Sunday, September 23, 2018

Roadtrip to Liepaja

After a few weeks of taking taxis to and from work, we finally got a car and decided to take a trip to Liepaja, which is about 3 hours west of Riga.



After an uneventful drive, we arrived to Liepaja.  While we were there, we started out by heading straight to the beach to get some pictures of the actual Baltic (compared to the Bay of Riga).  After that we went bowling at an old bowling alley and then finished off the night attending the FK Liepaja v. Riga FC soccer match.  The next day we headed about 30 minutes north to the Northern Forts, which were built in the late 1800s and then to Karosta Prison, for a quick lunch and tour - you can actually stay the night there for a full prison experience, but we didn't...  Overall, it was a great two night trip outside of the city.  Here are a few pictures:

Driving on nice roads for the first time in 6 years

Super windy, but not too cold

Kite surfing on the Baltic Sea

Iconic Liepaja letters on the beach

Soccer match at Daugava Liepaja Stadium

Northern Forts

Kids at the Northern Forts

Northern Forts

Allison at the Northern Forts

Close up Instagram'd mural
Kids listening during prison tour

Gas mask at prison



Monday, September 3, 2018

Finding our way around Riga (Alternatively titled: Our kids don't know how to walk on sidewalks)

(This post was drafted during our first week here... and then life happened and it didn't get posted, so I'm posting it now!)
We've been in Riga a few days now getting ourselves settled and adjusted (hello jet lag). We've been looking at houses and apartments, opening bank accounts, and getting medical clearance. Also, scouting out the best playgrounds, ice cream shops, and as our kids say "kid-friendly restaurants," which to them means the waiter brings them coloring activities.




The city is super cute and we've enjoyed walking around exploring. Taxis have been super easy and there is a lot of English.

We're off to a great start and in Tegan's words we "keep forgetting we actually live here".






And that sidewalk thing? It's been quite apparent it is not a skill our kids have learned. I guess not having sidewalks their entire lives would do that.