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Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. Rīgas Centrāltirgus (Riga Central Market) is Europe's largest market in Riga. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 together with the Old Town of Riga. It was planned in 1922 and built between 1924 and 1930. The main structures of the market are pavilions, built by reusing the metal frameworks of old WWI German Zeppelin hangars. The market covers an area of 72,300 square metres and has about 3,000 trade stalls. Honey

Salted herring s were already important commodities around the Baltic Sea in the days of the Hanseatic League. The herring salad served in Riga today is really very good.

Jūrmala, located about 25 kilometres west of Riga, is a resort town with a long stretch of white-sand beaches. Jūrmala's reputation as a spa destination began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Wealthy landowners began the tradition of relaxing at the seaside, and Russian army officers came here to rest after the Napoleonic Wars. The opening of the railway in 1877 gave a boost to the number of visitors. The sea breeze, pine aroma, mineral springs, and sandy beaches encouraged many sanatoriums to develop within the city. In Soviet times Jūrmala was popular with the Communist officials. It became one of the most popular holiday destinations in the whole Union. Since the independence Jūrmala seems to recover, many of the old houses are under renovation.

Tartu (German Dorpat) is the second-largest city in Estonia, after Tallinn. In the early 11th century Yaroslav I the Wise, Prince of Kiev, invaded the region and after a victorious battle with the locals built his own fort there, Tartu probably remained under Kievan control until 1061, when the fort was burned down by an Estonian tribe. Soon afterwards the fort was rebuilt. During the Northern Crusades in the beginning of the 13th century, the fort was captured by the crusading Brothers of the Sword — and recaptured by Estonians. In 1224 the fort was besieged and conquered for one last time by the Teutonic crusaders. Subsequently, Dorpat became a commercial centre of considerable importance during the later Middle Ages and the capital of the semi-independent Bishopric of Dorpat. German merchants and artisans settled alongside the bishop's fortress. In the 1280s Dorpat joined the Hanseatic League. In 1558, tsar Ivan the Terrible invaded Tartu beginning the Livonian War. His forces encircled the town. After a heavy bombardment, the town surrendered. In 1582, the city became part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1598. A Jesuit grammar school "Gymnasium Dorpatense" was established in 1583. In the effect of the Polish-Swedish War, in 1625 Tartu was captured by Sweden. The city became part of the Dominions of Sweden, which led to the foundation of the University of Tartu in 1632 by king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. So the University of Tartu is Estonia´s oldest and still most renowned university In 1704 the town was taken by the Russians army. In 1708 the fortifications and houses, including the remains of bishops castle, were blown up, all movable property was looted and the citizens deported to Russia. In 1721, the city became part of the Russian Empire and was known as Derpt. A great fire in 1775 destroyed most of the buildings in the centre. The city was rebuilt along Late Baroque and Neoclassical lines. During the second half of the 19th century, Tartu was the cultural centre for Estonians in the era of Romantic nationalism. The city hosted Estonia's first song festival in 1869. Most of Toomemäe Toom Hill) where the ruins of the cathedral are located and where the bishop's castle used to be, is now covered by a park laid out in the 19th century. The old Rotund Cafe fits beautifully into this green scenery.

"Restauracja Widnokrąg" is by far the best restaurant in Sandomierz. We had dinner here twice and the food and ambiance were first class. Green pea soup

"Restauracja Widnokrąg" is by far the best restaurant in Sandomierz. We had dinner here twice and the food and ambiance were first class. Chicoree

"Restauracja Widnokrąg" is by far the best restaurant in Sandomierz. We had dinner here twice and the food and ambiance were first class. Pork tenderloin medallions

Bigos is considered a national dish in Poland. There may be many different recipes, but the principal ingredients are always assorted kinds of meat and a mixture of sauerkraut and shredded fresh white cabbage I ate my first bigos during a fiest in Gdansk. It came right from a food stall and it tasted much better than it looked.

French and Polish cuisine mix in a cozy atmosphere here. Duck breast with fruity sauce and small dumplings.

"Ranczo w Dolinie" is the Valley Ranch, and it is indeed a kind of ranch, plus a hotel plus a restaurant. Breaded pork cutlet with potatoes and coleslaw

"Ranczo w Dolinie" is the Valley Ranch, and it is indeed a kind of ranch, plus a hotel plus a restaurant. Pork tenderloin with mushroom sauce, potato pancakes and beet salad

"Ranczo w Dolinie" is the Valley Ranch, and it is indeed a kind of ranch, plus a hotel plus a restaurant. Pavlova - a dessert named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

So close to the Baltic Sea, of course, herring must be on the menu. Here as an appetizer. Herring with apple, sour cream and lamb's lettuce

Kukudra restaurant is very large, measured by the population of Kretingale. Cold soups are often found in Baltic (and Polish) cuisine. Žemaitiška cibulynė - an onion-herring-kefir soup

Another place where you can perfectly enjoy the evening sun with a drink. Here it is kvas, traditionally made from a mash of rye bread or rye flour and malt. The last time I drank kvas before was in the 1970s in Moscow, where it was served on the streets from small tanks.

Another place perfect to enjoy the evening sun with a drink before ordering dinner here. Roasted pork ribs with fries and salad

Another place perfect to enjoy the evening sun with a drink before ordering dinner here. Beef cheeks stewed in red wine sauce

A pizza takeaway on the island of Muhu. Are there still places on this planet without pizza restaurants or takeaways?