Day 6: No hot water but beer instead

Today was much like yesterday, filming the tasks that the European students were undertaking, which meant that we were able to take a few breaks from shooting (otherwise we would have hours of the same footage). As me and my filming partner wandered around the grounds of the university, we stumbled across this beautiful scene on the hillside.

Perfectly represents the wonderful town of Valmiera.

We received some bad news earlier on though. No hot water in the hostel for two weeks. Two whole weeks! So, as I have been lent a bike and the other intern will be given one too, we have to ride 15 minutes down the road to the other hostel to have a hot shower. It might be nice going for a ride in the early hours of the morning, and the exercise is a bonus. Luckily for us, we are accompanying the students to a luxurious hotel tomorrow where we will spend 2 hours of our free time in the sauna and using the spa facilities - good timing I say!

But we didn't let that ruin our day. In the evening, we visited a small estate brewery located in the historical area of Valmiermuizas that make Valmiermuizas beer.

Where all the magic happens.

This location used to be the grounds of a manor lived in by a Russian Prince in the 18th century whilst Latvia was under the Russian Empire. It was in manors like these that the best food and drink was found, the main reason for why the brewery exists here today. Although mostly destroyed, the remains of his palace still stand today.

I wouldn't mind living there.

During the hour and a half tour, we were able to see how beer was made, from seeing the ingredients used (including tasting malt barley) and the machinery to tasting some of the naturally-made unfiltered (dark) and filtered (light) beer ourselves.

My unfiltered glass.

Apparently some people can predict their future from the lace of foam gathered around the top of the glass. I wonder what mine says about tomorrow... I'll let you know!