Riga, Latvia
Today we spent a lovely time in Riga, the capitol city of Latvia. We strolled through the old part of the city where building after building built in the Art Nouveau style has been beautifully preserved. It is quite remarkable that so many ornate buildings survived the Soviet period where ugly utilitarian high rises were so often built in other former Soviet republics. Indeed, Riga shows almost no sign of its former occupiers, in contrast with the cities we have visited in recent days where the memory is much fresher. Riga displays many modern bridges and other structures which give the city the feeling of a very modern and progressive metropolis. Although unemployment remains a problem, the general feeling one gets is of a quite prosperous society.
After a walking tour of the city we were entertained by a wonderful youth dancing ensemble with young people from about 6 to 18 performing flawless renditions of Latvian folk dances to our great delight. I’m sure that many of the grandparents among us were, as I was, reminded of our own grandchildren as we watched these very self-assured and talented young people perform for us in the Guild Hall. We then moved to the Riga Cathedral where we enjoyed a lovely organ concert by the great organ of this beautiful church. We spent the afternoon exploring the city and its art nouveau architecture, as well as the bustling public market. All in all, our day in Riga was a lovely experience with excellent weather, delightful surroundings and vibrant people.
