Latvia Part 4, 2013

Leaving Port Helsinki to Tallinn_Aug 4, 2013

Art Nouveau Alberta St Riga LV_Aug 5, 2013

Esplanade Park, Riga LV_Aug 5, 2013

City Square Riga LV_Aug 5, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kronvalda Park Riga LV_Aug 5, 2013

Bremen town musicians 1990 Riga LV_ Aug 5, 2013

hampagne Breakfast Welton Terrace Design hotel, Dzirnavu St Riga LV_Aug 6, 2013

Viesturdārzs/Song Festival Park, Riga LV _Aug 6, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug 4 Sunday; Helsinki (ferry)-Tallinn (bus ecolines)-Riga

Rose at 6am for a cooling 25 mins walk from hotel to harbor to catch 7:30am ferry to Tallinn. A  jogger, a taxi and a delivery van were out doing their business. Ferry buffet sold out. R  returned with drinks, oat milk, buns, apple cake, coffee and tea from the cafe. Ferry started 10 mins early. Two hours later, we arrived and hanged out at the terminal. The bus took us to Tallinn nice bus station where we ate salmon with warm sauce, rice and cabbage.soup, smoked salmon open faced sandwich and rose water. R is getting kohvik and dessert for  while waiting. At 1:15pm we took the bus to Riga with a rest stop at Parnu.The trip was delayed by jam and picking up pasengers. Arrived at 6 pm.  Arrived Welton terrace design hotel on Dzirnavu st by tram. We took turns going up 4th floor using the  tiny lift. The low and slanted attic room ceiling bonked my head twice.(not very happy) R prepared noodle and cucunber salad.

 

.

Aug 5 Monday

Weather turned to cold. Best hotel champagne breakfast on this trip. (4 stars) Walked along Alberta St and looked up at  the Art nouveau. Crossed the Esplanade park with triangle statue to Navity church, St. John and St. Peter churches. Met Bremen town musicians statue. Security (people with badges) told a group of teens busking the 80s music to move further away from the business area. We sat on the bench, enjoying the music when a couple sat beside peeling fruit. Look for souvenirs at the craft store. Through kronvalda park, we saw a chinese pagoda, a gift from Suchou, China. We ate at Miit Vegan cafe. on Lacpelsia st. Lunch specials sold out, they recommended salad soup, brownie and pure carrot juice(very good). Watched a little BBC before retiring.

Aug 6 Tuesday

Enjoying breakfast at Welton on a hot day, Went to Viesturdarzs park nearby where great musicians carved in stone, Ducks diving in for food. Around the park are condos. Checked in Forum hotel on busy Valnu st.  Tough time at the Occupation Mseum filled with 6 floor high of war relics and weapons. Searched for tea for M and found at Rimi supermarket. R went out to check on airport ride and came back with black and straw berries. Turkebab fed us falefa , coffee, turkish tea baklava and chicken kebab. Riga city center is choked with vehicles and people. Stood around and listened to Bob Dylan music.  Failing to find any gifts. Tomorrow we are leaving for Paris.

Latvia Part 3, 2013

Dumplings Vlinius LT_July 22, 2013

Vilnius LT -Daugavpils LV_ July 22, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22 Monday

We  are leaving Vilnius for Daugavpils, Latvia this morning.  Started slow with hotel breakfast. R booked Aug 2nd-Helsinki ferry tickets, a spur of the moment trip. Around noon we ate apple pancake and plump meat filled cepelinai/zepellin dumplings, coffee  at Ka vine Ceburekine by the bus station. The bus came 20 mins late and went all the way to Moscow. Rained all the way.  Halfway the substitute driver came to the front, did a quick change, freshen up, ate his meal,  play on his computer on a moving bus. He  chatted on his cell animatedly while driving. It was raining heavy, dark and cold when we settled in an uneven floor (almost broke my ankle bone), dimly lighted Hotel Leo.

Regional Studies and Art Museum,Daugavpils LV_July 23, 2013

Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils Lv July 23, 2013

Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils LV_July 23, 2013

Gubernators Daugavpils LV_July 23, 2013

Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils Lv July 23, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daugavpils Regional Studies and Art Museum_LV July 23, 2013

Mark Rothko Art Center, Daugavpils LV_ July 23, 2013

Daugavpils Regional Studies and Art Museum_LV July 23, 2013

University of Daugavpils LV_July 23, 2013

Daugavpils Regional Studies and Art Museum LV_ July 23, 2013

July 23 Tuesday

The rain had not abated yet. The hotel cooked us egg, sausage, juice, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, bread, coffee, tea and yogurt. We changed money at the bank. It was deserted as we walked over to the Museum of Regional History and Art. it was just two of us inside, an employee was guarding us with keys to open the Art room. It was just like a private tour, felt very important, though. A longer walk to the 3-month old Mark Rothko museum, 6 of his original paintings are displayed here,  A bit pricey but worth to see the art and the stunning renovated building wrapped by the ancient fort.  The local bus took us back and enjoyed Russian hotpot of salmon fillet, rice and vegetable, beer, chicken soup, pork fillet, french fries and bread with three kinds of butter at the basement of Gubernators. Stopped by Daugavpils University entrance.  We are heading North, taking the early bus tomorrow to Riga to catch the bus to Parnu, Estonia.

Latvia, Part 2, 2013

Gauja river, cable car’s view, motorcade below. Sigulda, Lv July 13, 2013

Sigulda, LV_July 13, 2013

Turaida medieval castle, opposite Sigulda Gauja river LV_July 13, 2013

Turaida medieval castle, on the opposite Gauja river bank from. Sigulda Lv, July 13, 2013

Mr. Biskvits cafe, Turaida LV_July 13,2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sigulda, Lv July 13, 2013

July 13 Saturday

It was hot, rose early to get tickets to Vilnius and got some local currency.  Back in time for hotel buffet breakfast. It would energize us for the 53 km train journey to Sigulda that took 75 mins. Located in Gauja valley admist its steep banks and cliffs.  We walked, took cart, cable and bus around Sigulda and Turaida. Witnessed a few weddings going on. Stopped at the cream colored manor and castle, We rested and tried rubard meringue pie with coffee and mint tea at Mr. Biskvits. We ate noodles at a cosy pretty bistro right across the train station before coming back to Riga.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latvian Art in Exile, Arsenal, Riga Lv, July 14, 2013

Latvian Art in Exile, Arsenal, Riga Lv, July 14, 2013

Latvian Art in Exile, Arsenal, Riga Lv, July 14, 2013

Latvian Art in Exile, Arsenal, Riga Lv, July 14, 2013

Hot Pot Stockman Riga LV_July 14, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Nouveau Alberta St Riga LV_July 14, 2013

July 14 Sunday 

 

Another hot day here. M (in Cambridge) and us (in Riga) had a wonderful skype-chat. The daily hotel buffet breakfast served us well with all the miles of walking across over to Arsenals warehouse for the aptly entitled “Latvian Artists in Exile” exibition.. We were lost in finding the unmarked entrance, And was rewarded when the gate was opened, it was a tastefully renovated building.  Artists expressing sorrows, new beginnings, lost homeland and hope. I was surprised to find one from Minnesota but not R.  Soaking in the Nouveau Art along Alberta st, culturized at the museum and topped it up with Latvian hotpot and kvass Stockmann Pica Chili. We shopped like Latvian at the open air market for their glorious summer cherry and strawberry. We felt fully immersed and be one with the Rigans now.

Latvia Part 1, 2013

Paris CDG – Riga LV_July 10, 2013

View from 17th floor,Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga LV_July 10,2013

View from 17th floor at Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga LV _ July 10, 2013

Stone Bridge over Daugava river, Riga, LV_July 11, 2013

House of Blackheads, Riga LV_July 11, 2013

Stone bridge over Daugava River, Riga LV_July 11, 2013

Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga LV_ July 12, 2013

July 10, 2013  Wednesday 

First, the hotel floor light went dark and the outside air shifted to cool, After having fresh croissants, coffee and tea, we took the shuttle to Terminal 2 CDG Paris. Flying  Baltic Air to Riga. The airline was strict on baggage load. Two hours plus later, we touched down at Riga. Changed dollars into lats, hopped into the pre-booked  express shuttle. Colors, words and surroundings told us we were in a foreign land. We arrived at Hanza hotel on a quiet corner at Elijas St. Feeling hungry we went through the open market selling all kinds of fresh meat,  hills of strawberry and raspberry, cucumber and fresh herbs. Too late for lunch and too early for dinner, a local woman pointed us to get meal at Stockman building and randomly picked Cili Pica.  English music videos drowning our conversation, K had salmon salad and raspberry mint smoothie. R chose kavass and Latvia farmer’s hot pot with sausage salad. Hotel Hanza’s wifi was flaky.

July 11 Thursday  

A sumptious breakfast at the hotel awaited us. Great salads, pickled herrings and cheeses. Plenty of German tourists visiting. Requested 6th floor to 4th floor for double bed. Lined up Vilnius bus ticket. Walked all over beautiful and interesting Old Riga town, Impressed with the House of  Blackheads. Learned Riga History and Navigation at the museum. Snacked on small fishes,quail eggs and kavass at an outdoor restuarant in Riga Old town. R showed me the Powder Tower, Black Cat House, Riga Castle, I sat by the bank of Daugava river and R walked over the bridge. For dinner we bought a sushi platter at Galleria Centers to go with the fresh raspberries, cherries and flat peaches.

July 12 Friday

Still slightly cool, we started the day with breakfast at hotel. Got 24 hour tram tickets at Narvesen (kiosk).  We got off the end of  the tram line at Juntas, down  jugla777 dark basement for drinks and snacks with Russian soap opera on the TV.  Just let the bus took us around NE Riga, Got more raspberries at the open market as we headed back to hotel. That evening we went to Lido at Atputes Centrs. Nine restuarants and bistros and over 1000 employees in one place we joined the buffet long line for  salmon, turkey, pork kebab and salad.  Suppose to be traditional latvian bit disappointed.  Sat and listen to live singers and saw a couple who danced like ” Dancing with the Stars”. Latvians ladies dressed in the most beautiful and elegant gowns here.

Called it a night after our stroll in the lively cobbled stoned Old Town.

Went out early to get Vilnius tickets $36 and change money. Back for hotel buffet breakfast. Off to siguldas by train cost $13 Walked around the $14national park. Saw lots of weddings,manor, castle, took cable $10 electric cart $14and went around the