More typical Latvian countryside today – gently rolling fields and patches of thick forest. The landscape has a consistency because there are no fences apart from an occasional electric fence. The land is used for growing grain crops or to cut grass for hay. There are cattle grazed and some sheep. These farmers would, of course, need sheds to house the animals for up to six months over winter. Alongside such sheds there is always a pile of dirty hay from the mucking out.
Today's walking was half on minor gravel roads and the second half on main roads. The Kuldiga-Ventspils highway is an excellent road – for pedestrians as well. It has wide verges, rolled firm and flat, properly grassed and maintained by regular mowing. It was like walking on carpet.I did leave it briefly to try what looked like an interesting short cut. Of course it turned out longer. There was, however, a very steep gorge [about 25m deep] with an attractive stream at the bottom.
Zlēkas is a pleasant town with a nice little church. The accommodation is an old converted mill about 3km out of town. It overlooks a large lake. I am the only guest and was given a key to the front door and told to lock myself in.
At the moment, there is a dramatic electrical storm. The lightning and thunder was virtually simultaneous and there was even a minute or so of hail. The lights are still on, but flicker from time to time. The power is off and I won't be able to charge my phone. It is still early so I think I will phone the saimniece, Elita. It might be something she, or her two sons, can easily fix. I haven't got a sustainable internet connection, even outside where the boys said I would need to be to make a phone call.
Anita walked with me for about a kilometre. She later reported that when she had a shower, she found a tick behind her knee. We are as fully inoculated as we can be [three injections over a year]. Imants performed surgery and extracted [most of] the tick. When Anita got back to Riga, she was taken to the infectious diseases hospital and was passed as healthy.
Anita is having dinner tonight with 2 former Melbourne friends, Daina and Selga (Juris's wife who also walked with me on the two earlier Latvian walks). I hope I have company again on this walk – each of the remaining 3 days will be about 30-35km. The walking should be different with more open road walking tomorrow, then a day in the forest and the possibility of some beach walking on the last day going up to Kolka.
Yesterday, I had access to a real computer and I wrote rather a lot about the Arts Festival. I mentioned that the Festival's Opening Concert would also be an event where the Latvians would be singing. The Opening will be held at St Michael's Uniting Church in Collins Street.
The choice of venue is interesting. St Kilda Town Hall was planned, but the hire charges proved to be prohibitive because December 27 is a public holiday.
At an earlier KDs, St Michael's had been used as a venue for a concert. The minister at the church, Dr Francis MacNab, is a good friend of ours (he married us in the church) and when Anita approached Francis, he offered the church effectively free of charge, for which we are very grateful.
The church is a fine 19th century building with an unusual curved overhanging balcony which gives it the feel of a theatre. Its capacity is over 1000, but has very good atmosphere with many fewer people.
The Opening Concert essentially has two parts – the formalities of the flag procession, the national anthems and a couple of brief speeches, from Anita and the person opening the Festival.
The second part show-cases the Festival events and performers.
Iveta Samulis is organising the event and has invited a number of individuals and groups to perform, including a men's choir and youth choirs. There will be other musical items – classical, folk and popular. The only stipulation is that the works performed must be by Latvian composers.
The concert will be held in the late afternoon. In the evening, a reception will be held in the foyer at Latvian House in Elwood to provide an opportunity for people to meet up and to introduce themselves to the Festival guests – principally the two Latvian conductors, Agita and Ints, the four members of Tango sin quento and the playwright, Jānis Balodis.
After the reception, the winner of the portrait prize will be presented in the large hall where the entered works will be hung. Then the Opening Party will follow, with traditional Latvian music and dancing. Latvian food will also be available from the café. It will be a great night – a family-friendly function, and would be well suited for non-Latvians.
Elita has visited, and about 8 others have also attended over the last hour or so. I still have lights, but no power or phone and the thunder, lightning and rain have started again.
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