One common point of confusion/frustration when it comes to tracking Latvian locations on maps throughout the centuries is the big jumble of administrative divisions. Some have stayed constant and relatively simple – like cities, albeit increasing in size – while
Wordless Wednesday – Concentration Camp Memorial
(Click picture to enlarge) Memorial to commemorate those who died at the RÄ«ga-Kaiserwald concentration camp between 1943 and 1944, located not far from this memorial in Sarkandaugava, a northern suburb of RÄ«ga. Photo taken by me, August 2015.
Tombstone Tuesday – Anna Bankovics, 1898-1916
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned. Photo taken by me, October 2014. Click to enlarge. Name:
Mappy Monday – Prefixes Everywhere!
Rural Latvia was and is covered with farms – usually quite small in size, and all with names. Many of these names have been around for centuries – in most cases, longer than surnames. Many of these farm names come
Mappy Monday – Both Sides of the Daugava
Daugav’ abas malas, mūžam nesadalÄs, ir Kurzeme, ir Vidzeme, ir Latgale mÅ«su… (Daugava and both its shores, never divided, here we have Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale ours…) -“Daugav’ abas malas” (composer J. Norvilis) There are many iconic images and ideas in
Tombstone Tuesday – Eduards Bielovs, 1895-1930
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned. Photo taken by me, September 2014. Click to enlarge. Top
Mappy Monday – Road to the East
Since the Second World War, Siberia and the Russian Far East are associated with deportations and prison camps. It is difficult to imagine that in decades past, thousands of Latvians and other Balts traveled there willingly to make new homes.
Tombstone Tuesday – EmÄ«lija Kauliņš, 1880-1941
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned. Photo taken by me, September 2014. Click to enlarge. Name:
Mappy Monday – All Roads Lead Out of RÄ«ga
I know the saying is typically “all roads lead to X”, but in this case, both are true, though I’ll be talking more about RÄ«ga rather than the rest of the country for this. Many old cities have pretty some
Mappy Monday – The Many Names of Freedom Street
We’re starting off the Mappy Monday series on Discovering Latvian Roots with the most famous and iconic of Latvian streets – BrÄ«vÄ«bas iela, in English – Freedom Street. This is also one of the streets that has undergone the most