Prior to my trip to Kyiv, the only Ukrainian dish I was remotely familiar with was Chicken Kiev. Or so I thought. As it turns out, Kyiv’s best restaurants offer a delightful mix of regional flavors, from Crimea to the Carpathians, and put their unique spin on a range of classic dishes including crispy potato pancakes, pillowy […]
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Crazy for Kyiv: My Four Days in Ukraine
I was searching for flights for a last minute getaway from Riga, and the cheapest direct flight was to Kyiv. Until that moment, Ukraine wasn’t on my travel radar. Russia’s annexation of Crimea was big news in Latvia and the 2014 Euromaidan riots still seemed all too recent. Was it safe to visit Ukraine? Mr. […]
Latgale, Latvia: A Unique Road Trip Destination
Latgale, Latvia is a part of the Baltic region that many travelers miss. Well off the beaten path that links Riga with Vilnius and Tallinn, Latvia’s southeastern corner is a mysterious land of lakes, castle ruins, and onion domes. Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia share borders with Latgale, which was first settled by the Latgalians in the 10th […]
A Weekend Guide to Daugavpils, Latvia
Daugavpils is Latvia’s second-largest city with a population around 90,000, fully half comprised of ethnic Russian speakers. During Soviet times, factories were set up in Daugavpils thanks to its strategic location near the borders of Belarus and Lithuania, and workers from other Soviet republics were brought in. Some factories closed with the collapse of the Soviet Union, […]
Unique Things to Do in Riga in Autumn
Autumn is a glorious time to visit Riga, Latvia. Golden leaves bedazzle the old city, which by this time has shed some of the flag-wielding tour groups and stag parties that clog the narrow alleys in summer. Early in the season, the weather is still fine enough to sip cider on sidewalk patios, albeit with a […]