Saturday, September 21st

Castles (13C) and Manor houses (17/18/c) dot central Lativa

In-between, pine forests protected by a national park, and small farms
Every farmstead with rows of flowers - zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds

Livonian Knights of the Sword built this beauty in 12C

(German warrior monks converting pagan Latvians/Lithuanians to Christianity)

Highly defensible with a long narrow passage from the tower where I'm standing

Intruders were vulnerable on their way to the main gate 

Structures and grounds significantly altered during reconstruction 

Explanations honest in saying so

Sketch from 1793 shows a tower's condition 

These places were piles of rubble and rock in 1991 when Latvia regained independence from the USSR and could save their history

Many manor houses from the late 1700s and early/mid 1800s in the area

This one surviving two world wars and Soviet occupation

On the grounds, a sacred or secular oak 

Old Believers

had a plethora of gods, with beliefs grounded in living alongside Nature

Oaks of a certain circumference constitute places for reflection and important decisions

The ancient ones  identified by a small metal plate with an oak leaf 

Once again, it rained while we drove, and stopped when we needed it to

Everything  a luminous green upon finding this magnificent tree
(+200 years) 

Arrived in Cesis and our apartment late afternoon 

5th floor walk-up - No problem with our backpacks

Tomorrow we explore Cesis

Dinner was extraordinary

Smoked duck breast with potato croquettes seated on black trumpets and kale with parmesan, with dollop of black garlic mayonnaise, garnished with ground hazelnuts - 13.50 Euro

Accompanied by a luscious Russian red wine 

Sandy had 24-hour baked pork ribs in a honey/barbecue glaze, smoked potato with mustard seed, and leafy greens with fried onion and dollop of beetroot salad - 14.50 Euro

Wonderfully prepared and presented 

A good day among many