Karosta & Liepaja

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> After Riga we made our way across to Latvia's west coast and back towards the Baltic Sea, having carefully planned our route to ensure that the roads weren't too bad. I imagine in a year or so's time the road network will be vastly improved since renewal of all the main roads are well underway to bring it on par with Estonia.<br /> <div> <br /> <div> We had considered taking the A19 up to Ventspils but Lonely Planet called it 'Industrial' and while I would have liked to have visited the Soviet Radio Telescope the length of the de-tour was too great. I didn't mind so much, because we were going to Karosta.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSoma58J6iq_YHsU5p8dycb3aq6vbMhAvj4HYElVtZYMpLlcWI9e8W8dHvOzBuZL7M4y2O9aNTRF7U9q2xHtq9_sxd40Xuc_yL2r4tYoaaVuozNR0SkhIKzXhTkdqg6q5UXPNP67KQX4/s1600/IMG_9014_5_6_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSoma58J6iq_YHsU5p8dycb3aq6vbMhAvj4HYElVtZYMpLlcWI9e8W8dHvOzBuZL7M4y2O9aNTRF7U9q2xHtq9_sxd40Xuc_yL2r4tYoaaVuozNR0SkhIKzXhTkdqg6q5UXPNP67KQX4/s200/IMG_9014_5_6_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF4W9Ax4sUcxe_9e7pXmtFe7vhem6gW_43vX-y3h01sIC_oYx-FaJGDh3Czq3WeGmGYb8qcSAOkNTQ5a8E_-pB18GwFmJT46NgWIvEPvhqHb4ISIr6M0LVoHZvEqdMKFP3zyNbo2UBls/s1600/IMG_9105_6_7_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF4W9Ax4sUcxe_9e7pXmtFe7vhem6gW_43vX-y3h01sIC_oYx-FaJGDh3Czq3WeGmGYb8qcSAOkNTQ5a8E_-pB18GwFmJT46NgWIvEPvhqHb4ISIr6M0LVoHZvEqdMKFP3zyNbo2UBls/s200/IMG_9105_6_7_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow5-3KSSy7l9Jp4DRidDiD7Pfva-NlDlSfKW5MN973jspEqRztElNlW7Bm0j-hRpKuLBqvSOJfgdvWcyPodBpPPHBuGpJx8EzU2_p8DY-7yq5CSBk8l47qw9rmRyM8OkMyJ0g60xs3VE/s1600/IMG_9101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow5-3KSSy7l9Jp4DRidDiD7Pfva-NlDlSfKW5MN973jspEqRztElNlW7Bm0j-hRpKuLBqvSOJfgdvWcyPodBpPPHBuGpJx8EzU2_p8DY-7yq5CSBk8l47qw9rmRyM8OkMyJ0g60xs3VE/s200/IMG_9101.JPG" width="133" /></a>I think we're in danger of painting a picture of a deserted, abandoned Latvia which I can assure you is not the case. It just so happens that we've spent too much time watching post-apocalyptic films and are attracted to exploring these abandoned towns and buildings.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Karosta is a disused war port and was a closed town with origins dating back to 1890. It's a strange place largely deserted with buildings either abandoned, lived in and squalid or less frequently renovated rubbing shoulders with each other. We saw lots of people cleaning the streets and the steps to the abandoned buildings and the whole place is surprisingly clean and well kept which added to the time-warp feel.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLsRTkTXP0qt0FWQhMQLm_YhauWlPisoJV4ly-MNbmJ6CjIzZvTjHtreCThs7GRN_3RGso6-sXvpoJ7fPhMkQ8eOgmuJLXPc0WfHM39-jDYlfo4uWOMW8h60HN6sgZFkAILXciULphI8/s1600/IMG_9123_4_5_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLsRTkTXP0qt0FWQhMQLm_YhauWlPisoJV4ly-MNbmJ6CjIzZvTjHtreCThs7GRN_3RGso6-sXvpoJ7fPhMkQ8eOgmuJLXPc0WfHM39-jDYlfo4uWOMW8h60HN6sgZFkAILXciULphI8/s200/IMG_9123_4_5_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-arGhLECt6HvaWdEx8fQ_7Hkct1h8p0RyrqOfENcESYiP-K0EOx8k0v2-En9F-Hkwps8SXwZQuigntS-VbGJMxriKe7sux5vk_If4YWzSbsfgjtqha7y7DEXMP9Cr2AEMw_FccrcEiA/s1600/IMG_9021_2_3_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-arGhLECt6HvaWdEx8fQ_7Hkct1h8p0RyrqOfENcESYiP-K0EOx8k0v2-En9F-Hkwps8SXwZQuigntS-VbGJMxriKe7sux5vk_If4YWzSbsfgjtqha7y7DEXMP9Cr2AEMw_FccrcEiA/s200/IMG_9021_2_3_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In the center there is a large Russian Orthodox Church next to a group of run down Soviet apartment blocks which looks totally alien in its environment. There isn't much in the way of tourist attractions but there is a large ex-Military prison which was open for 92 years and has since been turned into a tourist attraction. You have to take a guided tour round which is a bit theatrical and involved running around the yard, standing in line, being picked off and as a result we took very few pictures from inside! You can stay in the prison overnight if you wanted and they cater for stag do's also!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbGnynmTkdFzVlHqPrqh7ftnUrO9hEo73x-rBAbIK2CpIIEVbvwwRMngROyzTPS3J_sZvtVFaNUk01brvEIgPkVcilzC3ynDzN8_T31byBFL9ym1oa-opn0mz9JU9n_STDgaeAwjwFXE/s1600/IMG_9051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbGnynmTkdFzVlHqPrqh7ftnUrO9hEo73x-rBAbIK2CpIIEVbvwwRMngROyzTPS3J_sZvtVFaNUk01brvEIgPkVcilzC3ynDzN8_T31byBFL9ym1oa-opn0mz9JU9n_STDgaeAwjwFXE/s200/IMG_9051.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnd8NRK6MjbDo6p-qavg-vcrIVjKg8pmiPMddakutNxZyAFBcFZfYZ5-rBpHNK5fpB7nFEP8Rnf6wwo_Vev45D84uJOlxqD1WynfQNxHn6wSZpOkhFqkJ3Bp7xbHbKDqSSO8Mz4RsNIgg/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnd8NRK6MjbDo6p-qavg-vcrIVjKg8pmiPMddakutNxZyAFBcFZfYZ5-rBpHNK5fpB7nFEP8Rnf6wwo_Vev45D84uJOlxqD1WynfQNxHn6wSZpOkhFqkJ3Bp7xbHbKDqSSO8Mz4RsNIgg/s200/IMG_9055.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We wanted to try and get to the Northern Fort which wasn't signposted from the main road and we ended up getting there using our phone with Google Maps Satellite images to guide us in. Time has taken it's toll on the fort which is slowly being claimed by the sea but we spent a good hour or so exploring the remaining buildings with no other tourists in sight.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I'd have loved to explore the whole area of Karosta in more detail, there are many more abandoned buildings and ex-soviet hardware we'd have liked to have seen and photographed, but we didn't want to rattle our van to pieces as many of the roads are so bad that people drive along the grass verge instead! </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-v41aGkLbbjbL46N0f7A-5v96VCucECYERGNUyeF6PewhP-axbGZMEULWKtzeCpJUL1Wo8qs0ly-QAz6IXcJwRgPnejV_InMF9ry2hzj-WqYKj26oquSOAhzDJrclmdV62OQAlZXkTo/s1600/IMG_9141_2_3_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-v41aGkLbbjbL46N0f7A-5v96VCucECYERGNUyeF6PewhP-axbGZMEULWKtzeCpJUL1Wo8qs0ly-QAz6IXcJwRgPnejV_InMF9ry2hzj-WqYKj26oquSOAhzDJrclmdV62OQAlZXkTo/s200/IMG_9141_2_3_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpQ5YuUijJWPL6_LJeV0znLdJEBKFiVaXr_B4UJVyyrSg7q9YQa1yUxgJAMqNTTKq9J8s2KFdQNutd3_9Ombp4C5Ed-NeHk3933D64jr2LGruZLnCHmw-1N0dMYwt_PAFVt9mReDi_aI/s1600/IMG_9144_5_6_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpQ5YuUijJWPL6_LJeV0znLdJEBKFiVaXr_B4UJVyyrSg7q9YQa1yUxgJAMqNTTKq9J8s2KFdQNutd3_9Ombp4C5Ed-NeHk3933D64jr2LGruZLnCHmw-1N0dMYwt_PAFVt9mReDi_aI/s200/IMG_9144_5_6_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTJQ6-MmPvTLMvkw1kP4FHUEJNGlnzLunHEUGIv8Jr5S1gX6Kio4xIvtYjTZOO7ioSBHhEXQm-KFIobruBAZ4jcEoeSNO9f0ZLSto5M3o4KyE5eQxlOqg_xLDXWNb6woFd9-ZDYEbdgM/s1600/IMG_9150_1_2_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTJQ6-MmPvTLMvkw1kP4FHUEJNGlnzLunHEUGIv8Jr5S1gX6Kio4xIvtYjTZOO7ioSBHhEXQm-KFIobruBAZ4jcEoeSNO9f0ZLSto5M3o4KyE5eQxlOqg_xLDXWNb6woFd9-ZDYEbdgM/s200/IMG_9150_1_2_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh176eQRFL4VF9wNbuG4VVJohhhsd4p2DRz_poFMrL5Cc6j3z99jslEQbFn59TMa2zbxaKtXMQ-9Dh2yvIvNW18_ChQC1kBX3fW-PSnfSJrkWwOGfEyJ3yESi407LNeHfdJICDSdYi0ZDQ/s1600/IMG_9159_60_61_tonemapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh176eQRFL4VF9wNbuG4VVJohhhsd4p2DRz_poFMrL5Cc6j3z99jslEQbFn59TMa2zbxaKtXMQ-9Dh2yvIvNW18_ChQC1kBX3fW-PSnfSJrkWwOGfEyJ3yESi407LNeHfdJICDSdYi0ZDQ/s200/IMG_9159_60_61_tonemapped.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> After Karosta we spent two days Wild Camped in Liepaja right next to a fantastic 'blue flag' beach. The town itself was a bit of an strange one, we made a bee-line for the acclaimed 'Amber Clock' to find a load of dirty amber fragments glued to a egg timer? Not quite what we were expecting! The beech was excellent though and we walked until we couldn't see where we had come from turned round and walked back again.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Oq89AJT5bZZqbpWLZTubE5uXGzFB7Y-0fcIo09cRmtYlvI6_HkUIhnlBQlAzPJ4GVQzHZaYcGf2adomeDYLhKuz0yw20ZjPLoHuiS73HVOyCKrU5ORWvLkpU62JaPK1KIpdSGVhCfDM/s1600/IMG_9073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Oq89AJT5bZZqbpWLZTubE5uXGzFB7Y-0fcIo09cRmtYlvI6_HkUIhnlBQlAzPJ4GVQzHZaYcGf2adomeDYLhKuz0yw20ZjPLoHuiS73HVOyCKrU5ORWvLkpU62JaPK1KIpdSGVhCfDM/s200/IMG_9073.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Overnight Location GPS: (56.50985, 20.99615) - Large free carpark with access to beach. No restrictions, WI-FI in range. </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> </div> </div>

Karosta & Liepaja

After Riga we made our way across to Latvia's west coast and back towards the Baltic Sea, having carefully planned our route to ensure ...

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Jelgava & Riga

We had found a nice spot in the city of Jelgava and decided to spend two days parked next to an artificial beech enjoying what has been in excess of 35c each day. We managed to keep cool with regular showers, knowing that water is available at every Statoil Fuel station to replenish our tanks.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi4_ImSL3HvtBHKOU8O-GiAdQ1EPq0MjLx06wDOt7s2U79t0EknMWsUfVwCq1mjvw5X8GlSgg7hqnVdGtpIsrLTm4OQ6anIjkvYOqlVsGnQqhCLfRX4Du2_Veobwt2V5A5qSv5j0WqW8/s1600/IMG_8928_29_30_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi4_ImSL3HvtBHKOU8O-GiAdQ1EPq0MjLx06wDOt7s2U79t0EknMWsUfVwCq1mjvw5X8GlSgg7hqnVdGtpIsrLTm4OQ6anIjkvYOqlVsGnQqhCLfRX4Du2_Veobwt2V5A5qSv5j0WqW8/s200/IMG_8928_29_30_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_UM8knq2g4CGHvN_gURkQuxoo8fQ-sGGmMuGyfjShSEKfkuCeYJB5BTzTqY-_KAiOV2bMsA0x0BYoCmUj2-z19vs0z-XOXZ84j_8lxcJ0kagje9DUwB4ZyCH9DtFmhbn0B1jAG_6_8o/s1600/IMG_8934_5_6_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_UM8knq2g4CGHvN_gURkQuxoo8fQ-sGGmMuGyfjShSEKfkuCeYJB5BTzTqY-_KAiOV2bMsA0x0BYoCmUj2-z19vs0z-XOXZ84j_8lxcJ0kagje9DUwB4ZyCH9DtFmhbn0B1jAG_6_8o/s200/IMG_8934_5_6_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Jelgava</span></div> <br /> We set off early on Friday to arrive in Riga and do some exploring, since the weather was forecast to be overcast on the Saturday (and indeed that is what it has been). Riga was very busy and the added heat made our usual tactic of looking for a wild camping spot a little more stressful. When we saw a Swiss registered motor home that had been clamped (on later inspection they hadn't even bothered to buy a ticket, so there goes Swiss impunity from prosecution!) we ended up at Riga City Camping for an eye watering £17 without electric - our most expensive overnight so far especially given that 95% of them have been free.<br /> <br /> The Old Town of Riga was very small but pleasant and once we got hold of a decent map we began to navigate around all of the various sites. It was very difficult to photograph as there were few open spaces from which to get the buildings into frame (oh for a wide angle lens!). We managed to see pretty much everything we wanted to in an afternoon and for whatever reason the city didn't seem to invite us in for a second days touring as we have done with all the capitals so far on this tour, although I suspect the searing heat might have had something to do with it.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCk00sqwuFHqiuF2zsT1epcvR5Z_lPmiLTnomrwQwD6mz29L7cDMK6A62epd_oz5dmT37Vuf7ecd48NmiooNdv-SD-uwpG_v7ONGgzEf5yg4cNz0igNLP2i7ol3keR81W7HrtFB-Xoz2Q/s1600/IMG_8956_7_8_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCk00sqwuFHqiuF2zsT1epcvR5Z_lPmiLTnomrwQwD6mz29L7cDMK6A62epd_oz5dmT37Vuf7ecd48NmiooNdv-SD-uwpG_v7ONGgzEf5yg4cNz0igNLP2i7ol3keR81W7HrtFB-Xoz2Q/s200/IMG_8956_7_8_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8brEwMH1B9ESNGN0SvFAKONPlTnTKixXCfJC98lMU4KNgrT7L-f4VvHl1LDbX9uPHJKQEnGHQX6mkqM58TF1hRBrzNjiL99HaMl7-NM9M0bbuhmK_BGf568jBzMUsXj-pIX535nwG9J8/s1600/IMG_8975_6_7_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8brEwMH1B9ESNGN0SvFAKONPlTnTKixXCfJC98lMU4KNgrT7L-f4VvHl1LDbX9uPHJKQEnGHQX6mkqM58TF1hRBrzNjiL99HaMl7-NM9M0bbuhmK_BGf568jBzMUsXj-pIX535nwG9J8/s200/IMG_8975_6_7_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nEbPekwGTAV-jcQFOudNztHa2w07uzFSpitYM2EXOYtVF3VygVP7bYRQsMbB5FDpWiAHi1JnuXjT6bU5r7QEdH_NAZHK-tr8YSZd3tFOydmroG172kCUrqEGouSKjpdF0BfiLH4A_m4/s1600/IMG_8972_3_4_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nEbPekwGTAV-jcQFOudNztHa2w07uzFSpitYM2EXOYtVF3VygVP7bYRQsMbB5FDpWiAHi1JnuXjT6bU5r7QEdH_NAZHK-tr8YSZd3tFOydmroG172kCUrqEGouSKjpdF0BfiLH4A_m4/s200/IMG_8972_3_4_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfgt481NJF6G7CbTYfIvRf3G3R7p4GZDe1ieCfl1DXugC_79PvEjAR5mAApFTBSNY9nHZNg4FAXzyf_hgfQkwl-LdVMyGyaR9b_ROTPTIE_dsSmnzwRYkEebFTUBjOdRLIEOgx6WuRBw/s1600/IMG_8964_5_6_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfgt481NJF6G7CbTYfIvRf3G3R7p4GZDe1ieCfl1DXugC_79PvEjAR5mAApFTBSNY9nHZNg4FAXzyf_hgfQkwl-LdVMyGyaR9b_ROTPTIE_dsSmnzwRYkEebFTUBjOdRLIEOgx6WuRBw/s200/IMG_8964_5_6_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoGxtguK1PyDBfQUhzjZ_dkgzilULqPSndfCZ8WzXBFRZMKLCnZJNotDdMUO6cGwtBhNXU0swq8DI_Dtv17KALOxnKVzlTcCdkUqseKyoO9zshqazixsh2egqpYpMEKhR8DkRWMJJb8k/s1600/IMG_8988_89_90_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoGxtguK1PyDBfQUhzjZ_dkgzilULqPSndfCZ8WzXBFRZMKLCnZJNotDdMUO6cGwtBhNXU0swq8DI_Dtv17KALOxnKVzlTcCdkUqseKyoO9zshqazixsh2egqpYpMEKhR8DkRWMJJb8k/s200/IMG_8988_89_90_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmJUZ-_x4C8LXMKMadr82rNZHcE8_nobpKLTtoyKu2ISstgMcG7PmIfzPZKnc8VUYo5u8RXo6e7s50mbjOO_k8iCICJp8gBZAEP6cVCGiL5GsnoMYPyCzG-GkSclJNHHFugW-sYYXK40/s1600/IMG_8981+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmJUZ-_x4C8LXMKMadr82rNZHcE8_nobpKLTtoyKu2ISstgMcG7PmIfzPZKnc8VUYo5u8RXo6e7s50mbjOO_k8iCICJp8gBZAEP6cVCGiL5GsnoMYPyCzG-GkSclJNHHFugW-sYYXK40/s200/IMG_8981+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3iWh76EiqbYip8bn-O_aKhSl6Fmjfx1KkzMVeBKWAB7c3iBmjbHSZ4EsNbMIseBYYKRogHUm4h5FP63GBwtQCO578QSNEsYTewH-8d90vFyDQHghb2KoE1Z3GBktu7wAQTvGQ963a38/s1600/IMG_8969_70_71_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3iWh76EiqbYip8bn-O_aKhSl6Fmjfx1KkzMVeBKWAB7c3iBmjbHSZ4EsNbMIseBYYKRogHUm4h5FP63GBwtQCO578QSNEsYTewH-8d90vFyDQHghb2KoE1Z3GBktu7wAQTvGQ963a38/s200/IMG_8969_70_71_fused+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div>  When we returned from Riga that evening we found that the site had been descended upon by about 10 UK and Irish registered caravan's with associated new van's, Range Rovers as a 'travelling family' set up pitch, squeezing their vehicles in-between the gaps people had left for their tables and chairs. Of course to the German and Dutch they were just 'English' and they were making their presence known. We made a hasty retreat in the morning - not before dismantling the fence behind our pitch so we could back our van out since we were blocked in by a 4x4! To add insult to injury a group of five French van's had found a secure guarded car park 500m closer to the city on the same stretch of road for just £1/day! I've made a note of it under "Riga City Camping vs Wild Camping Riga" for anyone wanting to learn from our experience. Still, it made us laugh (eventually) and will spur us on not to get lazy in future with our Wild Camping spots.

Jelgava & Riga

We had found a nice spot in the city of Jelgava and decided to spend two days parked next to an artificial beech enjoying what has been in e...

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Koknese Ruins, Rundale Palace and Hill of Crosses

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Prior to visiting these two we had visited Turaida Castle which has been extensively restored, however it was immediately apparent that it was a trap of the worst kind. The kind set to snair American and Japanese on coach parties from their freshly exchanged Latvian currency and we hadn't even rolled into a parking space before we were being asked to part with 3 LVL payment in cash, euro's or credit card. We declined. I'm sure it's very nice but we came to the Baltic's to escape the coach parties as much as possible.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCdH9wErSrj2SLNqyIeIhoQxn2_BvZ_zDsZcMvjXS0aXEMIMxThXrDAEEcAjEoQNJlRuXryayPaQPuEwlZIvePBqxQkHiVOdQL9sDJPNmKOWtgnluk7L2z3FdrmPYZRIO0O57xIRDWFs/s1600/Koknese+Castle+Ruins+2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCdH9wErSrj2SLNqyIeIhoQxn2_BvZ_zDsZcMvjXS0aXEMIMxThXrDAEEcAjEoQNJlRuXryayPaQPuEwlZIvePBqxQkHiVOdQL9sDJPNmKOWtgnluk7L2z3FdrmPYZRIO0O57xIRDWFs/s200/Koknese+Castle+Ruins+2+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJt2GYebPE8frOZrGHO6Av78qq2ShpNg9eTXOTDvE88G-NI8_9fPF-csuERl6cSdUAdCZezwY70yPtFqMkwSiBsuHYPYko_46jqsn8AhCq3ejF5vRWguE34AoSAwbT9Cmhf4vjXFW5ks/s1600/Koknese+Castle+Ruins+3+%2528Large%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJt2GYebPE8frOZrGHO6Av78qq2ShpNg9eTXOTDvE88G-NI8_9fPF-csuERl6cSdUAdCZezwY70yPtFqMkwSiBsuHYPYko_46jqsn8AhCq3ejF5vRWguE34AoSAwbT9Cmhf4vjXFW5ks/s200/Koknese+Castle+Ruins+3+%2528Large%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpZGNdQFpWPN5lszEECYJ0Pu6mWn9nz4YR_OHsBoxgch2VjciMpAHoajnS6TUVGjvP6XzGWrXOInDloLheLhAVsYerxdpLpvUaFSOZ40aMgBw3DriV4RejZsGbPbYvPfgUeHPAZy9WcI/s1600/IMG_8756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpZGNdQFpWPN5lszEECYJ0Pu6mWn9nz4YR_OHsBoxgch2VjciMpAHoajnS6TUVGjvP6XzGWrXOInDloLheLhAVsYerxdpLpvUaFSOZ40aMgBw3DriV4RejZsGbPbYvPfgUeHPAZy9WcI/s200/IMG_8756.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div>  We carried on, originally intending to enter the region of Daugavpils to see a Bascialla Church there however the A6 began to seriously deteriorate so after visiting the Koknese Ruins we decided we were going to head back West and off the main Latvia - Russia trunk road.<br /> <br /> By now it was getting late and we parked up outside a 24 hour burger chain which was well flood lit and away from the wagons parked up overnight.<br /> <br /> The next day we visited Rundale Palace but having had our fill of Palace interiors we instead decided to concentrate our efforts on the gardens which were magnificent and much better then depicted in our Guidebook.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n-nobU6UG5CokFhyxg75r8A8nEOCLoGLV6lTUmJxs2evt9QAFyNVYOVyA7u36iFx8v5Uv6T4Y-6Rv4EnG0D8rF4-9pA7zj9CmimZJCJlOkT97y_Tdzvavyobhj3m3E9EJHPfAWgxU6Q/s1600/Untitled_Panorama1+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n-nobU6UG5CokFhyxg75r8A8nEOCLoGLV6lTUmJxs2evt9QAFyNVYOVyA7u36iFx8v5Uv6T4Y-6Rv4EnG0D8rF4-9pA7zj9CmimZJCJlOkT97y_Tdzvavyobhj3m3E9EJHPfAWgxU6Q/s320/Untitled_Panorama1+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6qQNRFA7QRKY4no8N0dlcaC-CPuAfSnwnqomN6Ao3bCXTvNEVpl1F-aPnazvNmWocKhouc47Jsi4ciZC7dypQZdFkaMnDyO8ycqwnMZiTQ78T15h7RVMnNZymPS50y5ULnu7aDrGZ-s/s1600/Rundale+Palace+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6qQNRFA7QRKY4no8N0dlcaC-CPuAfSnwnqomN6Ao3bCXTvNEVpl1F-aPnazvNmWocKhouc47Jsi4ciZC7dypQZdFkaMnDyO8ycqwnMZiTQ78T15h7RVMnNZymPS50y5ULnu7aDrGZ-s/s200/Rundale+Palace+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJFakP8u0cOmJBbdBaungBddoJMNHHh_J0SzcxoucOuveh3wJVodoaaJctQVlz6yuXnRLCrqkazJJ2o1TjuyVoDIFoz_JcfYyaj_OFC1n6ZzTGwYPB5-ikg8b7ewqJYeRwWt1fK9ld7Y/s1600/Rundale+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJFakP8u0cOmJBbdBaungBddoJMNHHh_J0SzcxoucOuveh3wJVodoaaJctQVlz6yuXnRLCrqkazJJ2o1TjuyVoDIFoz_JcfYyaj_OFC1n6ZzTGwYPB5-ikg8b7ewqJYeRwWt1fK9ld7Y/s200/Rundale+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMv86bXChBdZN7a2zvvorVoV5LDnEf9tYzfrf1gHPsXAmtQWK4-ZcVGQ24KRoAQ83TwoCUkYKGWkZARMq1pBqiUH_sVLdyirSHWc9-ElygDFIcawyfScGSP7CFoszdl3HFKlXLqgSj3U/s1600/Rundale+Lillies+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMv86bXChBdZN7a2zvvorVoV5LDnEf9tYzfrf1gHPsXAmtQWK4-ZcVGQ24KRoAQ83TwoCUkYKGWkZARMq1pBqiUH_sVLdyirSHWc9-ElygDFIcawyfScGSP7CFoszdl3HFKlXLqgSj3U/s200/Rundale+Lillies+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZALBsQTcRZWTskIYKjWmwjmwhNzhStDtVZoDqwZKvt23bzEKKIHeBVGBXqONoCVPozh0U0sKO1xq-rStg-eUeZDjbMZZCNiv0hOU7OwMcWQd8xPXoQv0p_wv3m9sdkIhyphenhyphenVoyjEjiPBmg/s1600/Rundale+3+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZALBsQTcRZWTskIYKjWmwjmwhNzhStDtVZoDqwZKvt23bzEKKIHeBVGBXqONoCVPozh0U0sKO1xq-rStg-eUeZDjbMZZCNiv0hOU7OwMcWQd8xPXoQv0p_wv3m9sdkIhyphenhyphenVoyjEjiPBmg/s200/Rundale+3+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq7nZ3PI0t-6dXb-O-uXs7w1upU7XPjqtYLdnkLqDz4a4Np8gfMh21hFoDsCK1mNqv4qWXHQ3GF-z45qb4WZd6FgOlp30o6eqz-0KnhsmBVTn4FMJK8oA6n-64BARotskPHS7Omea3oc/s1600/Rundale+2+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq7nZ3PI0t-6dXb-O-uXs7w1upU7XPjqtYLdnkLqDz4a4Np8gfMh21hFoDsCK1mNqv4qWXHQ3GF-z45qb4WZd6FgOlp30o6eqz-0KnhsmBVTn4FMJK8oA6n-64BARotskPHS7Omea3oc/s200/Rundale+2+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> From here we ventured 40 miles across the border into Lithuania to view the Hill of Crosses. We avoided the obligatory tourist trap (£3 for motor homes, 50p for cars - but I suspect it is possible to overnight here) and parked up on the road to wander across to see the spectacle. Pretty weird if you ask me.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5V2mRmyeQJhogz2B1gtUnQteWvDCLjMyyjxAFVa5cc17k2gZDB_PAwaI8NsHIAvu2roLsuXoUbHMYBFAWoTic5EydTa2tsEN3ZzRPo2p-xA4u32T7sfVO1H-lhl_XBfS4duVWgIG3I0/s1600/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5V2mRmyeQJhogz2B1gtUnQteWvDCLjMyyjxAFVa5cc17k2gZDB_PAwaI8NsHIAvu2roLsuXoUbHMYBFAWoTic5EydTa2tsEN3ZzRPo2p-xA4u32T7sfVO1H-lhl_XBfS4duVWgIG3I0/s200/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXP2xvLXUqrUdYXh6XuZ-3HhEksZ-B4iqaOocuYPPuNEUw8K5x0eI5f6-k0nMw5fyiBonDwTwSCQCLwHqbicMydRjUYlHpv-csFMdXtHVkKtZIm7tD7ToqlfEa0maaq7qJutg9aAogsk/s1600/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+2+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXP2xvLXUqrUdYXh6XuZ-3HhEksZ-B4iqaOocuYPPuNEUw8K5x0eI5f6-k0nMw5fyiBonDwTwSCQCLwHqbicMydRjUYlHpv-csFMdXtHVkKtZIm7tD7ToqlfEa0maaq7qJutg9aAogsk/s200/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+2+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAKoHEfUyq6_ddgCzn9euC2beNpAObFJa53E1gPq0s68VPWHIEy9FjEf1GytVBEb5nzSxSfFfy6YpZ14jtXt7pQ__ERp92HIClK9IIIbVqeZOWGlZmUnlmMx_fea92jEEntTCta2DLyY/s1600/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+3+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAKoHEfUyq6_ddgCzn9euC2beNpAObFJa53E1gPq0s68VPWHIEy9FjEf1GytVBEb5nzSxSfFfy6YpZ14jtXt7pQ__ERp92HIClK9IIIbVqeZOWGlZmUnlmMx_fea92jEEntTCta2DLyY/s200/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+3+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTtPCYqOvA2UsRddQj2sJLqcnFimpGv_-IVha-eYXKriVHsN4b1IFeg1uuMJFM4YOgxTuyYZJ5pY4WvJEDlgdOM52aTP9L0A0ssXc1wDV0U_Zx81vY-aPiTesSJAXjJeEIBkjoOUYCH8/s1600/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+4+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTtPCYqOvA2UsRddQj2sJLqcnFimpGv_-IVha-eYXKriVHsN4b1IFeg1uuMJFM4YOgxTuyYZJ5pY4WvJEDlgdOM52aTP9L0A0ssXc1wDV0U_Zx81vY-aPiTesSJAXjJeEIBkjoOUYCH8/s200/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+4+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNRtWgpVFjDUXMJsHNEdxfEo3U0UDZ8eSWGT0sGDqaSwAGa91vbZ_fxG5NG2m_Eppd-7lXggmoVmSGDsYQ196QKgJnsBV6cWHFxY3k3r2aclF7nc7Ult8HNSgUm1yR9A_vDRP7htSJZ8/s1600/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+5+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNRtWgpVFjDUXMJsHNEdxfEo3U0UDZ8eSWGT0sGDqaSwAGa91vbZ_fxG5NG2m_Eppd-7lXggmoVmSGDsYQ196QKgJnsBV6cWHFxY3k3r2aclF7nc7Ult8HNSgUm1yR9A_vDRP7htSJZ8/s200/Hill+of+Crosses+-+Lithuania+5+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;">  Tonight we are back in Latvia in the town of Jelgava en route to Riga in the next couple of days.<br /> <br /> Overnight Location GPS: (56.65136, 23.73850) - Jelgava quiet carpark near an aritificual beach and new walkway with a nice walk into the city.</div> </div>

Koknese Ruins, Rundale Palace and Hill of Crosses

Prior to visiting these two we had visited Turaida Castle which has been extensively restored, however it was immediately apparent that it ...

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Ligatne Soviet Nuclear Bunker

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you might have picked up a tendency towards Soviet history and in particular abandoned / derelict buildings. I've also always wanted to visit a Cold War bunker but never really given it the necessary investigation to go and see one of the UK's ROC posts or similar installation.<br /> <br /> This particular bunker was only declassified in 2003 and was never actually used although it was staffed until Russian Soviet powers fully withdrew from Latvia in 1992 and could hold up to 250 people. Much is still not known about the bunker since all who worked there signed strict non-disclosure agreements and since independence have been unwilling to break them. The contents of the bunker remained relatively intact, despite the Soviet tenancy to destroy everything on their withdrawal from Latvia, the bunker which cost almost twice Latvia's current GDP remained untouched with only classified information being removed by retreating troops.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLluJ5kVzcvDgqLGUtD6u4hwUdwH4cte1yCLErT77K1V-fMAT2aFH-eqOTI_5hiuXCn19LdYN9jnQB22ZLBVwF23gtLOq1P9GaIQUkWj5JmNlzh9XHgTcv0mlNpivJNOzT2OIBg-9OVcg/s1600/IMG_8663+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLluJ5kVzcvDgqLGUtD6u4hwUdwH4cte1yCLErT77K1V-fMAT2aFH-eqOTI_5hiuXCn19LdYN9jnQB22ZLBVwF23gtLOq1P9GaIQUkWj5JmNlzh9XHgTcv0mlNpivJNOzT2OIBg-9OVcg/s200/IMG_8663+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> <br /></div> </div> The building itself is pretty unassuming except for the small now unmanned guards hut on entrance - it is in use today as when it was built as a Rehabilitation Centre formally for Soldiers but laterally in the years proceeding Latvia's independence it was opened up to the public. The centre has onsite living accommodation and like so many aspects of Soviet hardware it didn't exist on any maps.<br /> <br /> Finding the bunker, for us at least, proved challenging. Recognising the signs such as the raised air turrets in the car park and on my brief walk around the grounds locating some blast doors I found no other sign of how as a tourist you're meant to get in! I decided to queue at the reception desk along with people getting repeat prescriptions as Sophie waited apprehensively in the car park. Getting to the front of the queue I noticed some gas masks on sale in a glass cabinet and knew I was in the right place.<br /> <br /> The entrance fee was 3 LVL (£3.80) per person, but the upshot was it had to be accompanied by an English speaking guide a further cost of 20 LVL (£25) unless of course I wanted to join a Latvian tour at 3:30. Not wanting to miss out, the tour was booked for half an hour later and I went back to justify the cost to Sophie. As it transpired a Swiss-French couple turned up and were happy to take an English tour so we split the cost of the guide between us and so the four of us journeyed 9 metres below ground to start the bunker tour.<br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcThovyNYTVJBpxYMw7rz-KcS0UGXAbcNGmuMNns_dMDHwGFa9YtCfpuMDD3x_w8ikQv5XFUq_0U1o56KdKHJTnCrtBQM-Ew1Tjg9BACsXxC-Zav7fqqOFAEXoQQ64duFP2PWgVOjjIo/s1600/IMG_8721+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcThovyNYTVJBpxYMw7rz-KcS0UGXAbcNGmuMNns_dMDHwGFa9YtCfpuMDD3x_w8ikQv5XFUq_0U1o56KdKHJTnCrtBQM-Ew1Tjg9BACsXxC-Zav7fqqOFAEXoQQ64duFP2PWgVOjjIo/s200/IMG_8721+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> The first room we visited was the communications room - all high end equipment for it's day. The bunker itself relied upon a direct connection to the main communications bunker at Sigulda since there were no antenna's mounted on the top of the rehabilitation unit. There was also a direct line to Moscow which remained active until the mid 90's when 'by accident' a farmer put his Rotavator through the hard line and the phone went dead - although apparently accidents like this were common in Soviet times. In Latvia there are lots of underground cables linking the various bunkers and Cold War installations but nobody knows where they are since no records were made, or at least left, regarding their locations. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC06ezDMCs5hZNxk1FZeljxo9bLlPRiwqgdaL5oYDmNpuEmXYG3-rmb-qmsYi-2E6ush5BNNdiB71YYhvf0wpo9TMLaJmegmFjpuHisjGSh4Jiqmcwg5LtVHEuAzxMcr8t48tEAKyW26M/s1600/IMG_8666+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC06ezDMCs5hZNxk1FZeljxo9bLlPRiwqgdaL5oYDmNpuEmXYG3-rmb-qmsYi-2E6ush5BNNdiB71YYhvf0wpo9TMLaJmegmFjpuHisjGSh4Jiqmcwg5LtVHEuAzxMcr8t48tEAKyW26M/s200/IMG_8666+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzZNrxj5msY2XKwho00cI7C9GFHCvQmpmTlU94v26UauhHvnM9peujTueYM_hEVvfHEGnAUd8v7YGFh6CNFQ1bpU1UcV1Ip4F7o-KMS_j5Z7VIzcFsD0DcI2EA7KY3ydgcomMv76XRJg/s1600/IMG_8670+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzZNrxj5msY2XKwho00cI7C9GFHCvQmpmTlU94v26UauhHvnM9peujTueYM_hEVvfHEGnAUd8v7YGFh6CNFQ1bpU1UcV1Ip4F7o-KMS_j5Z7VIzcFsD0DcI2EA7KY3ydgcomMv76XRJg/s200/IMG_8670+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> The next room was a mixture of a telecommunications servers and Cipher machines. A machine operators log left in the room indicates the equipment was tested daily right up until 1992 and it is believed to be still connected to the network. If the other bunkers were operational, although most were ransacked or are now partly submerged, a message could still be sent.</div> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> <br /></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKPsrUgYVEoiiZsxoazo59nmyR-dOkxa-khfoGTzdB1fYr_dy3uveFQfo3do6Ed9NPaBT98qPeaPwICsXLydvisBFMGng-4NXMKwk1A7WT6SWwpwIOsAWB_rF9uwdP9SEhopGm9EzwU0/s1600/IMG_8677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKPsrUgYVEoiiZsxoazo59nmyR-dOkxa-khfoGTzdB1fYr_dy3uveFQfo3do6Ed9NPaBT98qPeaPwICsXLydvisBFMGng-4NXMKwk1A7WT6SWwpwIOsAWB_rF9uwdP9SEhopGm9EzwU0/s200/IMG_8677.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYDQ01eTlwZ_2fgfAQgUdaadx8alL3Ez7ow3EUzKBrN_uwNHX1y9Tc9CEItJQmeW2swOYJQs0YI8DALs73lJDScKQ8ahg4hdwr2AtrQLLWIeXkTj96mWUaQISHON-oFJSlA-5dLvzOEI/s1600/IMG_8684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYDQ01eTlwZ_2fgfAQgUdaadx8alL3Ez7ow3EUzKBrN_uwNHX1y9Tc9CEItJQmeW2swOYJQs0YI8DALs73lJDScKQ8ahg4hdwr2AtrQLLWIeXkTj96mWUaQISHON-oFJSlA-5dLvzOEI/s200/IMG_8684.JPG" width="133" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfnf-sTvnO3zao1i4NMVP2b3JbZhxti8IHXR9HyuHYAZn6xEKEtBtlILpHyLxAESL_GFaMm0TTyybamx3TTJeCTKT5Zva-USQz7dal2RPG_4J9apDJN5zLILji06bHwsNRstaIEOSX-Q/s1600/IMG_8678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfnf-sTvnO3zao1i4NMVP2b3JbZhxti8IHXR9HyuHYAZn6xEKEtBtlILpHyLxAESL_GFaMm0TTyybamx3TTJeCTKT5Zva-USQz7dal2RPG_4J9apDJN5zLILji06bHwsNRstaIEOSX-Q/s200/IMG_8678.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInn4mr__vrjHpMkRU8reg7rBlR3WuB7nEq57DQMHxylzNuTNmhHXl-5uKwKm-NVNeSTJRpTIHJvzubEjEzmz5w2w3Mzoszq-9pEMF-Y2eRS4xxRKwdQnfZBgnMXvR20yxk4l4_HcMM70/s1600/IMG_8680+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInn4mr__vrjHpMkRU8reg7rBlR3WuB7nEq57DQMHxylzNuTNmhHXl-5uKwKm-NVNeSTJRpTIHJvzubEjEzmz5w2w3Mzoszq-9pEMF-Y2eRS4xxRKwdQnfZBgnMXvR20yxk4l4_HcMM70/s200/IMG_8680+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is where an operator worked with a buddy 24 hours a day. This room was the command control centre for the whole country and each light on the machine represents a region in Latvia. If a message came through it was the operators job to write it down and relay it to the highest authority as quickly as possible. </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmhLt2AeEfs7KrMAAd1QQuXWYOA0NJC8cdXb0RO88u8E5RQI8Vhwugr-ujK_terMA6vg_MihfQlTgx6eJCDUI9MvMcNHhrrnjT3HzWErBkniDE4fP0bATdK-yI9hdG4dgt_OcHaEn4aQ/s1600/IMG_8687+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmhLt2AeEfs7KrMAAd1QQuXWYOA0NJC8cdXb0RO88u8E5RQI8Vhwugr-ujK_terMA6vg_MihfQlTgx6eJCDUI9MvMcNHhrrnjT3HzWErBkniDE4fP0bATdK-yI9hdG4dgt_OcHaEn4aQ/s200/IMG_8687+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UD4sPC1GMrYVIBGAKBwVxAP3hRnJzzEirz-O3krbNRXUGtDS53gosaSRZelV0Vocfln6DzOdmLs1lyyI3OVuXPdWxPM9j5aWhKotT95YevyYGQ0s_5FzX-EEIG2RQlKD7j5BXIrtwfk/s1600/IMG_8689+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UD4sPC1GMrYVIBGAKBwVxAP3hRnJzzEirz-O3krbNRXUGtDS53gosaSRZelV0Vocfln6DzOdmLs1lyyI3OVuXPdWxPM9j5aWhKotT95YevyYGQ0s_5FzX-EEIG2RQlKD7j5BXIrtwfk/s200/IMG_8689+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> The phone in the plastic box is the one I mentioned earlier with the hard line connected to the Kremlin. It is in a perspex case to make it impossible for listening devices to be attached.</div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ0G1NhQ1iwMxZsBA0T1NY1rHcG_IZ561Kb7NRO-0pVO6Pq-nDed4EApU1-U-cMlsfszRhta0mUELleMYjV5tzohx8xsg4lv4OPaG4JChRa_a7RkGFsap7Wd8MKgTBvoG2k8F_D2A77Q/s1600/IMG_8705+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ0G1NhQ1iwMxZsBA0T1NY1rHcG_IZ561Kb7NRO-0pVO6Pq-nDed4EApU1-U-cMlsfszRhta0mUELleMYjV5tzohx8xsg4lv4OPaG4JChRa_a7RkGFsap7Wd8MKgTBvoG2k8F_D2A77Q/s200/IMG_8705+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5obIFT1t8dRIaiTxmpV3cVTdZnTr5oa5Vdlfgw9OM5mlVjGOQHzUibUQ53iAhEau0RFj4lUb6g0Tit-G3FgEKan87V1PL31G_lalQqoNYGpVmDr5WqaWJaE7TuFgq3yXpnks3cqgBKg/s1600/IMG_8706+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5obIFT1t8dRIaiTxmpV3cVTdZnTr5oa5Vdlfgw9OM5mlVjGOQHzUibUQ53iAhEau0RFj4lUb6g0Tit-G3FgEKan87V1PL31G_lalQqoNYGpVmDr5WqaWJaE7TuFgq3yXpnks3cqgBKg/s200/IMG_8706+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> The board room had some relics put in place for the benefit of tourists, most notably a status of Stalin and a large map of the region showing the location of the Soviet State Farms taken from the Ministry of Agriculture.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj075JglJuw5Ia5HGTuaQrW8UfjQToxJKsjrGuBiym5RAdW3JNQh7hwWgB6_jeKaJPNmR-VacFcyJ3h-9eATO2dRhInIFjD3Fh-fm-Y27H1aH-23dzEq7pmiDo27OQGYtK_mt0xbi0bZY/s1600/IMG_8697+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj075JglJuw5Ia5HGTuaQrW8UfjQToxJKsjrGuBiym5RAdW3JNQh7hwWgB6_jeKaJPNmR-VacFcyJ3h-9eATO2dRhInIFjD3Fh-fm-Y27H1aH-23dzEq7pmiDo27OQGYtK_mt0xbi0bZY/s200/IMG_8697+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v0Lu4Z2TlkgL-aqIWFvejsn_AJmaCfNFxEF5WGuDFXo5-vi8xqW6jQoMs2fYaKFCg31OC8OA0GEFEgdje-bfqHvZC7HjrHxecok4RneFFPR8QOC9cgRaUmrOGMPbQEGyrsbX5V02ccs/s1600/IMG_8693+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v0Lu4Z2TlkgL-aqIWFvejsn_AJmaCfNFxEF5WGuDFXo5-vi8xqW6jQoMs2fYaKFCg31OC8OA0GEFEgdje-bfqHvZC7HjrHxecok4RneFFPR8QOC9cgRaUmrOGMPbQEGyrsbX5V02ccs/s200/IMG_8693+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> The most interesting room we were not allowed to photograph since the information held within it is still relevant today. The room contained a large number of maps each depicting a variety of scenarios such as what would happen if a Dam was bombed, a particular area suffered Nuclear fallout and in what direction troops would rally in the event of an invasion. Also the main generator room was off limits for photography - although still fully functional the generator used something like 12 litres in 3 minutes and was supplied by a 35,000 litre tank.</div> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> There were some more formal rooms which gave an insight into relative luxury the top brass were afforded compared to their lower ranked counterparts.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKrcUhdXh-u2M602C0yB_3wAbZEamyiepSZtu5SDZsQHsS9l53pGugYGNHqDuVfavCxtJ6ETEAdsw5RRUNuKr93hF-cqADigbrfrofAg7tbPPr9vONTuuefVebE_FRU-nNZINJ6uhWNM/s1600/IMG_8709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKrcUhdXh-u2M602C0yB_3wAbZEamyiepSZtu5SDZsQHsS9l53pGugYGNHqDuVfavCxtJ6ETEAdsw5RRUNuKr93hF-cqADigbrfrofAg7tbPPr9vONTuuefVebE_FRU-nNZINJ6uhWNM/s200/IMG_8709.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_UOo34_eg2JlMDQnvmlpPdjfgduQ2pKutLcnSeyzSaNdjernmCHssvJXddpHUqXxMphECj069O0cgfBDHMKK24V17g3UQ-EIVLT8R36FxEERNXFj5gG5RD0B_RCXmDFrO9qFncgXOC0/s1600/IMG_8718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_UOo34_eg2JlMDQnvmlpPdjfgduQ2pKutLcnSeyzSaNdjernmCHssvJXddpHUqXxMphECj069O0cgfBDHMKK24V17g3UQ-EIVLT8R36FxEERNXFj5gG5RD0B_RCXmDFrO9qFncgXOC0/s200/IMG_8718.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoxVaueoSQAR_Nobs9uDoy-4L54ZWTzoEUhBgGshRdWvYr0i81KiIB1G3MhC4SnPs_7uvLERdh08KYvo-5_e1XSDi9SrbyVqkRV5pnNTgz1d5uFWdrQS9eOmUMGLPFiAqaMF6__-nZys/s1600/IMG_8713+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoxVaueoSQAR_Nobs9uDoy-4L54ZWTzoEUhBgGshRdWvYr0i81KiIB1G3MhC4SnPs_7uvLERdh08KYvo-5_e1XSDi9SrbyVqkRV5pnNTgz1d5uFWdrQS9eOmUMGLPFiAqaMF6__-nZys/s200/IMG_8713+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCw9yJr0ZK3nbdn_xk4D_XgRZjhCBgk1xSW1dx1oAxDGEuw2PXQocT-weQfHvjpJYoa_3-CvnUZTT3P9Me51KeALvzwLXMf1XCpAN4wfNKP11E1-jMpsuztfv7Gviq8MrQoF8-WJSIjgM/s1600/IMG_8711+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCw9yJr0ZK3nbdn_xk4D_XgRZjhCBgk1xSW1dx1oAxDGEuw2PXQocT-weQfHvjpJYoa_3-CvnUZTT3P9Me51KeALvzwLXMf1XCpAN4wfNKP11E1-jMpsuztfv7Gviq8MrQoF8-WJSIjgM/s200/IMG_8711+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> The canteen was re-created and Soviet style meals are available to large tours, fortunately we had just eaten lunch!</div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIJmnDzoHnNsGPQgL1YHsGCyS-jHMuDtV_tFcnaCnwmn1X693ZDgqR1Twih0P7zd3AfgYElf1KWvZdNUAcyotsG4xTSodptiudzW3ZVPPKjAA4og3cfqTG0gmSkdqvTi_GylIpK2uFBQ/s1600/IMG_8716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIJmnDzoHnNsGPQgL1YHsGCyS-jHMuDtV_tFcnaCnwmn1X693ZDgqR1Twih0P7zd3AfgYElf1KWvZdNUAcyotsG4xTSodptiudzW3ZVPPKjAA4og3cfqTG0gmSkdqvTi_GylIpK2uFBQ/s200/IMG_8716.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jD0ZHCTHayQcQQIOqXs6ghNFtZPKC4fnZgnQy0Ukcydlm5EdKg5eTQ8R29tt8uDcr_41owwnzjjQZtuEyWbF5uPvrhvCKd-yRgqOZFPtF6VVb7MCDIvMTs-rADi2OEPrWd-soausGpE/s1600/IMG_8717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jD0ZHCTHayQcQQIOqXs6ghNFtZPKC4fnZgnQy0Ukcydlm5EdKg5eTQ8R29tt8uDcr_41owwnzjjQZtuEyWbF5uPvrhvCKd-yRgqOZFPtF6VVb7MCDIvMTs-rADi2OEPrWd-soausGpE/s200/IMG_8717.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> Finally, I think I have found a way to get Sophie to empty the chemical toilet in our van!</div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe3Y2NWnxtyjmgoTrt3WdIFZ10129-yGUodh0HQKmfA41bpS8HdM_11v9moo1HKzyLoV90g0Hm5R-J8BsDkEyQi0uncunBZUbW9iW0jAAVMVwwJrkUnCIWBKTaZOG-ws70U9A14jOzao/s1600/IMG_8720+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe3Y2NWnxtyjmgoTrt3WdIFZ10129-yGUodh0HQKmfA41bpS8HdM_11v9moo1HKzyLoV90g0Hm5R-J8BsDkEyQi0uncunBZUbW9iW0jAAVMVwwJrkUnCIWBKTaZOG-ws70U9A14jOzao/s200/IMG_8720+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="132" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> It's hard to believe that the tour lasted just over 2 hours as in reality it felt like 30 minutes. The tour guide spoke excellent English and without him we would not have been able to see or appreciate as much as we did. With hindsight I wish I had taken some more pictures but I didn't want to miss out on what the guide had to say and I have tried to transcribe as much as I can remember here - errors and omissions excepted!</div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> A totally fantastic tour and defiantly unmissable in my view for anyone with even a remote interest in Soviet Cold War history. </div> <br />

Ligatne Soviet Nuclear Bunker

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you might have picked up a tendency towards Soviet history and in particular abandoned / d...

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