On this cruise we have stepped foot in 3 “new to us” countries. Today was the last of the set with Latvia. Riga, the capital and largest city is colorful and interesting. Like Lithuania, Latvia has had many rulers — German, Polish, French, Swedish, Soviet— it was also part of the old Hanseatic League—and each of these left an imprint on the city and Latvian culture.
Today when you travel thru Riga you will note that the whole city is a USESCO World Heritage site, as it has over 800 Art Nouveau buildings many of which have been restored to their former glory. These huge buildings line the streets of the old town. During Soviet days, these buildings were cobbled up into 2 room apartments where 3 unrelated families lived together. Nowadays, they have reverted to their original owner, if that owner has the paperwork. Since a lot of things were destroyed during World War II, finding that paperwork has proven to be difficult for some families.
While the 800+ Art Nouveau buildings are striking, one in particular was exceptional. It is a light blue, unlike most of the buildings, with unusual sculptural elements. I really liked it. All of the buildings are made of brick and then covered in stucco to give them their distinctive look.
There are a number of churches in the capital. The population is about 25% Russian, so there are Orthodox churches. There are also Catholic and Lutheran churches, but the many domes on the Russian churches are exceptional.
The city is located on the Daugava River about 8 miles inland from the Baltic Sea. It’s a working port with a fair sized container facility. There are colorful bridges that connect Riga with the other side of the river. Today the Grand Circle ship, Clio, was berthed at the dock along with the Prinsendam. Larger cruise ships cannot access the port.
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