Participants discover Latvian culture during the weekend

Time is running fast and first weekend has already gone. So many activities, so many things to do that it’s hard to follow the days! Sometimes have a feeling that there is only one long day. On Saturday we had very interesting lectures and workshops with Danute Dūra – a director of Education Program at the Museum of Occupation of Latvia.

We had a short introduction to intercultural communication and workshops about stereotypes in photo making. Had lots of fun during the task when we should ask citizens of Valmiera about who they are, what they are doing and asking permission to take some photos of them. Interesting but quite hard in the same time because there were lots of people who didn’t wanted to be in our presentations. So the participants could have an impression about how shy the Latvians are. After that we spent a lovely evening watching some Latvian movies as “Rīgas sargi” (“Defenders of Riga”), Devil's Fuji and „Amatieris” („Amateur”).

Sunday was a little bit cloudy and windy but still we had a trip to Cēsis and Līgatne. In Cēsis we had an interesting excursion through this small but lovely city. The old town with it’s historic center, Medieval castle and the park – great place for relaxation. In Cēsis everyone was interested in being happy for next two years so was excited to find a heart on the stone stairs. Thanapol was the lucky one who found it first. So congratulations, Thanapol!

After we had some quick lunch and the trip to Līgatne could continue. For few minutes we had a stop in Āraiši to see the small houses built on the lake. Our next stop was already in Līgatnes Rehabilitation center to see the underground bunker from the Soviet times. It was a great opportunity to feel the breath from the Soviet times, to see how secret they were and how the system was when the human was just a part of a big system, not a value as person like nowadays.

Natallia says: „I was impressed by the bunker because it’s a part of my history as well. I was 9 years old and I still remember that period of time. In the bunker I saw the same books, the same flags I had also in my home so I really know how it was. In Cēsis I was impressed about the way how the masters were sleeping in their rooms (without putting their heads to the pillow, just like sitting). I cannot imagine myself to do something like that. Interesting was the story about the White lady who lives in the castle even nowadays. Cēsis was very nice city with the sparkle from anciet times, I liked it a lot!”

On our way back we stopped at the Zvārtas rock - one of the most picturesque detrition of Devon period rocks in Latvia. Had some funny pictures and at last the sun came out of the clouds (as always it happens in the end of excursions). And after that the bus took us again back to our sweet home – Valmiera. Some Lithuanian and Hungarian movies and time to have some rest.

Pictures still can be seen here.

P.S. And unfortunately our participant Lizaveta from Belarus couldn’t come to the summer school. ☹