Long road to the dunes
Over the last years of developed international tourism in Ukraine, our compatriots have visited different countries: which they have long dreamed of, in incredibly exotic or very distant ones, have been on business and visiting all continents. Latvia is one of those countries that often do not plan a trip in advance. Most Ukrainian tourists recently got there, "jumping into the last car of the train", which left for the Christmas and New Year or Easter and May holidays. In a significant minority here are ours, those who annually go to Latvia for treatment and for business interests. My return to the Riga seaside dragged on for a long 20 years. Now these places are densely filled with Scandinavians, Germans, Spaniards, Italians, Dutch and Russians. During the week of my trip, I did not hear the Ukrainian language anywhere.
The pearl of the Latvian coast, in particular the Gulf of Riga, is the resort of Jurmala. I was convinced of this before and after this resort was recognized as the best European holiday destination in Latvia and for the ninth year in a row received the Star award as the best resort in the Baltic Sea. Jurmala occupies 33 km of the coast and has several districts. In Bulluciems there is a wonderful forest park with equipped paths and balconies. It also houses a small ethnographic museum of the fishing settlement, where you can see an excellent exposition of the life of fishermen of the last 2 centuries and treat yourself to real Latvian specialties: smoked fish and cheeses in assortment, beer and rhubarb pie. Believe me, this is a wonderful attraction. In Lielupe you can see rich estates and villas. At the entrance to Bulduri there is a huge water park. Latvians say that it is the best and largest in the Scandinavian and Baltic region. Come on, check it out! I checked, indeed, the time was not wasted, it was nice to visit both active and relaxation zones. Dzintari and Majori are the central district of Greater Jurmala. All social life, all major projects and attractions take place here. Here are the most expensive hotels and SPA, and exquisite service. It is here that the famous promenade is located - the Jomas pedestrian street. By the way, it leads to the Dzintari forest park, which struck me personally with the care of Latvians about their nature, about their children and elders. There are well-equipped development areas and a training area for active athletes of any age, there is an observation tower that merges with pine trunks, and it is not even noticeable. Up to the very district of Jaunkemeri, a forested area stretches. There is one of the four multidisciplinary sanatoriums - "Amber Coast". He looks frankly soviet, but there are ultra-modern methods of treatment. Well, this is where L. Brezhnev's Baltic dacha is located. Soviet party - and now the attraction is popular.
Do not confuse treatment and SPA vacation. For the first one, you need at least 2 weeks in a sanatorium, and for the last one, a weekend is enough. Jurmala is buried in the green coniferous sea and on its edge, like an ocean liner, stands the prestigious and beautiful "Baltic Beach Hotel". I tested SPA services here. And to be honest, it's impressive! Calm and luxurious design, more than 400 procedures, together with mud therapy and mechanical physiotherapy, modern equipment, highly qualified staff - all this distinguishes the SPA center "Baltic Beach Hotel", and makes it the best in the Baltic countries. And here is the only 25-meter swimming pool with sea water in Latvia. Hotel managers often offer affordable packages that will be of interest to both vacationers and transit passengers who are sent through Riga to other countries in Europe and Scandinavia, or the East.
The Jurmala SPA hotel is a little less luxurious, but quite pleasant and has many convenient services, and it is also located on the same Jomas street. In general, there are many boutique hotels in Jurmala, there is something to do. Preliminary information can be obtained from the Jurmala Tourist Office.
