From Upeslejas and Saurieši (neares village) to Riga there are only partial bicycle routes: some in Ulbroka (bigger village near Riga) and then only starting from city border of Riga, near Dreiliņi.

And last weekend with my girlfriend we went out for our first Spring riding in 2010. First day was just for testing bikes, so we went only to Ulbroka. In Ulbroka we ate at Armenian kitchen (latvian: Armēņu virtuve) and then bact to home.As we were little bit bored by our traditional way near road, we took off-road way back to home. It was worth that. Deeper in wood we discovered another village (Jaunsuši). And then going with no clue further, keeping way to home direction.

Reason #1. Since most of traffic was from some forums about blond girls (in Latvia), which lead to uncountable numbers of spam comments about adult links. So, I don’t want to promote my country as “easy to get a girl”.

Reason #2. Since I have several blogs and about web development I’m writing in MediaBox.lv/en, this blog will be my travel and photo blog.

Reason #3. Rebuilding blog – permalinks, design, …

Visit http://MediaBox.lv/en for more information. Place where I’m starting my freelance career.

Just wanted to say, that from last Friday I’m starting to work as freelancer on customizing WordPress (WP) and WordPress MU (WPMU). Basically it means that I’ll do (almost) everything what related to work with WP:

• WP install on server and configuration,
• Custumize Your WordPress,
• (X)HTML slicing work for WordPress and e-mail templates,
• Turning WordPress into Content management system (CMS).

I decide that after 3 years of simple cutting PSD to HTML for e-mail templates (HTML slicing), I could do same with (almost) any web design – turning PSD to valid XHTML and CSS. Almost all of my friends know my passion to Internet. After some time they asked me to help with setting up or simple fix some web pages. I already found help team ( or backup), not only in Latvia, but in Lithuania too. … And already working on two projects :)

Code. Page source

Until now it was just a hobby and probably will stay some time…

This was just small announcement. Let’s look how will it flow… If You are interested in cooperation, look for contacts on Umbrovskis.com. (coming soon)

PS. just to make clear – I’m not web-designer, just PSD to XHTML slicer :)

Here is my present from Google

Hello,

First of all, thank you for using FeedBurner and AdSense for feeds. We really appreciate every minute you spend using our services.

We also know you’ve come to depend on us to deliver your feed reliably without ever requiring you to change anything (unless you want to). Unfortunately, due some poor planning on Google’s part since you created your new feed, http://feeds2.feedburner.com/refreshing, we have been forced to change its address to http://feeds2.feedburner.com/refreshing2.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
We have worked hard to ensure that any feed that already exists on feeds.feedburner.com cannot be created in the new Google-hosted feeds environment, feeds2.feedburner.com. However, a few feeds, including your own, did end up with the same address on both sides. We’ve used an automatic conflict-resolution system to determine which feed’s address to change, and the choice ended up being this feed.

(…)*

So I was waiting, waiting, … nothing for some 3 months. Only yesterday I’ve got package from US. At first I didn’t know about any package, which I should recive from US. As far as I could remember all my Internet shopping was inside Europe.

You can buy them on www.google-store.com

After all this my RSS address id feeds2.feedburner.com/refreshing2

Update: Go Blonde 2010 (May 28 – 29). This May blonde beauties from across the European continent and the world round are gathering in Riga to kick off the greatest blonde party the world has ever seen. And as if a crowd of blindingly beautiful attendees weren’t enough, visitors are sure to enjoy the hoot and holler of a parade, a retro car tour, a contest for best in show and a host of other fun-filled activities. Go blonde this summer!

Colors of Blonde Weekend – white, pink and red

As said organizers of event there were 35 teams with 10-20 blond girls from whole Latvia (source: LETA). Even if one of  the main aim was charity for children, blond girls wanted to show, that they are smart enough too. With this event girls wanted also show that Riga is attractive tourism city and hope that tourism will break decreasing economy of Latvia.

Go Blonde on last weekend of May

This year “Go Blonde!” parade was organized first time in Latvia, but Blonde Weekend will be held every next year in Riga on last weekend of May, promised Latvia’s Blonde Association.

Weekend of “Go Blonde!” included tennis and golf tournaments on Sport day, fashion day and of course Blond parade full with positive emotions and humor. And final ball with nominations of “Blonde – leader“, “Blonde – journalist“, “Blonde – Lawyer“, and more…

More about “Go blonde!” (Latvia’s Blonde Association) on GoBlonde.lv, which is the first international office in Latvia after International Association of Blondes main office in Sofia.

More: video on telegraf.lv http://cli.gs/aGga2h and NRA.lv http://cli.gs/pVDAa7.

Photo: AFP PHOTO/ ILMARS ZNOTINS (Photo credit should read ILMARS ZNOTINS/AFP/Getty Images)

More photos from Gints Freimanis:

Right offer in right place!

But I liked how they were selling on streets, with good marketing. For example, when people need to go up to Acropolis, people are selling water and sun umbrellas, but during rain – umbrella. Need to tell, that during our way up, temperature was +32° Celsius (while in Latvia just +15°C). Right offer in right place! There are more examples, but these were most interesting.

After my EVS, I knew that I will come back to Greece, so this was my come-back to Greece after 3 years. Things didn’t change much in Athens. And I was guiding my girlfriend and her mother. But about that trip I’ll write later.

More images from trip on flickr.com Trip to Greece 2009.

Arrival

Hostel we reserved (hostelbookers.com) already one month in advance and it was 10 min drive from the airport and the center of Bremen (Bremen Southend Hostel, southendhostel-bremen.de).

The flight went smoothly and already in Bremen, we decided that weather is too good to go with public transport and went on foot, enjoying the Bremen office and later residential areas. First, we wanted to go to Hostel, but because we did not have a city map, we went to the center of Bremen. First we saw a bridge over Weser river with small market under bridge. There was able to buy clothes, shoes, lamps, of unknown origin discs, toys and everything that in the home can be found. Next to the main square, on Saturday morning in full swing at the beautiful St. Petri church was another market.

There was able to taste fruits, cheeses and German favorite dishes. We both didn’t taste this time, because the row was too big, and if you do not know exactly German, then read descriptions and titles of food is not possible. As has been thoroughly tourists we ate nearby in the “Subway” sandwich and salad fast food restaurant. My very surprised, that a normal coffee shop, with ordinary dishes there is a rarity. There is generally sandwich, pizza and kebab street-shops on every corner.

St. Petri Church

Later we went look St. Petri Church, which is simply charming and famous Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Bremen Town Musicians/Town Musicians of Bremen), or better known as the Bremen city musicians. Touched the donkeys legs. It was a moment of time when should be made a wish. Didn’t miss also Roland’s Statue and the town hall. Walked through the old city and went to the hostel, on foot.

Hostel (Hostel Southend Bremen)

The hostel was a small and nice and hospitable. In hostel Staffordshire terrier (Deby) were waiting for us. The only minus was the fact that the communal areas (a reasonable room and rest guest room) was over-smoked. But it wasn’t so on next days. But we closed eyes on that, because the fee was really small. We shared room with another girl from New Zealand, who had already toured from June to America and now is in Europe. And she knew of Latvia. We were gladden. Later went to the center.

On Wednesday evening there was intensive shopping, we went to some stores, but I was disappointed to see full shelves with no-size sweaters by the extremely high prices. And quickly went away from there. On one of the main small street I found the shop where on a normal money I bought two blouses. In Latvia for that money I couldn’t buy. Look at passages with shops and went to nearly located cafe-bar drink the famous Beck’s beer.

Beer was good, we stayed up to the closure. I should say that they are closing at 20:30 – 21:00. Back in hotel in room slept “as a kill”, the same can not be said for our roommate, Roland’s snore was very loud.

On next day we decided to sleep longer, because most of the shops are closed. Slow walk along the river. In river’s right side was the woman sitting on a bench and played African drums-”djambe”? Went to Central station, to take a look in Bremen Ethnological Museum. Paid each of EUR 6.50. The museum was a huge with three floors. Able to view the largest world’s cultures, stuffed animals and things that are associated with each culture. Houses, food, clothing, etc.. Already after the first floor legs were in pain. The third floor just couldn’t anymore walked trough. It was decorated as an ancient and the modern of development of a port-city of Bremen. Had the opportunity to step on the simulated ship’s deck and the master’s room. Funny, but tiresome. When we went out it was already dark.

We decided to eat in a cafe. Found the “TAV” (tav-bremen.de), which had enough deliciously goulash soup and pasta with a sauce of Bologna.

Went to Botterstrase and home to sleep. We were so tired and went sleep already at 21:00.

Next morning wake up was early on the last day to view Schnoor and buy gifts for home. First, went to the central station for fried chestnuts, realize that I am wasted 2 euro, wasn’t tasty. Taste was something slightly from sweet potatoes and something else. Look “Mühle am Wall” (cafe-restaurant mills).

At St. Petri Church was again street market, where I bought Brie cheese. Then Böttcherstrasse tea shop with the odoriferous almonds, Advent and Christmas teas. And Schnoor. Miniature streets and small shops. Like a gnome house. This remind me Prague “Zlata ulicka“. In one of the stores bought the small earrings. Very nice. Evening spent settling bags and see and photos, impressions.

Good-bye from Bremen for us was very nice. Rain and wind. We came at the airport as a “wet rat”. Such was our Bremen. It is a pity that couldn’t view Rhododendrons park, but I liked. And also Roland enjoyed. Anyway, it was intended as a simple holiday trip.

Photos: flickr.com/photos/rolandinsh/tags/triptobremen/

—

*changed

Note from `rolandinsh`: I recomended already Hostel to my coworker.

It was raining and cold, so we miss some events. Still, we started RIXC, where we could listen to Universe. :)

While idea is great, we couldn’t stay so long to listen, because it was like listening to old radio with no tuned station on it. But still. I like idea, because it shows multimedia can collaborate with science.

“Heima”

Next stop point was Sigur Rós movie “Heima” in Vērmanes garden. Actually I haven’t seen so much as I would like… because it was raining (again). We watched just some 10 minutes, then we left.

Tram “God”

Like next stop, if we can say so, was tram “Tram vertical route: God. Nature. Work” with special “White Night 2008″ connection. The idea came from last year (2007) to give the public transport, in this case the tram, an added value.

baltanakts.lv: “Special festive trams will be put on the route thus marking some fundamental topics of human existence, which this time are taken from the title of the well-known trilogy by the Latvian writer Anna Brigadere − God. Nature. Work.“

It was last tram. So our was “God”! :)

baltanakts.lv : “The tram is turned into a spiritual sanctuary. Everybody has its inner faith and feeling that makes one believe in oneself and search one’s own spiritual paths. The space that inspires oneself to self-confidence, to love towards other people, that marks one’s individual uniqueness, advocates tolerance and intellectual strength. “

Circus Night in Arkādija

With tram came to Arkādijas park. As we came just 15 minutes before event is closing there, we miss “Circus Night in Arkādija” with puppet and circus show. Nothing left to do, just turn back to center. To Spīķeri.

VIDEOGRAPHY III: SPACE TEXTURES and “Pink house”

By visiting  “Pink house”, near Spīķeri, I wanted to see some special pig in it. (Story about pig will come later in some other post.)

IDM “dance floor”.

VIDEOGRAPHY III: SPACE TEXTURES – Concert with the participation of German, Japanese, Lithuanian and Latvia visual, video and audio artists. Most of all, whom I saw, I liked Dj Brain & Cliché

Project “European white nights“

is a public event free of charge that invites to discover (again) and capture the city environment (again) with the help of contemporary culture.

On picnic were different rank bloggers. Why rank? Well in Latvia and Latvian writing blogs and web-journals (klab.lv ala livejournal.com) there were discussions about ranking and how to rank. For example, when I came to this picnic one of the first questions was “Do You have domain?” And like this it was all evening. No wonder, that I with my girlfriend left for a while, because our friend has nameday (Rūta).

When we came back, half of bloggers were gone.

I had already been in some other blogger meetings in Latvia, where were just some of them, approximately 10-15 persons (bloggers). On picnic were more, around 50 or even more.

Well thanks to Artūrs for wonderful evening! Specially, when beer there was for free! :)

Unfortunately we miss speech of Joha, when she announced about BarCamp Baltics (2), BridgeCamp 2. This could be interesting for me, but not for Undīne :)

Here are some more pictures. Copyright by me (Rolands Umbrovskis)

Artūrs (right)

On nameday event. Near bloggers picnic.

Photos are hosted on flickr.com. Look for other photos linked to this post – rolandinsh:notespost=15;

With all Internet development in Latvia, some days ago I trough about meaning of “social activism“. If it would be connected with Internet, we could say it means to post comments on blogs and about happenings around (for example, in news). It become more easier when You have Your own blog (in Latvia, for example, free blog service on nee.lv for artists eArt.lv). In that case people can spread their attitude and/or opinion. It can be done alone or cooperating, for example, get involved in some non-governmental organization (NGO), like creative group MYSTYLe art or some other. In Internet it`s like separated community.

There is fewer Internet accessibility, but activities are more cruel about information, because Internet let You save anonymity, but out-of-Internet, people have to identify yourself with your own words.I have very often answer on questions like “Why You are in this (MYSTYLe art) organization” or any other non-profit project. Answer is simple: I like what I’m doing. NGO’s are using blog(~s) as a tool and communication channel in the same time.I’m so happy, when I see that some organization is using blog as report of activity. Right now in my RSS reader are some feeds from other organizations blog posts. Currently it’s just official information, which appears as copy-paste of press releases or description of projects (summary or full). Hope, that in near future I’ll coax MYSTYLe art to write in blog style :P It’s in process for now (like out web). From other latvian NGO’s I liked JASMA activities in LiveJournal.com, where they have blog. Of course, it’s as well little bit formal, but at least looks more sprightly.

Another project with youth participation is “jaunieši vēro” (youth is watching), where they have blog on Blogger.com. For me it look like journal more, than blog (*?). Content, at least for me, is little bit boring, because it’s oriented to regional youth and local municipality, where youth are watching how they are working. But posts are more alive and emotional as others which I have saw.In posts youngsters are writing from what deputy were eating in lunch till evaluation of pappier work. Something similar had LJP with Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) where young people, most under 21, were judged speech of MP’s.

PS This is not direct translation of my post in latvian. This short version adapted for English blog.