Latvia in Three Days

We have had the last of our visitors to Riga, Mattias and Gudrun from Beedenbostel. Everyone who has visited us here has said they'll come back to Riga because they were delighted with the atmosphere and all of the interesting places to visit. For Bob and I it is also interesting to show people "our Riga" since each "visitor" had somewhat different interests. But with only three days there are some places everyone wanted to see and visit. So....if you come to Riga and have only three days here is what we did this weekend with Mattais and Gudrun.

Saturday they arrived at the airport, I met them and we took the express autobus 22a into the city stopping by the Katedral on Brivibas. Later we had a walk through Old Town with a pause at the Freedom Monument for the flower laying on ceremony to commerate the Victims of the Communist Genocide. We had a quick bite at Alus Seta a branch of the Lido chain found in vecriga (Old Town). Later the opera. The Latvian National Opera production of Siegfried began at 5 in the evening and was over at 10:30. There were two long intermissions and we could enjoy the view of the parks and flowers from the balcony of the opera house. Siegfried is part of Wagner's ring cycle and this portion is new this year. The music was wonderful and at the curtain call they had the entire orchestra up on the stage. It was helpful to have Mattias fill me in on the Ring Saga. He said originally Brunhilde was a princess of Iceland. That fits since she is surrounded by a ring of fire and Iceland has volcanoes. He said it is always interesting to see how Fraher the dragon is portrayed. It is just a short walk back to the apartment and it was still light for our walk. Sunday we visited the Open Air Museum a twenty minute bus ride outside of Riga. We saw the historic buildings, linen work, outdoor gardens and crafts made by some of the homestead caretakers. I had seen an art exhibit earlier this year with the threshing shed presented in various seasons and times of day representative for the artist as a symbol for Latvia. We walked in the Old Town and had a drink at the Top of the Hotel Reval Latvia. Monday we walked through the central market and then in the afternoon we took a thirty minute train ride to Majori in Jurmala where we walked on the beach, found a cafe for coffee to sit out the rain, looked in shops and the high light ....dinner at Sue's Indian Raja Restaurant. Chicken tiki masala in Latvia....delicious. Of course we watched the Germany in the Europen Soccer tournament when we returned back to lacplesa 29. Tuesday morning a walk to the bus for a return ride to the airport. So....here is a plan ...for your trip to Riga....