Riga, Latvia

House of the Blackheads (Riga)

            Sunday, 19 May 2013 – Today we had only an afternoon excursion at 1:40 PM.   Although we shared our bus again with a French-speaking group, there were more English-speakers than yesterday.  As we rode around Riga, our English-speaking tour guide, Ieva (pronounced Eva) described the sights.   We made photo stops at the Riga Brethren Cemetery, the Monument of Freedom, and the Opera House.  We were given free/shopping time in the City Hall Square, where we saw the House of Blackheads (yes, there is one in Riga also), the Statue of Roland, and the Museum of Occupation. 

Riga suffered throughout its history.  Ieva told how, first, the Germans invaded during n W.W. II and forced men to serve in their army; then the Russians came and forced men to serve on their side.  As a result, sometimes a brother was fighting against his brother.  Then they lived under Communism for many years.  Some of their apartment buildings that were built by the Soviets have tiny kitchens because the people were supposed to eat in the communal canteens.  The joke was told: Do you know what their tallest building is called?  Answer: The KGB building, because from there, you can see all the way to Siberia.  Latvia has been free for only about 20 years.

Even though lilacs were blooming and it was obviously early spring, today it was about 85 degrees.  This was not good news for Sally; she had expected cool weather for this entire trip and didn’t bring any of her broad-brimmed hats to shield her face from the sun.

            We joined Jorg and Gabi or dinner, and afterwards, danced for a little while in the Grand Bar Rhapsody.