Berlin to Helsinki Day 15: Tour of Rīga
We started the day early and took advantage of Agita's work schedule to head out and get oriented with her.
We started by going across one of the bridges spanning the huge Drauga river to check out the new National Library. The symbolism is supposed to be from Latvian a Latvian poem that says that the city will rise like a castle of light from the darkness (assumed to be the occupation).
This was our most clichéd touristy day - Rīga is also the most touristy city we've been to. We wandered around the old town a little and latched on to a free tour where we learned lots of fun facts about the history and the architecture.
Mylène doing the tourist thing in the middle of a square.
The city is 800 years old and you can see tons of different styles from different periods.
3 houses from different eras: From the left 18th century when narrow was in because you were charged based on the amount of street space taken by you'd house, 17th century with a small attic/store room, 16th century, recessed from the street with a large storage area on top.
Since medieval times the city has been built up by about 20 feet to avoid flooding. So some of the buildings are very recessed into the street.
Rīga's old town is a UNESCO world heritage site.
We then got to sample a typical Latvian drink, black balsa. A very bitter, very strong alcohol that leaves quite an aftertaste.
We then headed over to the occupation museum to learn about the three different occupation periods from Soviets to Germans and back to Soviets from the 1930's to 1989. The fact that these events are so recent mean that it is still felt by everyone. Only one generation has grown up outside of the Soviet regime but there are still enough Russians who are still living here to require most people to speak both Russian and Latvian, much to the Latvian's chagrin. The Russians deported people to Siberia, the Germans deported Jews to concentration camps, and the country was basically unable to run themselves as a sovereign nation even after declaring themselves independent in 1918. The exhibit was very interesting and certainly a high recommendation to anyone visiting Rīga.
We then went to the market to pick up some ingredients to make a quiche for our host and her family.
The black cat of Rīga (top left) was made to snub the Blackheads fraternity of merchants by a guy who couldn't get in. So he made a statue of a cat lifting its tail in their direction until they granted him membership.
We started by going across one of the bridges spanning the huge Drauga river to check out the new National Library. The symbolism is supposed to be from Latvian a Latvian poem that says that the city will rise like a castle of light from the darkness (assumed to be the occupation).
This was our most clichéd touristy day - Rīga is also the most touristy city we've been to. We wandered around the old town a little and latched on to a free tour where we learned lots of fun facts about the history and the architecture.
Mylène doing the tourist thing in the middle of a square.
The city is 800 years old and you can see tons of different styles from different periods.
3 houses from different eras: From the left 18th century when narrow was in because you were charged based on the amount of street space taken by you'd house, 17th century with a small attic/store room, 16th century, recessed from the street with a large storage area on top.
Since medieval times the city has been built up by about 20 feet to avoid flooding. So some of the buildings are very recessed into the street.
Rīga's old town is a UNESCO world heritage site.
We then got to sample a typical Latvian drink, black balsa. A very bitter, very strong alcohol that leaves quite an aftertaste.
We then headed over to the occupation museum to learn about the three different occupation periods from Soviets to Germans and back to Soviets from the 1930's to 1989. The fact that these events are so recent mean that it is still felt by everyone. Only one generation has grown up outside of the Soviet regime but there are still enough Russians who are still living here to require most people to speak both Russian and Latvian, much to the Latvian's chagrin. The Russians deported people to Siberia, the Germans deported Jews to concentration camps, and the country was basically unable to run themselves as a sovereign nation even after declaring themselves independent in 1918. The exhibit was very interesting and certainly a high recommendation to anyone visiting Rīga.
We then went to the market to pick up some ingredients to make a quiche for our host and her family.
The black cat of Rīga (top left) was made to snub the Blackheads fraternity of merchants by a guy who couldn't get in. So he made a statue of a cat lifting its tail in their direction until they granted him membership.
Position:Bruņinieku iela,Riga,Lettland
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