The Baltics, Part 2: Riga

The bus ride from Vilnius Lithuania to Riga Latvia was over four hours, but like an airplane, it had movies! One double feature and we were there. Ance, our tour leader, is Latvian, so she was in her element in our three-hour walk around the city. First up, one of many churches, the market place, and one of the many parks in and around Riga…

Unlike Scandinavia, that largely adopted Lutheranism following the Protestant Reformation, the Baltics are predominantly Catholic. (However, the Lutheran churches can be determined by a rooster v. a cross atop the steeples!) Thus, I checked out more than a couple of churches & cathedrals.

Here’s the rest of our first walk around Riga – famous for its architecture, and here’s just a sample. Afterwards, some of us went to a Ukranian cherry vodka shop with a tradition of no-handed sipping before adding the actual cherries!

A musical interlude – busking trio in Riga…

The next day, after sleeping in, I went to the “Corner House” – a KGB tour/museum that I’d signed up for on day one. During Soviet times, when the Baltics were part of the USSR, the Corner House was used as a prison for those accused of opposing or working against the Soviet Union.

After leaving the KGB’s Corner House, I walked to the Art Nouveau Museum – past some excellent examples of the genre. Inside, in addition to a digital explanation of the architectural history of Riga, was an apartment decorated in Art Nouveau style…

Next, I went to the Latvian National Art Museum in Riga. Going to the terrace on the roof, I got a great view of the city, then worked my down through the exhibits. First, there was some modern art in the attic. Further down, were some of the best, most classic works of Latvian artists…

In the basement of the museum was a special exhibit, “In the Name of Desire.” It required a separate ticket and was on the racy side. Also, there was a huge art storage room. Check it out…

Here’s a last batch of pix around Riga, including more churches, architecture, and a fun dinner with the group, which included some Latvian folk dancing.