to air out the hot summer's heat
The back door to the mill house has been left open to air out the hot summer's heat
Mordangas Dzirnavas III
A little window lets the bright daylight stream into the lower part of the mill house. When my grandfather bought it, he added a second story to it. But no one remembers quite how old this original part is.
A little window lets the bright daylight stream into the lower part of the mill house. When my grandfather bought it, he added a second story to it. But no one remembers quite how old this original part is.
Mordangas Dzirnavas III
Daylight streams into the lower part of the mill house through a small window
Daylight streams into the lower part of the mill house through a small window
Mordangas Dzirnavas IV
I had never appreciated the solitary cabinet floating in isolation on the kitchen wall. Its austere beauty seemed suddenly self-evident. Nor had I noticed the organic, almost living–like moss–color that my cousin Janis had accidentally mixed (then cursed at while painting). He hadn't taken good care of himself, so it was no surprise that he had passed away. Still, it was no less sad that when the four cousins finally met at one place, one and only one time, it was at Janis' hospital bed last fall. With both Janis and Vija gone, and their love of the land, I can't help but feel there's something in that gree.n…
I had never appreciated the solitary cabinet floating in isolation on the kitchen wall. Its austere beauty seemed suddenly self-evident. Nor had I noticed the organic, almost living–like moss–color that my cousin Janis had accidentally mixed (then cursed at while painting). He hadn't taken good care of himself, so it was no surprise that he had passed away. Still, it was no less sad that when the four cousins finally met at one place, one and only one time, it was at Janis' hospital bed last fall. With both Janis and Vija gone, and their love of the land, I can't help but feel there's something in that gree.n…
Mordangas Dzirnavas IV
Kitchen cabinet as still life
Kitchen cabinet as still life
Mordangas Dzirnavas V
Turning right, bright sunshine streams in the window, yet the mirror still reflects that somber moment.
Turning right, bright sunshine streams in the window, yet the mirror still reflects that somber moment.
Mordangas Dzirnavas V
Bright sunshine streams in the window
Bright sunshine streams in the window
Mordangas Dzirnavas VI
My mother still recalls passing time sitting on the porch, perhaps reading. Badly weathered, roof sagging, it still tenuously holds on a shadow of its former charm. The first thing my mother did was hang curtains as a reminder of what it once was, and could be again.
My mother still recalls passing time sitting on the porch, perhaps reading. Badly weathered, roof sagging, it still tenuously holds on a shadow of its former charm. The first thing my mother did was hang curtains as a reminder of what it once was, and could be again.
Mordangas Dzirnavas VI
The back porch still tenuously holds on to a shadow of its charm
The back porch still tenuously holds on to a shadow of its charm
Mordangas Dzirnavas VII
The side porch window facing toward the garden in back. Look for the flower pot on top of the old mill grinding wheel.
The side porch window facing toward the garden in back. Look for the flower pot on top of the old mill grinding wheel.
Mordangas Dzirnavas VII
Mordangas Dzirnavas VIII
Ever hopeful, it's no surprise that beyond the mill house, beyond the porch, sunflowers bloom in the flower garden. Tall, strong, beautiful, surviving the vicious rainstorms and blistering heat waves of summer, it reflects the Latvian character in the face of adversity.
Ever hopeful, it's no surprise that beyond the mill house, beyond the porch, sunflowers bloom in the flower garden. Tall, strong, beautiful, surviving the vicious rainstorms and blistering heat waves of summer, it reflects the Latvian character in the face of adversity.
Mordangas Dzirnavas VIII
Sunflowers bloom
Sunflowers bloom
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