The Baltic States, St. Petersburg, and Moscow
September 26 - October 14, 2013
Part Two - Latvia
Page Four - Riga and Cesis Castle
We had some more leisure time to explore Riga on our own,
which started for some of us at Lido's in Old Town Riga.
Left to right: Sherry, Joan, Nancy, Lora Lee
Bridge full of marriage padlocks along the canal
4 of us took a canal and river boat ride around Riga. Here
we are on the Daugava River looking at the still under
construction National Library.
Skyline view from the Daugava River
Closer view with the dominant Dome Cathedral to the right,
the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral in Riga. It is considered the
largest cathedral in the Baltic States. Built in 1211. Some of us
went to an organ concert at the Cathedral one evening.
Closer view of the Dome or Riga Cathedral
St Peter's Lutheran Church on the right.
Mixture of modern and old
Huge cruise ship at port in Riga. This cruise line connects
Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Latvia year round.
Another view of the Freedom Monument
It is considered an important symbol of the freedom,
independence, and sovereignty of Latvia.
In Esplanade Park. Fall colors were becoming more
prominent.
Russian Orthodox Church in Esplanade, 19th century church.
During the Soviet era, the church was used as a planetarium.
Throughout the Baltic States, when a building is under
renovation, they typically put a cover over the area showing
what it will look like when renovation is complete.
Some of us went to the top of the Radisson Blu Hotel for a
glass of wine and wonderful views of Riga.
Looking down on the Russian Orthodox Church as the
late afternoon sun is hitting it. You can see part of the
Freedom Monument in the upper left hand corner.
Ground view of the dome of the Russian Orthodox
Church and beautiful fall colors.
View of the Radisson Blu behind the Church, where
we enjoyed wine and City views.
Evening view of part of Old Town Riga
Sign explaining the Soviet Gulag prison camps.
It is thought over 25 million people served in
Gulags, performing forced labor in the Soviet Union.
After leaving Riga to head for Estonia, we stopped in Cesis,
a picturesque Medieval town that was the capital of what was
called Livonia in the Middle Ages. This is Cesis Castle, a 13th century
medieval castle built by the Knights of the Sword, a military order founded
by Bishop Albert of Riga.
The Castle was founded in 1209.
Statue of Lenin on its back in a wooden box on Castle grounds.
During the Soviet occupation, a statue of Lenin, founder of
the Communist Party in Russia, was constructed in almost
every town in Latvia. This statue was taken down in
October 1990 but remains lying down in this open wooden box.
Fall colors and the Castle shop and museum in the background.
Broad view of part of Cesis Castle
Grounds near the Castle with the youngest of the towers in the
background.
Note the Latvian flag. This was the first place in the
country to fly the Latvian flag (in 1988) before the country
officially broke free from the Soviet Union.
Group shot: Nancy, Gertrud, Sherry, Kathy, Ralph, Pat, Fran,
Lora Lee, Martine, Lloyd, Elisabeth, Tom, Joan, Marie
A swan having fun in the water near the Castle.
The park near the Castle
Older gentleman waiting for a fish to bite.
Even some adults (Elisabeth and Kathy) cannot resist a teeter totter,
which was
near the restaurant where we had lunch in Cesis
before proceeding
on our way to Estonia.
THE END OF PART TWO - LATVIA
LINK TO PART THREE - ESTONIA
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