Another morning with another sufficient breakfast.
The hotel was very well located for a visit to Klaipėda Castle. If it was not for the snow, one could see the outer part of the castle right from the hotel's doorstep.
What is supposed to Klaipeda Castle was buried under the snow:
After breakfast we walked around the area of the hotel. Was it an interesting area? Maybe. Maybe during a regular warm day it is a busy harbour. I can not say for sure but the weather and the snow we were having at that time sure made it quite interesting. There was nobody else there. Everywhere we saw snow and ice floating on the water. Everything was white. The cranes were covered in snow and it felt like they were abandoned and frozen in time. The sky was white and grey. The cold penetrated through your clothes into your bones.
At 10 am we were on our way to the next destination: Liepaja, Latvia. Another town, a different country. And as expected, the road was quiet and dirty from the snow. We drove past the now-unused border station to our accommodation.
From the small balcony of my room, I could see the street and the house next door. What I saw on the roof edge of the house next door did not disappoint me. I've seen them before but this was the first time I saw stalactites from real frozen water from close up. I could not help but think how cold it was that the water dripping down the roof even froze. Some of them were even more than 15 cm long.
Frozen water hanging from the roof edge:
After freshening up, we walked to town and found out that it took about 15 minutes to get to town. Along the way we saw quite a few wooden houses. Turning left into Kuršu iela at the end of Rožu iela, we came across Liepajas Petertirgus Sia or the market. When we got there there was no market though. Instead we saw snow-covered stalls indicating that there had been no market today or for at least a few days.
Liepaja market:
We continued walking to Rožu laukums or Rose Square, passing by two famous sights of Liepaja: Latvia’s first Rock cafe and the Latvian Musician’s Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame consisted of 35 bronzed plaques commemorating musicians, 10 of current and former groups and finally, 5 plaques to commemorate Latvia’s music greats who have departed this world to play music in the beyond. Across from the Rockcafe stood Latvia’s largest guitar side by side with a children's playground.
Latvia's first rock cafe:
Why Rose Square? In the 18th century the New Market was located here. When the market was moved to its current location in 1910, in its place the city authorities decided to construct a public rose garden. Hence, in 1911 the square was given the name Rose Square. Mind you, when we got there there was no rose to be seen as everything was covered with snow. If you stand with your back towards the direction of the Rock cafe and you look to your left past the trees, you will see Liepaja University building.
Rose Square covered in snow:
After spending some times in Rose Square we continued on towards the Promenade bearing in mind to check out a famous restaurant serving international dishes, Pastnieka māja (The Postman’s House) if it was any good for dinner.
The Promenade draws your attention to the docks and ships in the area as well as the fountain which resembles the seas waves which wash into Tirdzniecības (Trade) Canal. Another Liepāja's sights, the Amber Clock, is also located here by the waterside, next to the Promenade Hotel.
People fishing on Tirdzniecības canal:
From the waterside we walked back to town. It was already almost 3 pm. We decided we needed to sit and have a drink. What was a better place than the Rock cafe? You get to sit and experience one of the sights of Liepaja at once.
Looking out the window of Latvia's first rock cafe:
Liepaja is not very big. One day would be enough to see Liepaja. We only had half a day and we have seen most of the sights of Liepaja, we have tried the Rock Cafe and we still had plenty of time before dinner time.
