Necessity is the mother of efficiency. Or is that desperation is...? Trying to encompass more than should be possible is a Latvian trait—the Latvian expression, literally translated, is trying to swallow too much soup at once!

Only once did we actually manage to combine two outings into one. On the way to Kuldiga (visiting the local authorities about property stuff), our hardy crew: Peters, Silvija, Silvija's sister Inara, and family friend Janis dropped in to visit Dagni—Silvija's mom's Anda's girlhood friend, from their grammar school days in Liepaja. As usual, food and drink awaited. Dagni was so happy to see us she forgot to give us jars of her (really really wonderful we must confess) jam! Nothing is as sacred to a Latvian as jam—well maybe the white birch, but you can't eat that!—and so, Dagni later made the trek all the way in to Riga to deliver two jars to Silvija's dad (who stayed along with Inara for another week after Peters and Silvija returned home).

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Having sated ourselves with kukas (cake) and piragi, the ladies paused for a picture in Dagni's front yard. The place was overrun with blossoms, each fragrance sweeter than the last! That cute little tyke next to Silvija is Dagni's granddaugher... and so the generations continue.

Having sated ourselves with kukas (cake) and piragi, the ladies paused for a picture in Dagni's front yard. The place was overrun with blossoms, each fragrance sweeter than the last! That cute little tyke next to Silvija is Dagni's granddaugher... and so the generations continue.

Having sated ourselves with kukas (cake) and piragi, the ladies paused for a picture in Dagni's front yard. The place was overrun with blossoms, each fragrance sweeter than the last! That cute little tyke next to Silvija is Dagni's granddaugher... and so the generations continue.

Our Kurzeme tour also included Kuldiga. The Rumbas, the falls, really are picturesque. Hmm.. perhaps a little retirement bungalow some day... (heavily insulated, of course!).

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Janis obliged us and took our portrait standing on the old brick bridge over the Venta (that's Inara, Silvija, and Peters). Janis informed us it was one of the longest, if not the longest, brick span in Europe! The bridge is in need of repairs, so auto traffic is allowed only by permit. You can see the Venta's Rumbas falls in the background. Peters is still trying to figure out exactly where his family had rights to put out fishing baskets during spawning season.

Janis obliged us and took our portrait standing on the old brick bridge over the Venta (that's Inara, Silvija, and Peters). Janis informed us it was one of the longest, if not the longest, brick span in Europe! The bridge is in need of repairs, so auto traffic is allowed only by permit. You can see the Venta's Rumbas falls in the background. Peters is still trying to figure out exactly where his family had rights to put out fishing baskets during spawning season.

Janis obliged us and took our portrait standing on the old brick bridge over the Venta (that's Inara, Silvija, and Peters). Janis informed us it was one of the longest, if not the longest, brick span in Europe! The bridge is in need of repairs, so auto traffic is allowed only by permit. You can see the Venta's Rumbas falls in the background. Peters is still trying to figure out exactly where his family had rights to put out fishing baskets during spawning season.

A closer look at the falls. Peters' dad's family's property used to be around the bend to the left.

A closer look at the falls. Peters' dad's family's property used to be around the bend to the left.

A closer look at the falls. Peters' dad's family's property used to be around the bend to the left.

Along with the traditions of the noble birch and the sanctity of jam is the notion that on any long drive, a bit of road shoulder and some good cover (or open car door, if you really know each other well) provide for rest and, well how do we put it discretely? Relief. These days with Lyme disease, one can't be too careful about where one goes (no pun intended!), so at the end of a long day it was a welcome sight to see a real rest stop on the way back to Riga!

Along with the traditions of the noble birch and the sanctity of jam is the notion that on any long drive, a bit of road shoulder and some good cover (or open car door, if you really know each other well) provide for rest and, well how do we put it discretely? Relief. These days with Lyme disease, one can't be too careful about where one goes (no pun intended!), so at the end of a long day it was a welcome sight to see a real rest stop on the way back to Riga!

Along with the traditions of the noble birch and the sanctity of jam is the notion that on any long drive, a bit of road shoulder and some good cover (or open car door, if you really know each other well) provide for rest and, well how do we put it discretely? Relief. These days with Lyme disease, one can't be too careful about where one goes (no pun intended!), so at the end of a long day it was a welcome sight to see a real rest stop on the way back to Riga!