Krāslavas novads, Latvia Travel Journals & Blogs

G. C. N.Polen Litauen Lettland
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- Aug 20, 2023, 11:25am · ☀️ 24 °C Altitude: 135 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Ogureckaja Ilzas Ezers 56.154111, 27.16899256°9’15” N 27°10’8” E
Day 14
Ein Schlenker durch Lettland
August 20 in Latvia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Mit etwas Anlauf fahre ich durch den matschigen Waldboden weiter. Einheimische und ich winken uns zu. Die Sprachbarriere hat Unterhaltungen leider versperrt. In Cesis, ein kleiner Ort mit vielen alten Holzhäusern und einer Burg. Eine Installation zur Erinnerung der kommunistischen Besatzung, begehbar. Alle Opfer sind in Tafeln genannt und dazu akustisch alle einzeln genannt. Die Straßen sind wieder abenteuerlich, Glatter Asphalt wird ohne Ankündigung zur kilometerlangen Schotterpiste.
Mein Ziel ist ein Platz am See in der Region Kastuļinas pagasts bei Vortniki. Die Gastgeberin bringt zur Begrüßung eine Karaffe frischen Kräutertee (frisch gepflückt) und Obst und Gemüse aus dem Garten.Read more
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Heute hier, morgen dort Baltikum 2019
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- Aug 6, 2019 · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 112 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Ūdrīšu pagasts Rakuti 55.89735, 27.0685755°53’50” N 27°4’7” E
Day 14
Balvi - Kraslava
August 6, 2019 in Latvia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
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Wieder ein Fahrtag, aber heute hatten wir ein Ziel, das wir schon vor Abfahrt heraus gesucht haben. Es soll an die Daugava gehen, auf einen recht unorthodoxen kleinen Campingplatz. Also wieder einige Kilometer runtergerissen und über jede 20 km ohne Schlaglöcher oder Bodenwellen gefreut.
Und dann in den Wald. Die Nacht war so merkwürdig, weil es einfach so still ist. So still, dass die Stille so extrem laut ist (wenn Ihr versteht, was ich meine...) Ein paar Lebensweisheiten haben wir im Chillout-Wald gefunden. Und Olga? Hat auch einiges gelernt, weil auf dem Platz 6 Hunde waren und sie tatsächlich nur die "Klappe" eines 12m-Ungeheuers hat.... Da wurde unser kleiner Krawall-Terrier ganz schön auf ihre 38cm Schulterhöhe zurück gestutzt.🤭Read more
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Was für eine tolle Gegend
8/7/19Reply
Heute hier, morgen dort Jetzt muss ich eben selbst kommentieren 🤭: Als eingefleischter Ziegenkäse-Hasser muss ich sagen, dass dieser richtig gut schmeckte! Liegt das an der Freilufthaltung im Wald? Jedenfalls ein netter Gruß vom Platzbetreiber Sebastian!
8/7/19Reply
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Baltic Greenlaning 2021
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- Sep 12, 2021, 8:18pm · ⛅ 17 °C Altitude: 148 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Kaplava 55.866, 27.0648255°51’58” N 27°3’53” E
Day 9
Latvian Smoke Sauna...
September 12, 2021 in Latvia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
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If you follow our track on the map you will have realized by now that our way is not along the most touristy destinations. We decided to search for those nature gems in the more remote areas of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Still backroad riding takes a lot of time and resilience against potholes, gravel tracks and bumpy patches (not to speak of the 4x4 challenges) and we decide that we have deserved a special treat. So we book a small former farm house on a large horse keeping ranch with a...Latvian Smoke Sauna!

This is supposed to be a very healthy way to practice the Sauna ritual, still it is not made for people that like light and sterile places.
The traditional smoke Sauna was a place for smoking fish and meat during the week and "smoking" humans during the weekend celebrations. As the open fire is started in the Sauna to heat the massive pile of rocks, the water basin and the birch whips it takes about 4-5 hours to prepare.

We gave our best and enjoyed the Sauna for more than two hours and today all the towels still smell freshly smoked - and so do we.

Honestly - it is great to have a fixed bed for a night or two and we decide to spend another day at this wonderful place (besides they have WiFi in the main building - 1,5 Kilometers away and it it is good to do some walking exercises out here).Read more
wow wie hübsch! [Felix]
9/13/21Reply
Traveler How beautiful! Did finnish smoke sauna some years back - pretty cool experience😀! Plus jumping in the lake which was covered by ice🥶!
9/13/21Reply
Buddha's Travels No ice, no lake...but a small river...and that smell of birch and smoke 😉
9/14/21Reply
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Baltic Greenlaning 2021
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- Sep 13, 2021, 10:55pm · ⛅ 11 °C Altitude: 149 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Kaplava 55.87161, 27.0786455°52’18” N 27°4’43” E
Day 10
Lazy Monday
September 13, 2021 in Latvia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
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What did we do on this lazy Monday?

Almost nothing and still a lot. We do some of our laundry, reorganize the packing of Buddha (again), recover from last night's Smoke Sauna, hike to the main building to do some Internet research, eat a lot, groom Paula and a lot of other things...

Tomorrow we'll be back to the trail heading further Northeast.Read more
😍😍 beautiful day [Angelica]
9/14/21Reply
Buddha's Travels Sure was...followed by another wonderful day. Time out is best when you're far out😉
9/14/21Reply
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Baltic Greenlaning 2021
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- Sep 19, 2021, 8:00pm · 🌧 5 °C Altitude: 155 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Kaplava 55.86646, 27.0655155°51’59” N 27°3’56” E
Day 16
Greed devours brain
September 19, 2021 in Latvia ⋅ 🌧 5 °C
The weather is turning bad on us! Even colder and increasing rain. Since we feel that we have accomplished our mission by testing the Buddha for keeps or sales we decide to turn the final days into a relax & recovery holiday.

So what better can we do than to return to that phantastic house with the Latvian Smoke Sauna? Said and done...almost. The house is booked but the landlady tells us that she has a similar wonderful place for us for even a better price.

We trust her and when we get there late in the evening we're quite disappointed. A minimal cabin without any comfort for almost the same price as the Smoke Sauna farm house...

As we are tired and cold we decide to stay, hoping to have a chance to talk to the lady for a somewhat better solution or rate. She keeps invisible and we decide to cut it down to one night only without any additional service.

When we communicate our decision via WhatsApp she is deeply disappointed and tries convince us to stay.

And the lesson is...sales is easy, service makes the difference. And greed devours brain for sure.Read more
Traveler how disappointing for you .... I hope it was a good lesson for her!!
9/23/21Reply
Buddha's Travels I guess we all learnt our lesson. Sometimes I am just to gullible and naive - and that's good most of the time traveling and meeting people.
9/23/21Reply
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Pothole Rodeo Revolution
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- Aug 9, 2022, 11:00am · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 144 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Izvaltas pagasts Jaunie Račini 55.916188, 26.97021655°54’58” N 26°58’13” E
Day 12
soviet fuel depot
August 9, 2022 in Latvia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
what a gigantic lost place and everything is full of heavy oil and tar
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Traveler Baltikum
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- Jun 15, 2023 · ☁️ 26 °C Altitude: 111 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Ūdrīšu pagasts Rakuti 55.897391, 27.06885955°53’51” N 27°4’8” E
Day 25
Upes Dižvietas Tag 4
June 15 in Latvia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Chillen , Tiere streicheln und von Mücken zerstochen werden.
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Traveler Europa im Uhrzeigersinn
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- Jul 30, 2023, 9:32pm · ⛅ 18 °C Altitude: 161 m
  Latvia Krāslavas novads Aulejas pagasts Šķipi 56.032124, 27.19607856°1’56” N 27°11’46” E
Day 121
121. Schlafplatz
July 30 in Latvia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Vorteile: Absolute Ruhe, direkter Seezugang, Toilette, Mülleimer, Unterstand mit Tisch
Nachteile: keine
8/10
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