More Adventures

This is my last week in Riga (how hard to imagine!), so I’ve been making the most of it :). This past Saturday included a trip to Pilsrundale, a large residence out in the countryside. It was just too fun not to discuss here :).

As I walked out the front door, I felt I was heading off for an adventure. Home was behind, the world ahead – a world full strange sights and sounds and unknown peoples speaking unknown tongues. The perfect way to spend a Saturday :). I was, at least, well equipped for adventuring: cane, camera, extra battery, money, and my hand-drawn copy of the map to bus station. I also brought my magic umbrella, and, true to form, it kept it from raining the entire time.

I made it to the bus station without taking a wrong turn and bought a ticket to “Bauska.” This was not the end of my journey, but the place I was going was so far off in the country that I had to go to Bauska first and then get a bus from there to Pilsrundale. The bus, to its credit, was at least as comfortable as an airplane. The seats were back just the right amount, their headrests were at just the right spot, and they were nicely concave, so you kind of sank down in. Granted, if I thought it was comfortable, it was probably a torture worthy of one of the lower levels of Hell for most people. But I was happy :).

The Latvian countryside, incidentally, is lovely – I should have traveled through it more often. It actually reminds me of Alabama: flat, same number of fields and trees, same ratio of good to dilapidated buildings. It just does the heart good to see such things. To see the wind caress the soft heads of golden wheat… the white birches with silver leaves… the chestnut cows grazing on green grass… the sky that stretches from horizon to horizon.

After an hour and a bit, we pulled in to the Bauska “autoosta” (bus station). There I discovered that the next bus past Pilsrundale wouldn’t leave for another hour and a quarter. So I explored Bauska and found a grocery store where I purchased some things to lunch on. I carried them back and found a bit of grass and shade at the autoosta in which to eat.

Finally, the bus arrived. I rode a little farther into the Latvian countryside and found myself getting off at a little stop in (seemingly) the middle of nowhere, yet named “Pilsrundale.” A group of young people who got off with me headed down the road, presumably knowing where they were going. But there are easier ways of finding what you want. There was a little café and 7-11 equivalent nearby and I walked in and asked directions. The lady pointed to a path just outside. I followed it and found that I had been given a short cut. I arrived ahead of the group. I was very gratified.

It seems that, unless you’re with a group, the trip through the house is self-guided. Which was just as well, in my opinion. Along with my entrance, I purchased the right to take pictures inside the house – and this was well worth it. It was gorgeous. I’d love to live in a place like that, really. I know gilding and mirrors and ballroom sized halls are turn offs to some people. I’ve never understood those people. Rich and ornate are good in my book, and I got my fill of it then. I basked in the glory that is big rooms, painted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, beautifully patterned wooden floors, and rich color. But words simply can’t do it justice… ... and Blogger's image uploader is giving me a hard time... so, I've succumbed to a slightly less aesthetically pleasing and efficient way of getting them up here. You'll have to scroll down :).

Just as enjoyable as the house were the grounds. It was threatening rain, with steely, swirly clouds overhead – and that helped. It particularly made for lovely photos. I wandered among the gardens and probed the secrets of the high hedges. I took copious pictures. To walk, to smell grass, to breathe the clean, rain-ish air, to imagine what fun must’ve taken place there – ah, it was heaven.

When Ashlea, Sarah, and I take over the world, I’m living at Pilsrundale. At least for the summer :).