tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79724866102954023352024-03-26T23:37:43.267-07:00Riga ReviewTidbits about life in Riga, Latviaconnie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-23206789456628691442021-06-16T00:00:00.115-07:002021-06-16T01:37:31.056-07:00On Our Way Back Home<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPFdqtKx03xG7IVtbJfybsM_UslnX6JD8TVvKSst_qAAe5tBCRd9MmZMUtCxDjDrPJ8TQQadqhbubc9aJngLQuslVZ3Kb2ZmQbtsBnx7TfqIchejNS9wJHsF9WoDCU_yng7Wr3WjwYeU/s2048/IMG_0186.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPFdqtKx03xG7IVtbJfybsM_UslnX6JD8TVvKSst_qAAe5tBCRd9MmZMUtCxDjDrPJ8TQQadqhbubc9aJngLQuslVZ3Kb2ZmQbtsBnx7TfqIchejNS9wJHsF9WoDCU_yng7Wr3WjwYeU/s320/IMG_0186.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our luggage packed to go to Europe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> More than four years ago, we packed up all these bags and started our adventure of life in Europe. Some of you may have followed allowed with me by reading these posts over the last four years. <p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to share with you my experiences of how life is different living in Europe and our adventures in the many countries we've lived in and visited. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We've met so many wonderful people and seen so many amazing and beautiful things during these four years. These will be years that we will always remember and cherish. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Charles_Bridge_(Karl%C5%AFv_most)%2C_Vltava_River%2C_Prague%2C_2015.jpg/440px-Charles_Bridge_(Karl%C5%AFv_most)%2C_Vltava_River%2C_Prague%2C_2015.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="440" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Charles_Bridge_(Karl%C5%AFv_most)%2C_Vltava_River%2C_Prague%2C_2015.jpg/440px-Charles_Bridge_(Karl%C5%AFv_most)%2C_Vltava_River%2C_Prague%2C_2015.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Prague </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div>It's hard for me to think that we started this adventure with our move to Prague in May 2017. Living without a car and adjusting to the European lifestyle filled our life that year. The beauty of Prague, filled with tourists, was a wonder to me, who hadn't lived in Europe before.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlO761PYysganY17IuTQ2vJsZc3G7DYmqoo4iIoUIhqBRFxOz8CWnZwx6Y5GHJq-SJZ6uW30uZJj1yfS23aYfTzpVz64zFqs2uSB3_gSCpJtyUOK02unNyGSQh3Nf3Cm3tA3ZD7cCNPw/s2048/IMG_1348.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlO761PYysganY17IuTQ2vJsZc3G7DYmqoo4iIoUIhqBRFxOz8CWnZwx6Y5GHJq-SJZ6uW30uZJj1yfS23aYfTzpVz64zFqs2uSB3_gSCpJtyUOK02unNyGSQh3Nf3Cm3tA3ZD7cCNPw/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famous Russian Church</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By June 2018, we were on our way to St. Petersburg, Russia. That meant another adjustment to our lifestyle. My husband was now a full time professor at a seminary so he worked most of the week at home and commuted to the seminary to teach once or twice a week. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I found myself on my own more and making friends with international women who were trying to learn Russian along with me. Because of my husband's work with the seminary, we lived in the "suburbs" in high rise housing with only Russian speakers surrounding us. Daily life was a very interesting experience. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYWYtL0SPfzEE-MeU0AdUtj0FL9DJNgEbwLNXg8Yp62FYGZYc-llbiQEbkWjZu1fGnl9-p3R_aG0iX-ROWRiQJa3HYVcsXxKe0_xJKVSgBNUeRoH41iAm98l7UbunNvoDlxYQuU5nYVo/s2533/B627FA35-A9C4-4CDC-8743-4B1B62318825_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="2533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYWYtL0SPfzEE-MeU0AdUtj0FL9DJNgEbwLNXg8Yp62FYGZYc-llbiQEbkWjZu1fGnl9-p3R_aG0iX-ROWRiQJa3HYVcsXxKe0_xJKVSgBNUeRoH41iAm98l7UbunNvoDlxYQuU5nYVo/s320/B627FA35-A9C4-4CDC-8743-4B1B62318825_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famous Riga skyline</td></tr></tbody></table>After only eighteen months, we were asked to relocate to Riga, Latvia in February 2020. We truly love Riga and easily adapted to life here until Covid hit - only one month later. Unfortunately, the pandemic has dampened our experience here. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We love living here, but we haven't gotten to meet people or see places that we could have if we weren't in the lockdown situation that continues here. Because of this we're closing out our European adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now we are in the process of once again packing all our bags and returning to the United States soon. Life there will be normal again to all my readers, so my blogging days are coming to an end. Thanks for being such faithful readers! </div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-33057400709931596192021-06-09T00:00:00.113-07:002021-06-09T00:00:00.190-07:00The Story behind Latvian Mittens<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://athenaeum.baronyofmadrone.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/header-2-scaled.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="800" height="138" src="https://athenaeum.baronyofmadrone.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/header-2-scaled.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sample of Latvian mittens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4cqIrdgjvKcACqKs-Ghr1opV31u93scMnfRC2ckZ5MyO6l74PidCdc1qSrEMGoiXwLU7ibqQdpuxvrGWZuL_97VlclJeW3wykXQteRDjtAegJ6u6wum01QzLb2RCYbydKFu4HYEpziE/s2048/145C0E94-8ED9-4097-946B-5ACCA6A81E34.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4cqIrdgjvKcACqKs-Ghr1opV31u93scMnfRC2ckZ5MyO6l74PidCdc1qSrEMGoiXwLU7ibqQdpuxvrGWZuL_97VlclJeW3wykXQteRDjtAegJ6u6wum01QzLb2RCYbydKFu4HYEpziE/s320/145C0E94-8ED9-4097-946B-5ACCA6A81E34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Latvia has a long tradition involving mittens. That's not surprising knowing that winters are so cold here. Everyone knitted mittens here in times past - granddads, grandmas, dad, mothers and children. What else did Dad have to do on long, dark winter evenings? Mittens are part of Latvia's culture. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFfuB4WuvEOIt8JDZqoo36-KH6llFWwCfBdUx8171E7i_0B_CUEqZ5TzEmwhppTtNVYgDzOyr-yz0c_mwsJ-B9_KzZi6uvwgfDzZUjoHm8vUQUcyzOFd-4ApT-Knw5Fd1TfGMeRNXuuI/s2048/4D2531CA-0BFC-4684-9508-14136C4FF2EB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFfuB4WuvEOIt8JDZqoo36-KH6llFWwCfBdUx8171E7i_0B_CUEqZ5TzEmwhppTtNVYgDzOyr-yz0c_mwsJ-B9_KzZi6uvwgfDzZUjoHm8vUQUcyzOFd-4ApT-Knw5Fd1TfGMeRNXuuI/s320/4D2531CA-0BFC-4684-9508-14136C4FF2EB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mittens at a farmer's market booth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mittens are especially part of the wedding culture. Brides-to-be had to have 100 or more pairs of mittens knitted for her wedding hope chest. She handed out mittens to her father-in-law, mother-in-law, cousins, aunts, uncles, bridesmaids, cooks of the wedding supper, bakers and anyone else involved with planning the wedding. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also included were the farm animals in the barn. Mittens were given to cows, sheep and horses. Of course, those mittens were gathered back up after the wedding celebration. I'm not sure if that tradition continues today. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/flickr/4/2/8/4284149803/4284149803_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/flickr/4/2/8/4284149803/4284149803_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mittens from District of Kurzeme</td></tr></tbody></table>The interesting thing is that every county in Latvia has its own pattern of mitten associated with that area. An experienced knitter can tell where you come from if she sees your mittens. Of course, people don't always knit the same pattern every pair. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Historically, the basic pattern of the mittens were taken from symbols of the deities and gods that the ancient Latvian people honored. Over the years these traditional patterns became connected with the different regions of Latvia. Today each region has its own traditions, styles, symbols and even colors. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I especially like the colorful mittens from the Kurzeme region as seen above. The bright colored yarn and bold patterns of the rosetta-type suns with small cuffs are unique to the region. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure knitters and people who have studied Latvian mittens know much more about this topic than I do, but I find it very interesting. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div>Information taken from <a href="https://latvians.com/index.php?en/CFBH/Zimes/zimes-30-mitthist.ssi">A Short History of Latvian folk mittens</a></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-66249941185210104262021-06-02T00:00:00.182-07:002021-06-02T00:00:00.179-07:00The House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAwK4P3pRPxccfHW20HDPZUafNyCa0h4Y8PMPWb7wcjJff-gCGzIgsAmUxk0IZdKu7PxHkzLB0_vfgvNVfrzjHA37kJsnxg6ZtPnjQ_KzG6f7f9T1jogEslBYBEVJfE1qz2UpmYPW0i0/s2048/0F436159-15B2-42E6-9012-DC9A635DD1D6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAwK4P3pRPxccfHW20HDPZUafNyCa0h4Y8PMPWb7wcjJff-gCGzIgsAmUxk0IZdKu7PxHkzLB0_vfgvNVfrzjHA37kJsnxg6ZtPnjQ_KzG6f7f9T1jogEslBYBEVJfE1qz2UpmYPW0i0/s320/0F436159-15B2-42E6-9012-DC9A635DD1D6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of Blackheads</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the most unique buildings in Riga is the one pictured on the left. It was built in 1334 in the Riga Town Square by the Brotherhood of Blackheads. This guild was founded as a military organization of unmarried merchants and foreigners (mostly Germans) who fought to protect their investments in Riga's early days. These Christian men had to defend themselves against the indigenous population who wanted to get rid of the foreigners who had settled in their territory. <p></p><p>Over the years, the Brotherhood of Blackheads slowly changed into a more commercial society with meetings that pertained to the trade and social standing in the community. When the members of the Brotherhood were married, they would then join the Great Guild in the city. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56WP2ydTY7PcmEAuSp3FdcB_xbgxiRSOAuKzU3l3XDdr6pdN2-OPK7w74bnkUO9EIqtd2yJZej90Z4-_M5W6M9Ose956dGBQ10Y_31PsEDoJZSe6v5fhMofnwdFWvtLROx7RVOepqGLc/s2048/6ACFC9C4-066A-4CE3-ACE6-EB6FAF62B5FA.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56WP2ydTY7PcmEAuSp3FdcB_xbgxiRSOAuKzU3l3XDdr6pdN2-OPK7w74bnkUO9EIqtd2yJZej90Z4-_M5W6M9Ose956dGBQ10Y_31PsEDoJZSe6v5fhMofnwdFWvtLROx7RVOepqGLc/w297-h240/6ACFC9C4-066A-4CE3-ACE6-EB6FAF62B5FA.jpeg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statues decorate the building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>The facade of the House of Blackheads is very interesting with sculptures of Neptune, Mercury, Unity and Peace adorning the main portion of the building. The roof line is in a stepped pattern as it rises to the peak. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStq7nmplha_7YktnOpti2taBNJEgjCzTC6qx9WdwQKhuthlkCjw3CjaGsWwWdVHOsbONOo5i74u3mUvfIZvpz067MIGjIz5AHju0Dnee6fy_LvYXB3RK7ZWy0wSDeQiAlqTmBWdpHzXk/s2048/D7EE2436-FD3D-42A2-AF12-4B9695596E15.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStq7nmplha_7YktnOpti2taBNJEgjCzTC6qx9WdwQKhuthlkCjw3CjaGsWwWdVHOsbONOo5i74u3mUvfIZvpz067MIGjIz5AHju0Dnee6fy_LvYXB3RK7ZWy0wSDeQiAlqTmBWdpHzXk/w300-h400/D7EE2436-FD3D-42A2-AF12-4B9695596E15.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main doorway of the building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In 1522, the main doorway was decorated with two stone figures - the Virgin Mary on the one side and Saint Mauritius on the other side. The black Egyptian saint is the patron saint of the Brotherhood. He may be the reason they chose the name of the Brotherhood of Blackheads for their organization. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The upper level of the building holds a Great Hall where balls, concerts, or theater productions were held for famous and important people such as presidents, kings, or queens. Many cultural events were seen here before June 1941. That month, the building was destroyed by the Germans during WWII. The Soviets leveled the ruins in 1948. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadWCwfVNunBEqTIXv9rdSFOTvqwlv0f-uG9KLUSCYo-pinO05uyLPnF52mSQGg7wpJ5CA-mFkF_1x7G588Es6JuLTxvYS5Z0EJ9qCC6LI-UGv_JBVCpkrG0y897hpPEDACkOGa4eJ_9Y/s2048/4081C645-5C46-4069-A83D-2FB26B708EB6.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadWCwfVNunBEqTIXv9rdSFOTvqwlv0f-uG9KLUSCYo-pinO05uyLPnF52mSQGg7wpJ5CA-mFkF_1x7G588Es6JuLTxvYS5Z0EJ9qCC6LI-UGv_JBVCpkrG0y897hpPEDACkOGa4eJ_9Y/w240-h320/4081C645-5C46-4069-A83D-2FB26B708EB6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> In the 1990s after freedom for Latvia, the building was reconstructed. They found that the basement had been preserved all those years. Today this restored basement holds the exhibition "From the History of the Blackheads House." The history of the building is shown in pictures and sculptures in its various reconstructions. </p><p><br /></p><p>If only this pandemic hadn't closed down all city museums and historical buildings. I would have loved to tour this piece of history. </p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from "Riga, Journey through the Centuries."</p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-79040614981542726432021-05-26T00:00:00.001-07:002021-05-26T00:00:00.140-07:00Spring in Riga <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtf3ZH8nR5ji4jt8nT4VABJiKQBll3h2y_wF-XmXPmRkxZZDuwr4J645s0Biu8wrv2JEBPdeQXAIH3QIblTiPFwbd5oaNcZz_5MQHM6oHSCQtBDGcssP2hqf9JOBIY94F9QQUh8pFmU8/s1600/AE5F6FF6-6021-4C3F-BE77-74C96539156C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtf3ZH8nR5ji4jt8nT4VABJiKQBll3h2y_wF-XmXPmRkxZZDuwr4J645s0Biu8wrv2JEBPdeQXAIH3QIblTiPFwbd5oaNcZz_5MQHM6oHSCQtBDGcssP2hqf9JOBIY94F9QQUh8pFmU8/s320/AE5F6FF6-6021-4C3F-BE77-74C96539156C.jpeg" width="320" /></a>With the long warmer days here, the flowers have brought beauty to the parks near us. I'll share this postcard with you of the Riga spring flowers.<br />
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Our days are getting very long since we're so far north. The sun rises before 5:00 now and sets at 9:45 at night. By June 21, the sun will be up from 4:30 AM to 10:22 PM. Lots of time to party!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of fountain from bridge in canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1zndNh6UWB5hLaD4_rih69TQwJlcjZlGEZcYvkzo8y91kFyQDm3n_PE2fakQTN-9mS9UjFtn6asjfzo_1PelDVOz2ohKHF7VYIOPPRPlmlQP-C76IzbXN1InCI94se6oUH2W_DVFa5Q/s1600/22702DD4-0ED2-4FE3-93A0-796FA1713B27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1zndNh6UWB5hLaD4_rih69TQwJlcjZlGEZcYvkzo8y91kFyQDm3n_PE2fakQTN-9mS9UjFtn6asjfzo_1PelDVOz2ohKHF7VYIOPPRPlmlQP-C76IzbXN1InCI94se6oUH2W_DVFa5Q/s200/22702DD4-0ED2-4FE3-93A0-796FA1713B27.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulips are a favorite</td></tr>
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Between Old Riga and the rest of the city, a canal runs through a beautiful park. We were told that the canal is actually where the old moat surrounded the walled city. <br />
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It's lovely to stroll along the canal through the beautiful park. It's one of our favorite walks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg8kVBr8abv5iZOmwqktqj7heSVAQXZhU9R-s3lHJK4gaTI0PgaBMR3DPt3Q3fMonCb0CzXgd5Rwb4sgx6OofoAXN3KhPRgKihYW8kLOABOWAMGLR6qu_NKIzHve-2izmfDuqiTfJr9E/s1600/DFC96DFE-F6C5-4874-BCB0-69646948AEC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg8kVBr8abv5iZOmwqktqj7heSVAQXZhU9R-s3lHJK4gaTI0PgaBMR3DPt3Q3fMonCb0CzXgd5Rwb4sgx6OofoAXN3KhPRgKihYW8kLOABOWAMGLR6qu_NKIzHve-2izmfDuqiTfJr9E/s320/DFC96DFE-F6C5-4874-BCB0-69646948AEC9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bastion Hill across the canal</td></tr>
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The park is dotted with statues and fountains.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgOgTZfdTGe1-LmHKBU9LbrDlodH47NX1QX0seslKfEUMiza2kkFrbWknaDwSW2-qINDuLDLpPVlj_f0Da5zjs75t6FIYGTPCM51Gv51v3MpAPa2ivMAS56PaPxFcdF_CtGHE7k7j7eo/s1600/8D783DBB-15BA-43ED-A58F-E9E0EC3AAA35.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgOgTZfdTGe1-LmHKBU9LbrDlodH47NX1QX0seslKfEUMiza2kkFrbWknaDwSW2-qINDuLDLpPVlj_f0Da5zjs75t6FIYGTPCM51Gv51v3MpAPa2ivMAS56PaPxFcdF_CtGHE7k7j7eo/s200/8D783DBB-15BA-43ED-A58F-E9E0EC3AAA35.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCjiHPe7_tyqlYlxbhyphenhyphen2KNOIhihXKFJ0ORVsTUc1HV5rH_d_Q0QbPfFbNj0yVKJtrkfTbXl3oe7v817a0LvSIymhe2F7HYKQKjQCU4glNv4fnCcYMOg4jnMOv2fctX0syQM94hB6g3vo/s1600/395D4FE8-A234-479F-AC78-5DDA037489E3_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCjiHPe7_tyqlYlxbhyphenhyphen2KNOIhihXKFJ0ORVsTUc1HV5rH_d_Q0QbPfFbNj0yVKJtrkfTbXl3oe7v817a0LvSIymhe2F7HYKQKjQCU4glNv4fnCcYMOg4jnMOv2fctX0syQM94hB6g3vo/s320/395D4FE8-A234-479F-AC78-5DDA037489E3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of historian</td></tr>
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We are looking forward to seeing what summer flowers will be added to the collection when they open up. By then we'll be able to go for a walk at 10:00 at night and still see the sunshine. I can't wait!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlB1V9s3SSfqhyl-P8maab7rMCl5Zk4syu12f8nn_6anShokNY8fevM4Tf_W5MvOc_HRGV8p2TpSWsaXMOqaPp5pGP-ZEgubBl7tDRzTgxfUfupODrk2dmNv32Kh6kyirT9K3RAm-5xs/s1600/E3BBDC10-F4DC-4658-B202-1C4BBAA0C30E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlB1V9s3SSfqhyl-P8maab7rMCl5Zk4syu12f8nn_6anShokNY8fevM4Tf_W5MvOc_HRGV8p2TpSWsaXMOqaPp5pGP-ZEgubBl7tDRzTgxfUfupODrk2dmNv32Kh6kyirT9K3RAm-5xs/s320/E3BBDC10-F4DC-4658-B202-1C4BBAA0C30E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manicured flower bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mCqBIa_QG3n36JMUNNqcp7F_E3S-OyKUz5rCCX8XKhu5tJkOJta0jP_svVH0tKFZPCEvqHGRS0R9jVKL74eNkvagdN2VIotuH_GyGb21q0iC-cOoPkyjh2OzqZ3fiJuS2lrpDM_mv5U/s1600/9289B489-695E-40DF-8C01-88D0BB713019.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mCqBIa_QG3n36JMUNNqcp7F_E3S-OyKUz5rCCX8XKhu5tJkOJta0jP_svVH0tKFZPCEvqHGRS0R9jVKL74eNkvagdN2VIotuH_GyGb21q0iC-cOoPkyjh2OzqZ3fiJuS2lrpDM_mv5U/s400/9289B489-695E-40DF-8C01-88D0BB713019.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenic bridge over the canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDgiYNkIE5_uroEc09NYmq-jFlwkwJDpr5hXlR1rjMHW8Bsft4uSVJQObj0SZvFS0iy49lpYEMFwkH5ukiAXfF9Sm2jP1QLKGX-tY_SyD_WtWDFb8ZVIYvWqfQMGyYur8ovnOyRPSoDM/s1600/EDF41FA5-F7E9-4939-969F-1D1CE42AC133.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDgiYNkIE5_uroEc09NYmq-jFlwkwJDpr5hXlR1rjMHW8Bsft4uSVJQObj0SZvFS0iy49lpYEMFwkH5ukiAXfF9Sm2jP1QLKGX-tY_SyD_WtWDFb8ZVIYvWqfQMGyYur8ovnOyRPSoDM/s320/EDF41FA5-F7E9-4939-969F-1D1CE42AC133.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculptured flower bed with lion statue</td></tr>
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connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-1421665995948346902021-05-12T00:00:00.127-07:002021-05-12T00:00:00.159-07:00Three Brothers in Riga <p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ26KPkWY4qEExsJwpcTs2LsWzyaPeb0OXuVwGGA5NvUxpZgh-1aW9JWEct_sRxt_E6QB2mm7HwcHTjr1Z6nJj6OH5XImDxLMRnolxOBwZ8yW5WNNmxgTOlAt2uGvlwk40jBExbXDyhA/s2048/B80E4E55-83F5-4C29-A7C7-ED2C160C3D8E.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ26KPkWY4qEExsJwpcTs2LsWzyaPeb0OXuVwGGA5NvUxpZgh-1aW9JWEct_sRxt_E6QB2mm7HwcHTjr1Z6nJj6OH5XImDxLMRnolxOBwZ8yW5WNNmxgTOlAt2uGvlwk40jBExbXDyhA/w400-h300/B80E4E55-83F5-4C29-A7C7-ED2C160C3D8E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Three Brothers"</td></tr></tbody></table>When these three building were built centuries ago, I'm sure the builders never dreamed that today they would still be preserved and famous. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>These are the oldest residences in Riga. They were actually built in different centuries, but now are a tourist attraction all standing together. All walking tours of Riga pass these three buildings, now known as "Three Brothers." </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVWgKvP9qVrej3JP48XNdm1CXcvPfoZZUzrwHxrsD97TIS27fx0tU4w6_nXl3Yb4CjBkBkg0cF7JaWeE9toicp_gqLUOCV4NCl3MTPntFeF8_v8YToh85MolgOHBPXl0F2Cd2ILfHACc/s2048/64A6BE27-69B5-49B5-9DC4-AC823EE3B92A.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVWgKvP9qVrej3JP48XNdm1CXcvPfoZZUzrwHxrsD97TIS27fx0tU4w6_nXl3Yb4CjBkBkg0cF7JaWeE9toicp_gqLUOCV4NCl3MTPntFeF8_v8YToh85MolgOHBPXl0F2Cd2ILfHACc/w240-h320/64A6BE27-69B5-49B5-9DC4-AC823EE3B92A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portal seat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The oldest building is on the right, built in 1490. It was built for manufacturing and trade. The entire first floor is one large room where work, trade, and everyday life took place. The upstairs was originally built for storage area. The outside facade is from the Gothic area with crow-stepped gables. It has looked the same for over five hundred years. A portal seat was built by the front door for visitors or passers-by to rest. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(393).jpg/640px-Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(393).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(393).jpg/640px-Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(393).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date of 1646 is visible</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />The middle building was built in 1646 as you can see plainly in red numbers. The architecture is quite different with rounded edges in the Dutch Mannerism style. The large second story windows indicate that this floor holds the main large meeting hall in the house. Above the entrance, the words "Soli deo gloria" (Glory to God alone) are inscribed into a portal. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Entrance_Latvia_Architecture_Museum.jpg/640px-Entrance_Latvia_Architecture_Museum.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Entrance_Latvia_Architecture_Museum.jpg/640px-Entrance_Latvia_Architecture_Museum.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inscription above the door</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(252).jpg/640px-Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(252).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(252).jpg/640px-Vecr%C4%ABga%2C_Central_District%2C_Riga%2C_LV-1050%2C_Latvia_-_panoramio_(252).jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newest one</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The green building is the smallest and newest, built in late 17th century. It is the narrowest of the three with a small apartment built on each floor. The building is very different from the other two homes. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Dz%C4%ABvojamo_namu_komplekss_%22Tr%C4%ABs_br%C4%81%C4%BCi%22.jpg/640px-Dz%C4%ABvojamo_namu_komplekss_%22Tr%C4%ABs_br%C4%81%C4%BCi%22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Dz%C4%ABvojamo_namu_komplekss_%22Tr%C4%ABs_br%C4%81%C4%BCi%22.jpg/640px-Dz%C4%ABvojamo_namu_komplekss_%22Tr%C4%ABs_br%C4%81%C4%BCi%22.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial view of the Three Brothers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>These building today are interconnected and house the Latvian Museum of Architecture. Of course, with the pandemic regulations, we haven't been inside to see it because of the restrictions. As you can see, these three buildings have been preserved from being torn down during the updating projects that have occurred over the centuries. It's great that someone had the foresight to hang onto this heritage. </p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from <a href="https://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/three-brothers">Latvia travel-three brothers</a></p><p>Photos taken from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=three+brothers+Riga+latvia&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image">Commons wikimedia.org</a><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-25191972773619845712021-05-05T00:00:00.154-07:002021-05-05T00:00:00.186-07:00Another Courtyard <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFjzYsBT5TmBQlCXCciMgFEsmhqW7g1DFmVEvkZO1rDSh3hM_D4qFaxbZj1t0IIYyBkJ3P_TzC0EkIjIosmub9ZbtYHQ8cwYuIuw8ncPynCO9gB5i8MhvhbfQNi4KZJrSojKqgnjKhHo/s2048/DD8B0E42-B453-45A8-A7F0-65A2D924E796.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFjzYsBT5TmBQlCXCciMgFEsmhqW7g1DFmVEvkZO1rDSh3hM_D4qFaxbZj1t0IIYyBkJ3P_TzC0EkIjIosmub9ZbtYHQ8cwYuIuw8ncPynCO9gB5i8MhvhbfQNi4KZJrSojKqgnjKhHo/s320/DD8B0E42-B453-45A8-A7F0-65A2D924E796.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside original city gate </td></tr></tbody></table>Ancient history shows itself around Old Town Riga in special ways. The ancient wall of the city makes up a portion of the St. John's Courtyard. This courtyard is located on the area of the original Bishop's castle when Riga was originally built in the 12th Century. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqI1W7qNmF2GLeTVC6Nui-fszrnzCFwHbCXx_mjXzmSYxsZsGWuCQtqkCWtzV_OZngz-MzLwJHZdFAQW4FHCmRcb6t6vAr87gcDdtVRYD42cyrhxLIm0D8CjQs2ZKHMUjnYrpty6a51A/s2048/23E92DBA-F0AD-47E6-9D97-251344B0F490.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqI1W7qNmF2GLeTVC6Nui-fszrnzCFwHbCXx_mjXzmSYxsZsGWuCQtqkCWtzV_OZngz-MzLwJHZdFAQW4FHCmRcb6t6vAr87gcDdtVRYD42cyrhxLIm0D8CjQs2ZKHMUjnYrpty6a51A/w150-h200/23E92DBA-F0AD-47E6-9D97-251344B0F490.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How old is this archway?</td></tr></tbody></table>St. John's Lutheran Church was originally the Bishop's chapel for the castle, so it is adjacent to the courtyard. I pass through this courtyard often on my way to the mall that I visit. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8rJyAUOheKVjIM4nIm2FSmL7Jfu4GhRRYqqzz7tiMZp1VdlomoTgFzpbPF3nR4IxVIFjXsu53HtkHfaIRgblk02lrdV1e2tq7zU8m_ZnuWpmqYgf_zrNY0P6Vp1xNzhEn5s23o9uDRY/s2048/E62A5AE1-F4FF-4CB2-9F1F-EC6ACE7E7714.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8rJyAUOheKVjIM4nIm2FSmL7Jfu4GhRRYqqzz7tiMZp1VdlomoTgFzpbPF3nR4IxVIFjXsu53HtkHfaIRgblk02lrdV1e2tq7zU8m_ZnuWpmqYgf_zrNY0P6Vp1xNzhEn5s23o9uDRY/s320/E62A5AE1-F4FF-4CB2-9F1F-EC6ACE7E7714.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approach to courtyard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The Courtyard is accessed by walking down the alley past St. John's Church door and under an ancient archway. St. John's door is on the right side of the alley in the picture on the right. A person doesn't even think of the history surrounding you when you live in a place where it's just the neighborhood. </p><p><br /></p><p>I do often wonder what the building above the archway is. Do people live above the archway? How long has that part of the structure been there. It connects directly with St. John's Church today, but was it originally like that? I'll never know.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOybxb0Joxb3hhKP8VCpgSwf6I1xhJEntSVd3JZqaRNH_7A0u704xzmnCag1qt7yX8n1_Ig0sydB3y_oz57KIW5UI4xmMnK8pH9w8C-UYx-V-ypSycQzyg-TqDno2wNXTcyzXQwiQcgao/s2048/440C1EB4-1AD2-4937-9FEE-AE7CFEF35B59.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOybxb0Joxb3hhKP8VCpgSwf6I1xhJEntSVd3JZqaRNH_7A0u704xzmnCag1qt7yX8n1_Ig0sydB3y_oz57KIW5UI4xmMnK8pH9w8C-UYx-V-ypSycQzyg-TqDno2wNXTcyzXQwiQcgao/s320/440C1EB4-1AD2-4937-9FEE-AE7CFEF35B59.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of courtyard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY1tcilUhiVJMM47yItouj_zM6u16vr-EwiDes32BrJ2ohkCzHk_VoBR61bIV-iophNP38aKCqCl5pU3qIRCDU8iPm77Qdv21OMvSGO0uc5twzHxqEmztiM45ZLmtaFFq70tjB-bdVxY/s2048/C20992E8-CAF5-418D-BA09-FF7D2CC2AF7D.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY1tcilUhiVJMM47yItouj_zM6u16vr-EwiDes32BrJ2ohkCzHk_VoBR61bIV-iophNP38aKCqCl5pU3qIRCDU8iPm77Qdv21OMvSGO0uc5twzHxqEmztiM45ZLmtaFFq70tjB-bdVxY/w150-h200/C20992E8-CAF5-418D-BA09-FF7D2CC2AF7D.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once inside the courtyard, you're surrounded by shops and restaurants. Again, they are not noticed so much because everything looks old. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7Rs5yrW1uA1nbn9lkMUuG1NX1z-vOuPlMIXaprq0knxIzlDU4fZkogc2nk4oiyva0saxYSJOJwfQSRBeKlM-S7bQnCyVa67dEy3u9pePO-_FSwW6imbG-NwQa8Q6D7YtQIW7_XCkI4I/s2048/8D8FBD47-A5E0-49A2-8B48-B12CE479C090_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="2048" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7Rs5yrW1uA1nbn9lkMUuG1NX1z-vOuPlMIXaprq0knxIzlDU4fZkogc2nk4oiyva0saxYSJOJwfQSRBeKlM-S7bQnCyVa67dEy3u9pePO-_FSwW6imbG-NwQa8Q6D7YtQIW7_XCkI4I/w400-h290/8D8FBD47-A5E0-49A2-8B48-B12CE479C090_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient wall with added decorations</td></tr></tbody></table>The one thing your eyes are drawn toward is the view of the ancient wall still very much intact and in full display. A restaurant sits in the corner next to the wall which adds to the quaintness of the scene. Here is the ancient wall, built 800 or more years ago, on full display. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6Eh4sxZLU-zt5kHb5G4FloqInK6jb2W3id9GDKzEmkC5kpal8ilLjlzqLd639oVRdcExn-QpRaJ2yy-YEX6BrcZ1xBT8XSbkYSZu81XDuILpAzkrg_0u906aoSrkcvroal5uM6Job-U/s2048/6569C181-997C-4BAB-B414-F8D6CD391EDD.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6Eh4sxZLU-zt5kHb5G4FloqInK6jb2W3id9GDKzEmkC5kpal8ilLjlzqLd639oVRdcExn-QpRaJ2yy-YEX6BrcZ1xBT8XSbkYSZu81XDuILpAzkrg_0u906aoSrkcvroal5uM6Job-U/s320/6569C181-997C-4BAB-B414-F8D6CD391EDD.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><br />Of course, since that time the city has grown up around it and it's now a tourist attraction. The city makes sure that this piece of wall is preserved close to it's original design as possible. <br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>In the close up on the left, you can see that the walk-way above the original wall is still maintained. They have also shown the original stones in a small place in an arch. This is history at its best. </p><p><br /></p><p>It's too bad I don't think about all of this as I'm carrying my groceries home. At that point, the weight of the bags is more on my mind. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p> </p></div></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-29003234732648017742021-04-28T00:00:00.213-07:002021-04-28T00:00:00.175-07:00The Golden Domes of Riga<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZcDLdMnUrzWXWji3xAOzsYH-B6t_XkkvCauaREmzSStfam3X5twodA2pQJF0lnwh6ijGHx6LTubXbvFcmiBaEgg86dHxmuLqyuI7coGXTYrtWGyNSzWp5Belok3To6u3Gic_Uqcc4Fs/s2048/20AF7116-30D0-4A20-9AF1-815EB3C68E61_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZcDLdMnUrzWXWji3xAOzsYH-B6t_XkkvCauaREmzSStfam3X5twodA2pQJF0lnwh6ijGHx6LTubXbvFcmiBaEgg86dHxmuLqyuI7coGXTYrtWGyNSzWp5Belok3To6u3Gic_Uqcc4Fs/s320/20AF7116-30D0-4A20-9AF1-815EB3C68E61_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orthodox Cathedral - Riga</td></tr></tbody></table> The golden domes of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral stand out above the trees near Old Town Riga. We walk past this large building in the park not far from our apartment. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WXALr_nJBCf80unAR5NaiCCeJ0K7wZU6oG9-TQs8Qtm_o6XqpKlXJADzIjpty0ZIple5MYmaoaBuJc_ODYbIpASu13jNhcITM2N1Q1KOw8zb9U6WGL2_vmecyqG9G7pRQO-rT3T4qpY/s2048/BC0601A7-FE0C-4084-B4EF-C46680EA24C1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="2048" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WXALr_nJBCf80unAR5NaiCCeJ0K7wZU6oG9-TQs8Qtm_o6XqpKlXJADzIjpty0ZIple5MYmaoaBuJc_ODYbIpASu13jNhcITM2N1Q1KOw8zb9U6WGL2_vmecyqG9G7pRQO-rT3T4qpY/w200-h144/BC0601A7-FE0C-4084-B4EF-C46680EA24C1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The domes shine out to the citizens on sunny days. Surrounded by the trees in the park, the walls of the cathedral are not easy to see in summer, but the size is undeniable.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfcFo0phJkxCGCnGKR04O3Uq_zOS7obw1GuGFfmefXFsHj1K0bwR1J4SpeDAyX6anzQYhLiE7sHwjcNiE2bbAJVLWWeHbfBWnU70HICBfbnfuTQK7ajQgKpHyV5VRoMoIdQKQfohe5Z8/s2048/360E8ED4-A602-4EFA-BDA2-AF4C507D9D61_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfcFo0phJkxCGCnGKR04O3Uq_zOS7obw1GuGFfmefXFsHj1K0bwR1J4SpeDAyX6anzQYhLiE7sHwjcNiE2bbAJVLWWeHbfBWnU70HICBfbnfuTQK7ajQgKpHyV5VRoMoIdQKQfohe5Z8/w200-h148/360E8ED4-A602-4EFA-BDA2-AF4C507D9D61_1_201_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, the golden domes tell everyone that this is a Russian Orthodox Church. After living in St. Petersburg, that is easy for us to define with the Russian style architecture. This cathedral was built between 1876 and 1883 when Latvia was a part of the Russian Empire under the reign of Tsar Alexander II. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTVt5AJVsUQvr4Jhv6Y9f4oftNG82MRTKUOF7id0PUFIB05cInJA7ifZOSrPKt5XBIKmHKIgLQS-aCxgQu3Sbyq6j6ovSs1BYLEUFS3zmibKuidAtykVyHKSXGb08PpP9-nR1QEj_e7I/s2048/F6ACEFBB-735A-4AF0-93D0-B479425AF9E2_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTVt5AJVsUQvr4Jhv6Y9f4oftNG82MRTKUOF7id0PUFIB05cInJA7ifZOSrPKt5XBIKmHKIgLQS-aCxgQu3Sbyq6j6ovSs1BYLEUFS3zmibKuidAtykVyHKSXGb08PpP9-nR1QEj_e7I/s320/F6ACEFBB-735A-4AF0-93D0-B479425AF9E2_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Door</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>This is the largest Orthodox Church in the entire Baltic area. A massive tower rises toward the sky when a visitor approaches the front door. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3MHcLlbTQ3nyHTT_-7BplLlb6S4mNQH8U4febQMB8pv9Y3gW3UQSoDBlsjJrDUu8eDOz4x61B1WJWvRfgQO1c3ncQDhTIqPuVYBkui7ODwGb1-Q1neyks-OuX7a5BbY80iPl0HKqgYI/s2048/0E0548BD-22A5-4E8F-B720-096A8B39F549_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2001" data-original-width="2048" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3MHcLlbTQ3nyHTT_-7BplLlb6S4mNQH8U4febQMB8pv9Y3gW3UQSoDBlsjJrDUu8eDOz4x61B1WJWvRfgQO1c3ncQDhTIqPuVYBkui7ODwGb1-Q1neyks-OuX7a5BbY80iPl0HKqgYI/w200-h196/0E0548BD-22A5-4E8F-B720-096A8B39F549_1_201_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entryway painting</td></tr></tbody></table>I visited several orthodox churches during my years in Europe. The thing that they have in common is that the interiors are covered with images from the life of Christ. The walls of these churches tell the Bible stories in pictures. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL4Q8v6nxLulGecL8MBdDv95LJ6uF_qHP1wBGGpL0N0DlzvWUslnsd5dWsp-2-rcAEH36O5l3GsHndYUX5WFnRuQQxSriSRF53mQfXNvrrfXeChk3xkZBHlrMYpt6VQJgB48oex-zI50/s2048/6159F03A-E14F-44D2-84A2-38624E6D988E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1910" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL4Q8v6nxLulGecL8MBdDv95LJ6uF_qHP1wBGGpL0N0DlzvWUslnsd5dWsp-2-rcAEH36O5l3GsHndYUX5WFnRuQQxSriSRF53mQfXNvrrfXeChk3xkZBHlrMYpt6VQJgB48oex-zI50/w186-h200/6159F03A-E14F-44D2-84A2-38624E6D988E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance door</td></tr></tbody></table>Even the area above the inner entrance door had a painting above it. This painting depicted Jesus in the center with His mother, Mary on the left and His disciple John on the right. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmp0BA-O5kHeY-Ve7YviFVb-PqlSmEtlJDMPIPQwrxY-ZyfsjwQCoXkxVcHB1ybao2KlpKrD4Joy4I10An7k2wgQyMg29cBKeb7Y0QfmD1ikzqL87tc1UXae5EAS14uCP3OsAjyCmZiE/s2048/9ED3609F-031C-4884-9C19-B759E3D57257.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmp0BA-O5kHeY-Ve7YviFVb-PqlSmEtlJDMPIPQwrxY-ZyfsjwQCoXkxVcHB1ybao2KlpKrD4Joy4I10An7k2wgQyMg29cBKeb7Y0QfmD1ikzqL87tc1UXae5EAS14uCP3OsAjyCmZiE/w200-h150/9ED3609F-031C-4884-9C19-B759E3D57257.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side altar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The wall above the side altar was covered in images also, but the golden altar drew the eyes of visitors instead of the wall images. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtBXKNTL2NMuadzHMvl8flLzawkwrQtZ27LwDFHcXmKM2So92z34WwvV_7LTHIxqFTOVC7qQLKf47qVgWQsNeO5Ug5aBGEBdE9i7wFHm7bKlw0WXo_fC5SiWftbAdI6u3yyl3wi14AFY/s2048/5377373E-F00B-480B-8776-BC87773A2120.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtBXKNTL2NMuadzHMvl8flLzawkwrQtZ27LwDFHcXmKM2So92z34WwvV_7LTHIxqFTOVC7qQLKf47qVgWQsNeO5Ug5aBGEBdE9i7wFHm7bKlw0WXo_fC5SiWftbAdI6u3yyl3wi14AFY/w400-h300/5377373E-F00B-480B-8776-BC87773A2120.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconostasis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The iconostasis in any Orthodox Church was where the main ornamentation was found. This wall of icons, or pictures of the saints, divide the main part of the cathedral from the altar. In the middle of the iconostasis are doors that open only during a service. The worshippers can then see the altar where the Eucharist is kept. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucuVD-dYkJ5E8JwF7Mk_QEQe50zlj43LulMHYQBNjtDthXLiBTKxw-F37fF_sX-gwRR7KkI1PqgklbkqNcJ7jpHZc-1HmT3EimXGXLXC3aQQd-wECuI4Oo3C5EOx0eY4JPfSigvFutd8/s2048/E0F39523-9057-4564-B27D-1402CB7A8688_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2048" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucuVD-dYkJ5E8JwF7Mk_QEQe50zlj43LulMHYQBNjtDthXLiBTKxw-F37fF_sX-gwRR7KkI1PqgklbkqNcJ7jpHZc-1HmT3EimXGXLXC3aQQd-wECuI4Oo3C5EOx0eY4JPfSigvFutd8/w400-h325/E0F39523-9057-4564-B27D-1402CB7A8688_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden icon of Mary and Jesus</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><br />Since this cathedral is named the Nativity of Christ, I wasn't surprised to see a golden framed icon of Mary holding the baby Jesus. Most of the picture was gold inlaid, but parts of Mary and Jesus were even raised for almost a 3-D effect. It was truly beautiful. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This visit to the Orthodox Cathedral was truly worth it. It's the most beautifully ornamented building that I've seen in Riga. </p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Nativity_of_Christ,_Riga">Wikipedia.org -Cathedral-of-the-Nativity-of-Christ</a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122; font-size: x-small;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34);"> </span></span></span></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-39720112972479493232021-04-21T00:00:00.170-07:002021-04-21T00:00:00.193-07:00Hidden Shortcut<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKN4CgxiEulu2s5oqDWJ0ybMx_0RUycxrjL2u8MyNCEC0JP3-zGQ8Zvn5atCdQhHc9RQcW4V66YvCxk0gueLaYgGrwCzximD8EHNaFp7ahT27j8SS3RXPHoe01W-A2oofjzDbvy2gafk/s2048/17048472-96EF-4F76-A768-9540CFB328E6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1692" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKN4CgxiEulu2s5oqDWJ0ybMx_0RUycxrjL2u8MyNCEC0JP3-zGQ8Zvn5atCdQhHc9RQcW4V66YvCxk0gueLaYgGrwCzximD8EHNaFp7ahT27j8SS3RXPHoe01W-A2oofjzDbvy2gafk/s320/17048472-96EF-4F76-A768-9540CFB328E6_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archway for Convent Courtyard</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The walk to our most-visited grocery store takes us through the streets of Old Riga. When we first moved here more than a year ago, we always strolled on the the cobble-stoned streets to get there. Then we found a shortcut through the middle of a block. Spotting an arch that was labeled "Konventa Seta," we decided to enter and see where it led. After walking through the archway, we walked into ancient history. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Upon doing some research, I found out that this Convent Courtyard was originally built in the 13th Century as a courtyard to the Order of the Sword's Castle. It has been reconstructed many times since then, but the original walls were built in the 1240s. It was a courtyard that connected St. George's Church with the rest of the original castle. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_KvEVMJ9lpZqKgGKHxAsMo7yV2AI59vY6B2F1_BUmmV8nVBo8ZHbt_SNkUQC3LPlvkPII0ig70UNRXX8bXBAaRZrUpm8USV2bCl2IbCz4qEKdRuN3l5AiJ2tVousH63u_L_iLekK4qg/s2048/95437830-F36F-431B-9DB3-373952DAD9F2.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_KvEVMJ9lpZqKgGKHxAsMo7yV2AI59vY6B2F1_BUmmV8nVBo8ZHbt_SNkUQC3LPlvkPII0ig70UNRXX8bXBAaRZrUpm8USV2bCl2IbCz4qEKdRuN3l5AiJ2tVousH63u_L_iLekK4qg/w200-h150/95437830-F36F-431B-9DB3-373952DAD9F2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. George's Chapel</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><p>St. George's Church today is the Museum of Decorative Arts and Designs. The outside walls are all that remains of the chapel used by the Knights of the Brothers of the Sword. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSB3LaQroRapyb6pK180vZjfGIs8U3MKMFg12Mp-Fts7l4d118fKnLtVYOKCo31HLbe7A2Vg4ZhO7nlWLYZHEoenHBAUq2wze81wrdYkt4BGIB_w01Wxlif8gOHvBouRjhGYCGkTPKEU/s2048/C747D804-BA8F-4F2D-8EE6-BF94809B62CA.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSB3LaQroRapyb6pK180vZjfGIs8U3MKMFg12Mp-Fts7l4d118fKnLtVYOKCo31HLbe7A2Vg4ZhO7nlWLYZHEoenHBAUq2wze81wrdYkt4BGIB_w01Wxlif8gOHvBouRjhGYCGkTPKEU/w200-h150/C747D804-BA8F-4F2D-8EE6-BF94809B62CA.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small shop in courtyard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>Upon venturing into the archway, we saw several buildings and small alleyways. Today this Convent courtyard holds a hotel, museum of porcelain, antique shops and cafes. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-7X2ueh_mo_o9AlaeYZbkiY07Jk4Z0CiNVU8gVTW1KGMgAsRGteaTUtGHmQJCILiVUMhumjtSdzI74sly5CNw34dqHPCuFdhzrWSO_C1SPS_bSrn5wo0zvXPBVO4p3bByrhHmPqbzNA/s2048/8876ACF9-7CC4-411C-A7E4-E77350D42534_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-7X2ueh_mo_o9AlaeYZbkiY07Jk4Z0CiNVU8gVTW1KGMgAsRGteaTUtGHmQJCILiVUMhumjtSdzI74sly5CNw34dqHPCuFdhzrWSO_C1SPS_bSrn5wo0zvXPBVO4p3bByrhHmPqbzNA/s320/8876ACF9-7CC4-411C-A7E4-E77350D42534_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former walls of the convent</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>When the Order of the Sword decided to construct a new residence for them in the 1330s, this space in the old castle was given to the Convent of the Holy Spirit. The nuns opened an orphanage for children on the site, thus the name Convent Courtyard.</p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NwFG_EIz4CjnHjxkbNgDAdyrtlmC_XuLFkvzcgrg-c_Qzd2mT2ztKZpgByAV_Y89fBP17zSVluTTePsmRlUVg29GPclR3TgKNnaorzt-F_Ei07X5TBbuuQNrGNZcZ36fJU18vpGD4KQ/s2048/13F39323-BD01-4DAE-9ACD-A24FF835ECE0.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NwFG_EIz4CjnHjxkbNgDAdyrtlmC_XuLFkvzcgrg-c_Qzd2mT2ztKZpgByAV_Y89fBP17zSVluTTePsmRlUVg29GPclR3TgKNnaorzt-F_Ei07X5TBbuuQNrGNZcZ36fJU18vpGD4KQ/w150-h200/13F39323-BD01-4DAE-9ACD-A24FF835ECE0.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alleyway in court</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKeriNyayy-CAu7w3Ch_-gLA798IJwKuMsUV4pNcRoyy_gwR654JNiJIrSKF1HH3N1BxgACkMjVnx9HR9eqsDOdH5aPOfzdbY3bXuEUkWBJfBVHcH2Cr6hp5fMWzQinM0g0r_A_1_wEo/s2048/CD175DCB-C021-4265-97A5-E0878F29159F.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKeriNyayy-CAu7w3Ch_-gLA798IJwKuMsUV4pNcRoyy_gwR654JNiJIrSKF1HH3N1BxgACkMjVnx9HR9eqsDOdH5aPOfzdbY3bXuEUkWBJfBVHcH2Cr6hp5fMWzQinM0g0r_A_1_wEo/s320/CD175DCB-C021-4265-97A5-E0878F29159F.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnel to exit the Courtyard </td></tr></tbody></table>In 1554, the Convent also became a shelter for widows, thus more houses were built in the compound. From that time the walls protected the widows and orphans, as well as the "gray sisters," the name used to identify the nuns. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Today, we find it convenient to use as a shortcut through the tunnel on the opposite end because the courtyard is paved like a sidewalk instead of ancient cobblestones. It's also a great place to try to stay dry if it's pouring rain outside. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsa92mG2J7eKrujZPDsST54ZSKiYBo3O04xTmHjsfmu-FjRRhjOGWWNHfjBhPLEzuY6gahxBlulwhx9rOA5U6a8-EciSraqLrM1zFsinO0jf8VnqMMH4va3LdAbeX1uRpnLEFJnSPQgU/s2048/B5E89C87-3D98-4786-89A5-508EF2087642_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1051" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsa92mG2J7eKrujZPDsST54ZSKiYBo3O04xTmHjsfmu-FjRRhjOGWWNHfjBhPLEzuY6gahxBlulwhx9rOA5U6a8-EciSraqLrM1zFsinO0jf8VnqMMH4va3LdAbeX1uRpnLEFJnSPQgU/s320/B5E89C87-3D98-4786-89A5-508EF2087642_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A locked gate</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />The labyrinth of alleyways has several gates of access from the Konventa Seta. It would be interesting to actually wander around behind the locked gates and see how they link up with the Courtyard that we are allowed to walk through. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from <a href="https://www.bestourism.com/items/di/8091?b=363" target="">The Convent Court</a><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-49607400187923179812021-04-07T00:00:00.115-07:002021-04-07T04:37:19.946-07:00Sherlock Holmes in Old Riga<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFSFXl3-4sXq0JrIPGbed-Y6oIoLH0zBOc2RtlHNDIzag-xDNsogEI43bHJ8qQQ6McXBw-2smwL-0JjLvayUn-QOOxzpVgSSB_PWX2nuI7fLoBUvvdBU13hhGPe0NUzsq8qP-h-5bcbg/s2048/AB26345C-9747-4CD1-BCED-9235434511E1.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFSFXl3-4sXq0JrIPGbed-Y6oIoLH0zBOc2RtlHNDIzag-xDNsogEI43bHJ8qQQ6McXBw-2smwL-0JjLvayUn-QOOxzpVgSSB_PWX2nuI7fLoBUvvdBU13hhGPe0NUzsq8qP-h-5bcbg/w240-h320/AB26345C-9747-4CD1-BCED-9235434511E1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you're an admirer of Sherlock Holmes, famous London detective of the late 19th Century, you'll love the Sherlock Art Hotel in Riga. They have a particular respect for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzVCFLDThnXUtCobhNdhC68OK0x9zRk2IwPDNEFsvPLrT8kNo-oMwZqihkkINccLy9KVMXuT7t51ytlc3yAd9Ji-72x6iDJqiwN3kS-X1Eu_sSQ8XBwWp8gWK_xtLZXWunDCuZwiE88A/s1917/E163EFF3-99C0-425A-B02B-D6E7D68D848C_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1917" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzVCFLDThnXUtCobhNdhC68OK0x9zRk2IwPDNEFsvPLrT8kNo-oMwZqihkkINccLy9KVMXuT7t51ytlc3yAd9Ji-72x6iDJqiwN3kS-X1Eu_sSQ8XBwWp8gWK_xtLZXWunDCuZwiE88A/s320/E163EFF3-99C0-425A-B02B-D6E7D68D848C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherlock himself</td></tr></tbody></table>The hotel, located only a block from the Dom Square, has a bust of the detective himself attached to the outside wall. Anyone who knows Sherlock Holmes will enjoy the pipe in his left hand and gun in his right hand. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaWJ1xfigxckhJaJeWJMCVh815mcK3IKP2G0Xn2MOQspXLCo4kfTzq2_uKsaQ1QQ2jRaT1HrkGqUf_8AHLHbT0NNtibOUtXTFYRJFy0JDeDPGnq3llWN_C4Ycns5Mq1mz-M-L7P2Go3Y/s2048/A61A7E4F-8C5C-4D64-B229-266926971CCE.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaWJ1xfigxckhJaJeWJMCVh815mcK3IKP2G0Xn2MOQspXLCo4kfTzq2_uKsaQ1QQ2jRaT1HrkGqUf_8AHLHbT0NNtibOUtXTFYRJFy0JDeDPGnq3llWN_C4Ycns5Mq1mz-M-L7P2Go3Y/w400-h300/A61A7E4F-8C5C-4D64-B229-266926971CCE.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holmes' residence</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Upon walking through the archway, you are greeted with a life-size painting of the home that Sherlock Holmes lived and worked with Dr. Watson - 221B Baker Street. The Victorian-era painting is so realistic that a car parked in front of it is the only way you know you're in the 21st Century.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QW7rFmLP7FkmzhR0ymxpeD0fDIRJpATtvEk_AdTL8t124ky2erh2XqXjDrvr_fTxr_DeJmxTh2ifDnRvSEFbEaLQvKDWH6yd3EiilS_aJaUb4o4rUVbOT1OQFK7rz9Bo1H1V_IKxAN8/s2048/BF6B36CE-911A-4D87-BB07-2A8AEA6807A2.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QW7rFmLP7FkmzhR0ymxpeD0fDIRJpATtvEk_AdTL8t124ky2erh2XqXjDrvr_fTxr_DeJmxTh2ifDnRvSEFbEaLQvKDWH6yd3EiilS_aJaUb4o4rUVbOT1OQFK7rz9Bo1H1V_IKxAN8/s320/BF6B36CE-911A-4D87-BB07-2A8AEA6807A2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Mural</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>An 18th Century street mural of horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians greets a visitor in the inner courtyard. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lrWVWNJXp18iDjRxwYOBoBd1JULr09Sw3tr2wKsEBpf0Z6G3ivcz9dWWv5CSbCIEaqFUoJqaAXECajHlQKsVUfSra-mwimj3D_CI6Opa1calxsMbVq8c0NJ6V3ns_bnoN8MIvxV48x8/s2048/05850195-51CF-4860-A653-42B375D973C8_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lrWVWNJXp18iDjRxwYOBoBd1JULr09Sw3tr2wKsEBpf0Z6G3ivcz9dWWv5CSbCIEaqFUoJqaAXECajHlQKsVUfSra-mwimj3D_CI6Opa1calxsMbVq8c0NJ6V3ns_bnoN8MIvxV48x8/s320/05850195-51CF-4860-A653-42B375D973C8_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherlock on a mission</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Another picture shows Sherlock at his best, in the midst of solving his latest case. The owner truly loves the mysterious theme. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_K9vy9g0IAqMmyjwGk0aAZ3mKFZ7XB8hyz9TkfDOzTufSRFo9YjqGhEXSToUCFe3_XJ7LgAHO9DP_Om2a_7CPbU2WQ7xbcUA7y45pCQOjm6etmOQIbxvyI5J1ascmU8j2mBwgBqECTs/s2048/FC95D995-2B11-46BC-9916-247BBB8072EE.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_K9vy9g0IAqMmyjwGk0aAZ3mKFZ7XB8hyz9TkfDOzTufSRFo9YjqGhEXSToUCFe3_XJ7LgAHO9DP_Om2a_7CPbU2WQ7xbcUA7y45pCQOjm6etmOQIbxvyI5J1ascmU8j2mBwgBqECTs/s320/FC95D995-2B11-46BC-9916-247BBB8072EE.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The door of hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, we reached the front door of the hotel - identified as 221B Baker Street in London, England. Because of the lockdown, we never did manage to get inside the hotel, but I'm sure that the Sherlock Holmes theme is found in every nook and cranny. </p><p><br /></p><p>You'll have to come and find out for yourself when you visit Riga. </p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-86680816779601248252021-03-31T00:00:00.164-07:002021-03-31T00:00:07.309-07:00Art Nouveau Rerun<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO83EgZcrtiFButQT-Owjn5iS13wzmVr1iLDxuJJmTT6JBHkIIjs7jMV7qYY2Ly0u4f0wiDftieIW_HpSLlY0KiKmx9ENsQjheKgkZZF2WgrWVQgvu_sn0-NoRCXP7a6nmnGREnt7t_c/s2048/E9913463-3366-4666-8375-9536EC69BEDD.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO83EgZcrtiFButQT-Owjn5iS13wzmVr1iLDxuJJmTT6JBHkIIjs7jMV7qYY2Ly0u4f0wiDftieIW_HpSLlY0KiKmx9ENsQjheKgkZZF2WgrWVQgvu_sn0-NoRCXP7a6nmnGREnt7t_c/s320/E9913463-3366-4666-8375-9536EC69BEDD.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triangle shaped building</td></tr></tbody></table> Last fall I did an article about the prevalence of Art Nouveau buildings in Riga. Since this architectural style was used for only about 15 years from 1895 to 1910, it's amazing how much of it I see as I'm walking around the city. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I wanted to share several more Art Nouveau buildings that I've noticed in my wanderings during the last couple weeks now that the weather is getting warmer. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotLC2JcT4idBs5vKhPBbUUc2KKggDErZz89Qk__Xfwu6yNf3kVwT75sXcsDaKwXyg8w0hps2EJqVTNpauNcynbMBqvcFMDmdrm2djzmqIX64WQEaTK-A4bk0Row43WxyiuDtoiI62huU/s2048/74217A39-8656-4839-9459-AA6129785C69_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotLC2JcT4idBs5vKhPBbUUc2KKggDErZz89Qk__Xfwu6yNf3kVwT75sXcsDaKwXyg8w0hps2EJqVTNpauNcynbMBqvcFMDmdrm2djzmqIX64WQEaTK-A4bk0Row43WxyiuDtoiI62huU/s320/74217A39-8656-4839-9459-AA6129785C69_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Details of building</td></tr></tbody></table>If you remember, Art Nouveau's specialty is the highly stylized additions to the outside of a building. Each floor of the building is decorated in a different fashion, becoming more intricate on each added floor. Look closely at the detail to the right in this building built in 1903. By the time you get to the top, you see gargoyles and other shapes sitting on the edge of the roof. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6my16o6V4kMjHqaL4YXydYmzy4y9U9hII8wPRYaCwblQzWaYyqdke6qG5YhMNhbLUE3iqt5t_FhVofvrTuLTZxF7V64LafInGPAtSGMK8QldzssQad3fIXUFer3O1ApQSx2zrnsr3AJw/s2048/B05F584C-E769-4B6D-9881-1E0C03AB0BF8.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6my16o6V4kMjHqaL4YXydYmzy4y9U9hII8wPRYaCwblQzWaYyqdke6qG5YhMNhbLUE3iqt5t_FhVofvrTuLTZxF7V64LafInGPAtSGMK8QldzssQad3fIXUFer3O1ApQSx2zrnsr3AJw/w400-h300/B05F584C-E769-4B6D-9881-1E0C03AB0BF8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corner tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Another building has a corner tower decorating it. Fancy trim is added around the windows on the upper floor as well. Art Nouveau buildings are interesting to see when out on a walk. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yZiccWiAqLECFGN-6Gk-Qu0ZJvLSybSML2zg9VaUZs8ZBjora0q7ZC2Y4cB4KM6Ao_177C5mB5d3t4UhDUSTY1zeFJqwHlqqEOnrILGIlciWfkfPyM8Bd54ED-9BDzglDPWNlNv8C5c/s2048/C2301AE3-D012-4433-910D-D289F91E0C31_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2048" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yZiccWiAqLECFGN-6Gk-Qu0ZJvLSybSML2zg9VaUZs8ZBjora0q7ZC2Y4cB4KM6Ao_177C5mB5d3t4UhDUSTY1zeFJqwHlqqEOnrILGIlciWfkfPyM8Bd54ED-9BDzglDPWNlNv8C5c/w400-h305/C2301AE3-D012-4433-910D-D289F91E0C31_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Built in 1900</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br />This orange building was very striking as I walked past. Near the top of the corner facing, I saw Adom 1900. I will assume that it was built in 1900 by a person named Adom. The ornamentation stood out because it was painted tan against the orange surface. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO21Pnb9IL9dGXKdLQIGcBdyHMvGy8igvXhyphenhyphenOIQX4EdfGbCx5ZuhKSjg0k-T0zCr6mk48fO88e2rvl9xrsW0snrN9C-MLzvZv-tQAtZZYSd9PYpJBpRQnwUKLuoQMS3a4E60vtfwT2AYs/s2048/8DB7C94C-FD33-415A-B7E9-EBC286CEDB8F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1911" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO21Pnb9IL9dGXKdLQIGcBdyHMvGy8igvXhyphenhyphenOIQX4EdfGbCx5ZuhKSjg0k-T0zCr6mk48fO88e2rvl9xrsW0snrN9C-MLzvZv-tQAtZZYSd9PYpJBpRQnwUKLuoQMS3a4E60vtfwT2AYs/s320/8DB7C94C-FD33-415A-B7E9-EBC286CEDB8F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The side of the building had windows built out for added ornamentation. Maybe the residents had airing porches with them or maybe large window seats. It's all part of the show for art nouveau.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bH_Tq4v4dqaMVLCu_bh7AQOZzdlpmFoMH1-BYPkKjcmt4td2jom3-ro8u9xL1Cse7-nHYw26GF5o8xm9wCYzEKD2g4N2EGubvjoz9BPb5Yk8G51QvIPfSUmHrjAYWz5smP_hgCxDNDg/s2048/E6D62CAD-E14F-44B9-9D8A-20851AF852BD_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="2048" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bH_Tq4v4dqaMVLCu_bh7AQOZzdlpmFoMH1-BYPkKjcmt4td2jom3-ro8u9xL1Cse7-nHYw26GF5o8xm9wCYzEKD2g4N2EGubvjoz9BPb5Yk8G51QvIPfSUmHrjAYWz5smP_hgCxDNDg/w400-h256/E6D62CAD-E14F-44B9-9D8A-20851AF852BD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greek gods built into facade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's all in the presentation. The building on the right has Greek gods and mythological creatures built into the architecture. You don't see that every day. The higher on the building, the more creative it gets. <br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-3ADx9_2ynKv2yipy9iaO6sJaUwLUe69uSzRGB1uca13FJ_XJXxYY2uUrT2pw4J-bFamO0xuyb5Q7cqifb_Nh1Oqk5RfdCjgux2KCCihtX53CSLRtqj02v93KjGXzWpVCf7lpL7Vuzs/s2048/8A03C6EB-1269-4A2E-9AE3-88C7D63CAAF4_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-3ADx9_2ynKv2yipy9iaO6sJaUwLUe69uSzRGB1uca13FJ_XJXxYY2uUrT2pw4J-bFamO0xuyb5Q7cqifb_Nh1Oqk5RfdCjgux2KCCihtX53CSLRtqj02v93KjGXzWpVCf7lpL7Vuzs/w300-h400/8A03C6EB-1269-4A2E-9AE3-88C7D63CAAF4_1_201_a.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their own statue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This last building tops all the rest. It has a statue built into the side of the building and a turret also. Not too many buildings can claim both of these items. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now you can see why I like to take adventurous walks around Riga in warm weather. There's always something interesting to see. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I know you can't join me right now, so I try to share this wonderful place with you.</p></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-51406969361443050962021-03-24T01:00:00.200-07:002021-03-24T01:00:06.428-07:00Walk the Straight Line - Not Always<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZM3B38WrYQ7xtpdC0L7FD-FOrhm55mYZ0pBziogvqXDQTH2iHUP9_97F3VA0A8ddirm7GPTFtvaXtlhfULzXIeIEeikXs5maKtbuHAuRuyM_AELGunBlwUSoSAMUm1-QsIVheVjiOyU/s2048/0D3D7962-AA65-4E8E-826D-78502091ABE0.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZM3B38WrYQ7xtpdC0L7FD-FOrhm55mYZ0pBziogvqXDQTH2iHUP9_97F3VA0A8ddirm7GPTFtvaXtlhfULzXIeIEeikXs5maKtbuHAuRuyM_AELGunBlwUSoSAMUm1-QsIVheVjiOyU/s320/0D3D7962-AA65-4E8E-826D-78502091ABE0.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dom Square </td></tr></tbody></table>They usually say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but not always. I wanted to explain my walk across the Cathedral Square, but I'm not sure this picture tells you the story. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpERa5LyRBi1biRsMB8frH24vqfBkTR2syU9cSTqyFnBszcxiIPNnMFB3T4WYfyYlkhTBz43iSo_Q-SavR-TMk9OYTy9GW680RmYjyJaiqnKxBf4zIHCEYpPCSX8PWnAZjU4iPSDFwugQ/s2048/8C6B47A9-80F0-495F-BBA0-C189B6F258CD.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpERa5LyRBi1biRsMB8frH24vqfBkTR2syU9cSTqyFnBszcxiIPNnMFB3T4WYfyYlkhTBz43iSo_Q-SavR-TMk9OYTy9GW680RmYjyJaiqnKxBf4zIHCEYpPCSX8PWnAZjU4iPSDFwugQ/w200-h150/8C6B47A9-80F0-495F-BBA0-C189B6F258CD.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral Square</td></tr></tbody></table>The Lutheran Cathedral is located about three blocks from our house. Adjacent to the cathedral or Dom (in Latvian) is a large open square that we need to walk across every time that we head to any store. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>This large square poses a problem for me when I'm walking with my husband. You see, he walks the direct line right across the square, but I choose to walk a rather circuitous route. There's a very good reason which I will try to explain with pictures and a thousand words. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmNIs61W76vaINjZlJwtqfTz9mDxiVwYBpPG-C2j34fEgxUC5HE_VL_Pb9PO3brjIUnfALLIEsdUfyfrAHzSz-76tumOnGQcCAUwUQAO7bMACK6bIcUi_MQ96lflit-zzP56vFJ70weU/s2048/885A8B9D-DCFF-4061-9473-9BAE9C0DD671.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmNIs61W76vaINjZlJwtqfTz9mDxiVwYBpPG-C2j34fEgxUC5HE_VL_Pb9PO3brjIUnfALLIEsdUfyfrAHzSz-76tumOnGQcCAUwUQAO7bMACK6bIcUi_MQ96lflit-zzP56vFJ70weU/s320/885A8B9D-DCFF-4061-9473-9BAE9C0DD671.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uneven cobbles</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3hnI47H2W8Ft5_5m5E8JKWVla4sG1gQ9FDa8cGDN2sQM1IDdjnm81Fvm7hC_5PgL23Qn2Ibd6F9nQCUAxGlsUxqSWs5yXl3Mp_pkEh-WiBzn14veNDACtRQzJPL7h_YVR-kkd9hvMMo/s2048/DE07A60A-6B83-485F-AC9A-620F9ABDE84F.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3hnI47H2W8Ft5_5m5E8JKWVla4sG1gQ9FDa8cGDN2sQM1IDdjnm81Fvm7hC_5PgL23Qn2Ibd6F9nQCUAxGlsUxqSWs5yXl3Mp_pkEh-WiBzn14veNDACtRQzJPL7h_YVR-kkd9hvMMo/w200-h150/DE07A60A-6B83-485F-AC9A-620F9ABDE84F.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size of the square</td></tr></tbody></table>It all has to do with walking on cobblestones, which can be hazardous to your ankles. Sometimes the stones don't lay evenly next to each other causing your foot to twist if you step on the cobblestones incorrectly. I'm always cautious when I'm walking on the streets here since they are entirely cobblestones. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PM1o_HYgl6HFjHXEB0MMD96kk4_7YmTFVPJ8tHT16wwoIK9o8yMSk8Nfrrhoh5HCHFtG_MXTtM6OnIA5Joo-eNQ-HZiVMimjwEMHkGBGL0QW3Y0CRm7SouDmkozdlPc5N9fmbu4Plz0/s2048/10D95839-997A-46F8-86BD-9D889D636862.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PM1o_HYgl6HFjHXEB0MMD96kk4_7YmTFVPJ8tHT16wwoIK9o8yMSk8Nfrrhoh5HCHFtG_MXTtM6OnIA5Joo-eNQ-HZiVMimjwEMHkGBGL0QW3Y0CRm7SouDmkozdlPc5N9fmbu4Plz0/s320/10D95839-997A-46F8-86BD-9D889D636862.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kind of stones </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now, about the top picture. Dom Square has patterns in its large surface. Cobblestones go one direction and suddenly change direction with a border stone between the areas. The cobbles can be quite different from one square to the next. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>The ones that are large and smooth are much easier to walk on, so those are the squares that I use to get from one side to the other. Others are small, broken, and bumpy. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVMV8U5FOiN8CdfJmP2DZ5yMemlL9sucf8xqU-k1j_lyRd_BewxF6GD0cdWNsiQ1W_cDfJ206tZS9xmdf9H9uuZIjTSd2BgsPvhxvxdBw4pPPcu2m8ig-hUHXv38PniDKjCqjPJK0UmQ/s2048/A80FE4E2-47D0-4E07-A525-676E44DCD03B.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVMV8U5FOiN8CdfJmP2DZ5yMemlL9sucf8xqU-k1j_lyRd_BewxF6GD0cdWNsiQ1W_cDfJ206tZS9xmdf9H9uuZIjTSd2BgsPvhxvxdBw4pPPcu2m8ig-hUHXv38PniDKjCqjPJK0UmQ/w200-h150/A80FE4E2-47D0-4E07-A525-676E44DCD03B.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harder to walk on</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>Between all these different areas of the stones, the red stone borders divide the cobblestones. My husband and I tried to figure out why these patterns were in the stone. He surmised that this square previously had buildings in it. He thought that the red borders outlined the different buildings that had previously been there. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqUbskdbNdgAvyMI9Z9RNkfOkpZrSzdLTXZteMq_5EPOPjygkI8XZd7U7W021duQEoW1QI1af-GoxZUUOIDO-R_a1_s8fF1kZcNApt-U9vawxBnuUdTcmJFWvFBl63mKiV79yZqx86UA/s2048/0990669C-BE6E-47C2-A79E-53169C0F8E02.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqUbskdbNdgAvyMI9Z9RNkfOkpZrSzdLTXZteMq_5EPOPjygkI8XZd7U7W021duQEoW1QI1af-GoxZUUOIDO-R_a1_s8fF1kZcNApt-U9vawxBnuUdTcmJFWvFBl63mKiV79yZqx86UA/s320/0990669C-BE6E-47C2-A79E-53169C0F8E02.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red outline in the stones</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>A couple weeks ago, we found pictures to prove that his idea was correct. Up until the early 20th Century, the cathedral was surrounded by houses very close to the church. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQr_0rPMjU-rQ90RCYgPXvAbi0hOPNe5UZIBjtvD-U9HMd25N1VhGWm1AAdzsrQhr3SLNV2GvDE1073pTc93JOkIcshqHJfWq9PjdsgApwbunRCtnVUSG7jVc4CRFohIgM7Ko957bEj3Y/s2048/E564FAB5-216B-4ED5-8D8C-AD6C01A15F51.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQr_0rPMjU-rQ90RCYgPXvAbi0hOPNe5UZIBjtvD-U9HMd25N1VhGWm1AAdzsrQhr3SLNV2GvDE1073pTc93JOkIcshqHJfWq9PjdsgApwbunRCtnVUSG7jVc4CRFohIgM7Ko957bEj3Y/s320/E564FAB5-216B-4ED5-8D8C-AD6C01A15F51.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old picture of the square</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The houses around the church were torn down over a span of 20 years leaving the Cathedral Square open for town gatherings. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXNSqibmYukyCw9186tdMVapJZEIhTzoGI7_xWO_LvlVphQBNTwj1wXjg42bFZhaC0ZjGy_vQwvQBM3bMx4Tzr-mwuhuexefXBTKOEyeVkDXoPNH5QhuTkAkcf3E0nzfch-fOeqio2XE/s2048/1337ABA1-0F63-436F-8644-27EDA4A09BA5.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXNSqibmYukyCw9186tdMVapJZEIhTzoGI7_xWO_LvlVphQBNTwj1wXjg42bFZhaC0ZjGy_vQwvQBM3bMx4Tzr-mwuhuexefXBTKOEyeVkDXoPNH5QhuTkAkcf3E0nzfch-fOeqio2XE/s320/1337ABA1-0F63-436F-8644-27EDA4A09BA5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former houses shown with church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>From what we found out, Dom Square is usually filled with vendors during any festivals or city celebrations. When we first visited Riga in early January, the square was filled with huts from the Christmas market. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, since we've moved here the square has been very empty. The pandemic has cancelled any festivals or Christmas markets. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwBaVJA4eg6ysb1gqavp5a-7B1RtY3DHXR4v_EVIbMB_rTHQZSvyr97mR68g7XmT6yvT4Abkn-lM6lai3j1WKl3TM0fSEP-kfr_PHp24wg_DR7PLs2Mbk5aVbpaLnAg5WM4HBhBLdZus/s2048/D22346CF-5827-43DF-9320-3A463CCA3A98.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwBaVJA4eg6ysb1gqavp5a-7B1RtY3DHXR4v_EVIbMB_rTHQZSvyr97mR68g7XmT6yvT4Abkn-lM6lai3j1WKl3TM0fSEP-kfr_PHp24wg_DR7PLs2Mbk5aVbpaLnAg5WM4HBhBLdZus/s320/D22346CF-5827-43DF-9320-3A463CCA3A98.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our daily walk across the square</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>However, we still need to walk across the square several times a week. My husband's larger feet don't mind the uneven cobbled squares. I'm sure it's very strange to watch us walk across the square. He walks a straight line while I'm zigging and zagging my way across, searching for the flat stones.</p><p><br /></p><p>I bet you're not surprised to find out that he always gets there first!</p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-86034029558958098472021-03-17T01:00:00.022-07:002021-03-17T01:00:02.849-07:00The Gatves Deja<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAWrBx0hh-SxQ6AKOrw6ET00uSSFDq4D6fcVcJeuBvuomAgic_k3bQVrbQ2_8RCwuqb9lj66MFrAOEReEb6VFN3adPH8yDnf0YYZQglu5C4Kd_N5saTLCTz5ZeA4YWCjkvfPlnhnZilw/s1280/00813A0F-0165-4D50-922F-63D1CF7388B5.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1280" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAWrBx0hh-SxQ6AKOrw6ET00uSSFDq4D6fcVcJeuBvuomAgic_k3bQVrbQ2_8RCwuqb9lj66MFrAOEReEb6VFN3adPH8yDnf0YYZQglu5C4Kd_N5saTLCTz5ZeA4YWCjkvfPlnhnZilw/w400-h236/00813A0F-0165-4D50-922F-63D1CF7388B5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gatves Deja</td></tr></tbody></table>We haven't been exposed to much in the way of Latvian traditions since the pandemic started a month after we moved to Riga. That's why an article in the English online news website caught my eye today. It was about the Gatves Deja, a traditional Latvian dance. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>The Gatves Deja translated into English means Alley Dance. It explained that this highly choreographed dance depicts a bride and groom dancing their way between a line of wedding guests. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydApuKT50Z4" width="320" youtube-src-id="ydApuKT50Z4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">I</div>I immediately thought of sharing this with my readers in my post this week. An example of the dance was linked with a YouTube video which you can see above. Click on the picture to see the dance. Notice the traditional Latvian costumes that are worn ,also. The video was filmed at the Riga National Airport on the 30th anniversary of The Baltic Way. <div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Baltic_Way_in_Moteris_magazine.jpeg/500px-Baltic_Way_in_Moteris_magazine.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Baltic_Way_in_Moteris_magazine.jpeg/500px-Baltic_Way_in_Moteris_magazine.jpeg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lithuania citizens <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>A man briefly explains that The Baltic Way occurred on August 23, 1989 while Latvia was still under Soviet control. Shortly before the Berlin Wall fell, the citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia organized a protest against Moscow to show that they wanted their freedom. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>About 2 million people gathered together at 7 PM that day to hold hands in a human chain from Vilnius (the capital of Lithuania) through Riga and onto Talinn (the capital of Estonia). This human chain, 420 miles long, was organized by pro-independence movements from the three countries. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Baltic_Way_in_Latvia_near_Krekava.jpeg/500px-Baltic_Way_in_Latvia_near_Krekava.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="500" height="212" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Baltic_Way_in_Latvia_near_Krekava.jpeg/500px-Baltic_Way_in_Latvia_near_Krekava.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latvian citizens</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />They made a route for the Baltic Way through towns in the countryside to encourage the rural population to join in. For the people who didn't have transportation, buses were donated by corporations that allowed a holiday. The specific instructions, about where to go and what to do, were delivered over radio stations. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Balti_kett_22.jpg/500px-Balti_kett_22.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="500" height="215" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Balti_kett_22.jpg/500px-Balti_kett_22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Estonia citizens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The chain lasted only 15 minutes, but the affects were long-lasting. Within seven months, Lithuania declared itself free. By the end of 1991 all three of the Baltic States were free. The Soviets did not control these freedom loving people any longer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.LSQZHaPGJODwuMkMy3vB_wHaCx%26pid%3DApi&f=1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="474" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.LSQZHaPGJODwuMkMy3vB_wHaCx%26pid%3DApi&f=1" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian flags</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so glad that the article was written about the Latvian dance so I could to learn more about the culture of the country I'm currently living in. I hope you enjoyed the video. <br /><br /><br /><p></p><p>Information taken from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Way">Wikipedia.- Baltic Way</a> and <a href="https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/latvian-culture-101-the-gatves-dance.a395626/">The Gatves Dance- Public Broadcasting of Latvia</a></p><p><br /></p></div></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-23045993256138481062021-03-10T00:00:00.140-08:002021-03-10T00:00:06.546-08:00Latvian Rocky Coast<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbnd879XCWd0VOW4lIYaWasuKLWs_QmsYb9FlrCcsLRiEQb-CbFIT5QFS7rXXEgtfc6nmheSSehYX8Aw4lqkPuuaT0z26iScKC98470WTmZCS_kDz-FZmXJ-1X6sjjywQfRIWCPgZ36c/s2048/F0A6B2D5-595A-45CF-9E22-03DC38C6976C.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbnd879XCWd0VOW4lIYaWasuKLWs_QmsYb9FlrCcsLRiEQb-CbFIT5QFS7rXXEgtfc6nmheSSehYX8Aw4lqkPuuaT0z26iScKC98470WTmZCS_kDz-FZmXJ-1X6sjjywQfRIWCPgZ36c/s320/F0A6B2D5-595A-45CF-9E22-03DC38C6976C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Sea coastline</td></tr></tbody></table>Our last area of Latvia to visit last summer was the Baltic Sea shore just south of Estonia. Our travel guide informed us that the sandstone cliffs on the rocky coast were a site to see. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>The guide book was correct. The Vidzeme Cliffs were spectacular. When the Gulf of Riga experiences strong storms, the eroding sandstone causes the ever-changing coast to be reshaped. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEo_WlCQHj1MWqSRv4R9EKqtbjPsfDShNxt6N1q0zfqK-yj4Wb2cd9xqX4krL6OHupTCiYpQj8Wilwub7akOop-IostQJRQ5DG296ZxW371WPeXcbDuN9dgxhCLHEFwiqtBxOGlFm_0Q/s2048/19ACBC92-EC57-4D47-97BA-7FD52179234A.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEo_WlCQHj1MWqSRv4R9EKqtbjPsfDShNxt6N1q0zfqK-yj4Wb2cd9xqX4krL6OHupTCiYpQj8Wilwub7akOop-IostQJRQ5DG296ZxW371WPeXcbDuN9dgxhCLHEFwiqtBxOGlFm_0Q/s320/19ACBC92-EC57-4D47-97BA-7FD52179234A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cave carved out of stone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLwMaridnmvfv1XlWPxqz-Ni1sBhNmWhWpeFDeP80wRM1q7_zgwH3d1XwOY4DKTbxUA0o4jv03G0APhv7pc8C5DEl_h7Sw8ZVKhMJ6fywUWkCx9KGWaV_jWfI-5Zy6HhDXChIM_47vec/s2048/18300D5D-868C-4AAF-882F-FD192C05B006.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLwMaridnmvfv1XlWPxqz-Ni1sBhNmWhWpeFDeP80wRM1q7_zgwH3d1XwOY4DKTbxUA0o4jv03G0APhv7pc8C5DEl_h7Sw8ZVKhMJ6fywUWkCx9KGWaV_jWfI-5Zy6HhDXChIM_47vec/w200-h150/18300D5D-868C-4AAF-882F-FD192C05B006.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grotto in the stone</td></tr></tbody></table>We saw bluffs of red sandstone up to 40 feet high next to the sandy shore. Grottoes, caves, niches, and other abrasion formations appear and disappear as the stone erodes. <br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXof7H0wv1OlMBv6Yhi9_1hv564u8Mls_WGaYsy2-lXHFBQJ0FBlvLr7-Fq_ASfwcTf9R12fa4oLQ3g3ApismjDwJ-MkB8zYcV9X7v3bVDJY4k8LyDPEgmv2ePK3wwmPxQhSUl48Cr3BY/s2048/B574E5DB-DEBC-4C9E-AB7B-F5443C36AAF1.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXof7H0wv1OlMBv6Yhi9_1hv564u8Mls_WGaYsy2-lXHFBQJ0FBlvLr7-Fq_ASfwcTf9R12fa4oLQ3g3ApismjDwJ-MkB8zYcV9X7v3bVDJY4k8LyDPEgmv2ePK3wwmPxQhSUl48Cr3BY/s320/B574E5DB-DEBC-4C9E-AB7B-F5443C36AAF1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing shoreline </td></tr></tbody></table>Sometimes even trees become victims of the erosion. The carving of the sandstone over the years brings the trees to the edge of the precipice. It creates a beauty all its own.<p></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-0ErGepGh69HPvVpDponTnz2TQhTZzOdPtVqjtL3dFLW7i9syq0AR8PVnn2j9OkpMs92kX0R4bMYmkI-3I9c6i74URTwqQZ4Q4cHZykOMbJmIYDCKNgozmMQaR4MJQtjqLSwbY-86X0/s2048/F4B0A3D5-54AD-4F5F-B446-B73C795E17A9.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-0ErGepGh69HPvVpDponTnz2TQhTZzOdPtVqjtL3dFLW7i9syq0AR8PVnn2j9OkpMs92kX0R4bMYmkI-3I9c6i74URTwqQZ4Q4cHZykOMbJmIYDCKNgozmMQaR4MJQtjqLSwbY-86X0/s320/F4B0A3D5-54AD-4F5F-B446-B73C795E17A9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging on the edge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder how long this tree will hang onto its roots before it crashes to the shore. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte4XW90JSOUyQEkPLMqwCz2lFOz5kB9pTwod4370KySFw3ENgPeJm3DflacgcBXcDWEncVlQPDRd3kyxvbfeASqFms4yV_SNWfl2tcxKQd_8tmBhdc-7Vt1BOyaVzQob7KyIVpX1nbKM/s2048/A6A0A390-AC4D-41E4-8EDA-B12800524131.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte4XW90JSOUyQEkPLMqwCz2lFOz5kB9pTwod4370KySFw3ENgPeJm3DflacgcBXcDWEncVlQPDRd3kyxvbfeASqFms4yV_SNWfl2tcxKQd_8tmBhdc-7Vt1BOyaVzQob7KyIVpX1nbKM/w200-h150/A6A0A390-AC4D-41E4-8EDA-B12800524131.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the shore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Once again, we saw with our eyes that Latvia is certainly not a flat country. God's hand in the beauty He's created here is very clear to us.<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjyy8Y8jafo6aSKEu0rch3o1H9AQxJzTXpTZW7ZGzOcPObKl31MB5MHFnCXU6jh9RNowqFHDocjmIExmg3Gqme-dUqPWviLDmnK6JPwRe0Zr6ie4CsmWX1aVUQJyqtjmfPbRIbAesh8I/s2048/A83FC839-041D-4EF7-A0CB-4509532905B0.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjyy8Y8jafo6aSKEu0rch3o1H9AQxJzTXpTZW7ZGzOcPObKl31MB5MHFnCXU6jh9RNowqFHDocjmIExmg3Gqme-dUqPWviLDmnK6JPwRe0Zr6ie4CsmWX1aVUQJyqtjmfPbRIbAesh8I/w320-h240/A83FC839-041D-4EF7-A0CB-4509532905B0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun setting over the water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even as we watched the sun set over the sea close to 11:00 PM, God showed us His beauty for the last time on our vacation. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Information taken from <i>Latvia Travel Guide.</i><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-5212533656333493412021-03-03T00:00:00.146-08:002021-03-03T00:00:04.511-08:00A Look at Zvarte Rock<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa2KR1qSwx48mr0Z4BMNqJjp8fLseHypB6SyCcXSB3FQx1ygvri9RF6Rr51PQuALaPCPbqbmSGa2ms5fbcLgHuVzdvo3fQ6gGfe_bnSyxRRUHfoJ_s9iojDuNLzYXcn00qUi7iVJu-uM/s2048/821F6C3A-4721-403F-ACCD-E6BBF022EE09.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa2KR1qSwx48mr0Z4BMNqJjp8fLseHypB6SyCcXSB3FQx1ygvri9RF6Rr51PQuALaPCPbqbmSGa2ms5fbcLgHuVzdvo3fQ6gGfe_bnSyxRRUHfoJ_s9iojDuNLzYXcn00qUi7iVJu-uM/s320/821F6C3A-4721-403F-ACCD-E6BBF022EE09.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zvarte Rock</td></tr></tbody></table>Last summer on our discovery tour of Guaja National Park, we stopped to investigate this unique rock in a part of the park. Zvarte Rock is 650 feet wide, including the surrounding sandstone rock area, and 145 feet high. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>The Amata River wound around the rock until the 1930s when the riverbed was straightened to prevent the erosion of this amazing rock by the river currents. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl8i7wV8JMLkhGu3L8VMdho337X-Uk0sYBGkofo7e6OG7FCKyTgAe5lEAtHbs-zru2aBG2yocwR6XXuBu81sn4X2beDj6AB_vfdKdSOK_WtGz1cn_29v1hjH5OFNNAglgVfxdZ-h2Bs4/s2048/F4D7017D-CD13-4C4A-BF1D-4451ED44AAA1.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRl8i7wV8JMLkhGu3L8VMdho337X-Uk0sYBGkofo7e6OG7FCKyTgAe5lEAtHbs-zru2aBG2yocwR6XXuBu81sn4X2beDj6AB_vfdKdSOK_WtGz1cn_29v1hjH5OFNNAglgVfxdZ-h2Bs4/w240-h320/F4D7017D-CD13-4C4A-BF1D-4451ED44AAA1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk to the top</td></tr></tbody></table>According to legend, witches used to gather near this rock to tune into it's powers. Today it's a very popular tourist area in Latvia.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>The climb to the top consisted of several steep staircases. I can attest that the rock was sincerely 145 feet high. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvMqexsTyvQNpu02Y8_-1WDb38w_FBdM8nqKVoWOb6XvxGCZh__y3rpKjjv-I81VzYX7ahK0g3Fquv4zCKKFKRqOjsd8bLorczp22b3Maz7mkvDDhFIQGnsocfUXa3j00silxS1WNaa8/s2048/7E121872-EA44-4113-9EFC-E29A2B811338.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvMqexsTyvQNpu02Y8_-1WDb38w_FBdM8nqKVoWOb6XvxGCZh__y3rpKjjv-I81VzYX7ahK0g3Fquv4zCKKFKRqOjsd8bLorczp22b3Maz7mkvDDhFIQGnsocfUXa3j00silxS1WNaa8/w150-h200/7E121872-EA44-4113-9EFC-E29A2B811338.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from top</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm glad that my husband urged me to finish the climb because the view was well worth it.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm0-Q1BuRSu4rW01mnpn2ljRlUnM_snZISF57Lf8ioqZ3nmjl5781iUb__p0YqcGqDDLBW2nSBEsxGixdWQ_x_4psQwYIaKDhWvJhMngHXJasoJSQDWlAu4b2NW4qV-QtCAYdBperUFA/s2048/528B257C-0F86-44C5-AB29-75F35C4B6179.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm0-Q1BuRSu4rW01mnpn2ljRlUnM_snZISF57Lf8ioqZ3nmjl5781iUb__p0YqcGqDDLBW2nSBEsxGixdWQ_x_4psQwYIaKDhWvJhMngHXJasoJSQDWlAu4b2NW4qV-QtCAYdBperUFA/s320/528B257C-0F86-44C5-AB29-75F35C4B6179.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amata River</td></tr></tbody></table>The view of the Amata River area was truly amazing. It's the type of place that I'd love to build a house so I could see this scenery every day of my life. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP4fyfJQcboQyQFHVcCLLkA-_YqWhOPc3-Qlmw-00Ou5sJuzE0YTI06hV8KIO93luh3iKydayV9uPKQCXAp45Nx8N0W7CJHolozCaq10Xun2aAP0YTpxJ5U7GDR-VyvdO6gH5WsZBraA/s2048/CDB08127-D38C-4E3C-8A07-28E13462D330.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP4fyfJQcboQyQFHVcCLLkA-_YqWhOPc3-Qlmw-00Ou5sJuzE0YTI06hV8KIO93luh3iKydayV9uPKQCXAp45Nx8N0W7CJHolozCaq10Xun2aAP0YTpxJ5U7GDR-VyvdO6gH5WsZBraA/w240-h320/CDB08127-D38C-4E3C-8A07-28E13462D330.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The flowers in the area were very unique, also. The yellow and purple buds are on the same plant. After some research I found that it's called Melampyrum Nemorosum. It's native to Europe, also found in Sweden and Russia. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYS35DfXIkOqfKyTZQdtSZpGGFW2O4DV9sKsj_bZ0j0b_yX5t3oFgmInyeg5g4Vb_wyYiQObWTRbC-O9IK-agQQqdtcZdtoAFEddjAud4oP4mOHOJvHNX5cUIeq5_qe-2UJWvjNBu4zY/s2048/A1B7C867-2042-431D-B907-F17A9953E3E7.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYS35DfXIkOqfKyTZQdtSZpGGFW2O4DV9sKsj_bZ0j0b_yX5t3oFgmInyeg5g4Vb_wyYiQObWTRbC-O9IK-agQQqdtcZdtoAFEddjAud4oP4mOHOJvHNX5cUIeq5_qe-2UJWvjNBu4zY/w240-h320/A1B7C867-2042-431D-B907-F17A9953E3E7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the man in the photo</td></tr></tbody></table>As we walked away from Zvarte Rock, I had to take one more picture to try to show how large it really is. On this picture, look carefully to see the man in the foreground. That comparison to the rock tells you how impressive it was. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Latvia certainly has natural marvels for us to remember for a very long time, including one last picture - a stork's nest. We saw these multiple times during our four day trip. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnsKID1-G_ccy4jr_dbpkrpH8Anoh8jaqTN4kY2Fqbo0kC4nOf1AcOm6KTW3TfiKqVoDhGw5o-CYmNz6p8ORPXEcEXjpSo2NTReetZqE-KVvgAtO7JdHhaNv8i5_3GAZ_IopBBlXpWWo/s2048/7DCE216D-B564-4547-BADE-D0EE443BBB04.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnsKID1-G_ccy4jr_dbpkrpH8Anoh8jaqTN4kY2Fqbo0kC4nOf1AcOm6KTW3TfiKqVoDhGw5o-CYmNz6p8ORPXEcEXjpSo2NTReetZqE-KVvgAtO7JdHhaNv8i5_3GAZ_IopBBlXpWWo/s320/7DCE216D-B564-4547-BADE-D0EE443BBB04.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stork nest on top of poles</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /> </p><p> Information taken from <i>Latvia Travel Guide.</i></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-62436697231168001072021-02-24T00:00:00.095-08:002021-02-24T00:00:09.331-08:00The Bluffs of Latvia<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdai86YxSPRicTYEFzhv9lpDWfKhxiqTYePE53PSl8rubRgP0yqndFvDt8PbwuipU7cX62xEeqRBAINw0FsUgJKP_tZdFn8Lzfx6c03-NfJjT20SpbqjPpvNerjdZcZQuBGTZw1E70lQw/s2048/48A31A30-322E-4A2B-AAF0-85A70A22F412.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdai86YxSPRicTYEFzhv9lpDWfKhxiqTYePE53PSl8rubRgP0yqndFvDt8PbwuipU7cX62xEeqRBAINw0FsUgJKP_tZdFn8Lzfx6c03-NfJjT20SpbqjPpvNerjdZcZQuBGTZw1E70lQw/s320/48A31A30-322E-4A2B-AAF0-85A70A22F412.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amata River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The country of Latvia is generally flat. We've driven around in it enough to attest to that. It has rolling hills south and west of Riga, and of course, the man-made hill in Riga itself. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>So, we were surprised by the gorge running between the castles that we've seen over the last couple weeks. This river and surrounding gorge compromise Guaja National Park which covers a large part of central Latvia northeast of Riga. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViaP2h8w4le_csldE-tONcu7iBgGqz17AszXLQBPMEvnWONGg4dPFyRjOpWsN3a6wYjQSlYXgu7rBQTSpRwYJMXChuEpXw20vpRUgI3jkKxbIOrATG__4x0d0vYREx_ByhyEa8yXLh2c/s2048/9773B489-E0D2-42E2-A51A-51E2B8244CE1.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViaP2h8w4le_csldE-tONcu7iBgGqz17AszXLQBPMEvnWONGg4dPFyRjOpWsN3a6wYjQSlYXgu7rBQTSpRwYJMXChuEpXw20vpRUgI3jkKxbIOrATG__4x0d0vYREx_ByhyEa8yXLh2c/s320/9773B489-E0D2-42E2-A51A-51E2B8244CE1.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenic walkway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Since we were in the area visiting castles, we decided to check out the national park and the small creeks winding throughout it. Our trusty travel guide informed us about a walking trail to see some of the cliffs. </p><p><br /></p><p>It was amazing to be winding through the Latvian woods after experiencing city life up to this point. We thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet of the deep forest. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvdq8VJp2jgsHeN5qfWjYottsUybgmlDzYUCFehyphenhyphenyKwwYzz1gdbvSGB39iCR4Lj-UGpPX78HSVdZvs_j7XjSm6QLBv97bIzJDRYiL1PYlipuqsGrRDOzK-Ka7ZRgbDVrreQEvoDhHntE/s2048/8048D7BC-A2A9-4381-8854-EC258E35F23B.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvdq8VJp2jgsHeN5qfWjYottsUybgmlDzYUCFehyphenhyphenyKwwYzz1gdbvSGB39iCR4Lj-UGpPX78HSVdZvs_j7XjSm6QLBv97bIzJDRYiL1PYlipuqsGrRDOzK-Ka7ZRgbDVrreQEvoDhHntE/s320/8048D7BC-A2A9-4381-8854-EC258E35F23B.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red cliffs </td></tr></tbody></table><br />We came upon the red cliffs with the small caves worn into them. The rushing of the spring rivers helped to cut the holes into the rock walls. We never thought that we'd see something like this in Latvia before this trip. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWts4u5dAqKxxt3YxTVgstg4OqgeLxBp1F66IdvRkbiYfm_mthvLdvOqfqhV90pHUPw1dwBNPLrchdkkKyf65dlK0qxub0ICXf8wRxuULe800XS8g9j7Y3fcMZvbmaP-dx51zFMJB-0Q/s2048/A7C3BCCE-0116-48FA-946D-99B430D0289D.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWts4u5dAqKxxt3YxTVgstg4OqgeLxBp1F66IdvRkbiYfm_mthvLdvOqfqhV90pHUPw1dwBNPLrchdkkKyf65dlK0qxub0ICXf8wRxuULe800XS8g9j7Y3fcMZvbmaP-dx51zFMJB-0Q/s320/A7C3BCCE-0116-48FA-946D-99B430D0289D.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cave in the rock wall</td></tr></tbody></table>As I remember, it was a rainy day when we explored this trail in the park. We were the only ones on the trail at the time. Once in a while we were able to view a larger cave carved out in the growing underbrush. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The overall beauty of the national park will stay with us for a long time. It will be calling us back this summer for more exploring if we're unable to travel abroad again. <br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-25160923926695854612021-02-10T00:00:00.185-08:002021-02-10T00:47:24.470-08:00Castles of Latvia - Turaida Pils<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVnTZiO1aD5nGKkjo1BMzPph2iwTXtPVrz7pXhDv-XfdfNyadL5HQ26medGon2CRquZHMwEJTAF5Txb96pGNnVywCMqfXm2Ek74uVwpbv8RxOMkbMG9QS8Vm2oj5PBSqvbXPWg9LSUqE/s2048/1C4157B1-5098-44BA-96C4-B8C9F22157C3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVnTZiO1aD5nGKkjo1BMzPph2iwTXtPVrz7pXhDv-XfdfNyadL5HQ26medGon2CRquZHMwEJTAF5Txb96pGNnVywCMqfXm2Ek74uVwpbv8RxOMkbMG9QS8Vm2oj5PBSqvbXPWg9LSUqE/s320/1C4157B1-5098-44BA-96C4-B8C9F22157C3_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial photo of Turaida</td></tr></tbody></table>The last castle, that I wanted to show you, has the most tourists to its site because it's restored more than any or the other ones. Turaida Castle, located along the Guaja River valley, was the third castle in the triangle with Sigulda and Krimulda. Turaida was seen from the viewing tower when we were at Sigulda (photo from my post two weeks ago).<p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh8qFGEwweF79Mw8_KaIHGPeE4Outh_30q3JWuwcGe8qW4quLacbeGaxQimZLFVqP_IksTbtfVEJLhcSte8WfYan6KVZbMigpYMWKEEmaFq6_n8BBLkeMR-ZWlRXe9H-0OmrPLpAJ-_4/s2048/26027D49-35B7-4EEC-AF15-2A6643D4EF0A.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh8qFGEwweF79Mw8_KaIHGPeE4Outh_30q3JWuwcGe8qW4quLacbeGaxQimZLFVqP_IksTbtfVEJLhcSte8WfYan6KVZbMigpYMWKEEmaFq6_n8BBLkeMR-ZWlRXe9H-0OmrPLpAJ-_4/w150-h200/26027D49-35B7-4EEC-AF15-2A6643D4EF0A.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower</td></tr></tbody></table>All three were on the edge of the river gorge with Sigulda being the lone one across the river. They were all built by the Livonian order so kept their eyes on each other. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Originally built in 1206, Turaida was constructed of wood which, of course, was destroyed by fire. Later it was rebuilt with stone. This castle has been under reconstruction since the 1950s, which is why it's the most visited castle in Latvia. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijex91azAbO5cQGN4FTOkrNXWxxzR1Pk_6-kEhxHvo_aLWRDikEZllPxFt1Fc5bBIAZXHzaAuhczg15nRdYBqp0Ti4ksh8QTzpjSBj0MQV4zvXJhNuSyKsvMLYdWW4Qq2IbY3o-pChlyA/s2048/0AD2EDD4-3324-4E6B-BAEA-2EC494F0BBDC.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijex91azAbO5cQGN4FTOkrNXWxxzR1Pk_6-kEhxHvo_aLWRDikEZllPxFt1Fc5bBIAZXHzaAuhczg15nRdYBqp0Ti4ksh8QTzpjSBj0MQV4zvXJhNuSyKsvMLYdWW4Qq2IbY3o-pChlyA/s320/0AD2EDD4-3324-4E6B-BAEA-2EC494F0BBDC.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern wall and tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br />The 30 meter tower stands at the entrance to the main part of the castle. The southern wall and semi-circular tower have also been reconstructed on the old foundations that existed. The old granary was restored and now houses a museum exhibition of the area. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyemd4uaJTXpu3d_KW_HhR1I0cLW-FoIEYIXz_jcTmlx4yXT92lQmhqIHpQpatuO-aQdlfQY06PQeoNIUSJuOEsjQA8TyWN9j0-Br2DUq4ND4SdM2LzwRPYTkyNJFKKmrRCLrGM-cb4ac/s2048/22690B6F-D3BE-4274-BD26-17C05334A48F.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyemd4uaJTXpu3d_KW_HhR1I0cLW-FoIEYIXz_jcTmlx4yXT92lQmhqIHpQpatuO-aQdlfQY06PQeoNIUSJuOEsjQA8TyWN9j0-Br2DUq4ND4SdM2LzwRPYTkyNJFKKmrRCLrGM-cb4ac/s320/22690B6F-D3BE-4274-BD26-17C05334A48F.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibition building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Turaida Castle now sits on the Turaida Museum Reserve, a one hundred acre site adjacent to the actual castle. The Reserve parallels the Guaja River and includes historical buildings which were built by Livonians who lived near the castle. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGCSg6RASEo2JBL4j-AoCEHHlp7mKUl81UtCxoRl9fX0wbPo4AU7fbyORCxPWyN4J2i7utU30Q4e9hEhFSE7XUhCBebAVQvEnyG1OIgh3uW0_dDnfACQpjH-_gdmyqg_MtG-UARQdVzM/s2048/0C99B7B4-F233-40CA-937A-6255AA025ACB.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGCSg6RASEo2JBL4j-AoCEHHlp7mKUl81UtCxoRl9fX0wbPo4AU7fbyORCxPWyN4J2i7utU30Q4e9hEhFSE7XUhCBebAVQvEnyG1OIgh3uW0_dDnfACQpjH-_gdmyqg_MtG-UARQdVzM/w150-h200/0C99B7B4-F233-40CA-937A-6255AA025ACB.jpeg" width="150" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turaida Lutheran Church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It includes the Turaida Manor, stables, a blacksmith shop, a bakery, an exhibition hall, and Turaida Lutheran Church. The church is still used for worship every Sunday for Lutherans who live in the area. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jLTveye9DU1OFTwvOHb6VvmRlxCQu_mEOFJ2tvYnePoNGXHWSC55O96MVf8KunIJb48OmUnjr8g2EEMDAxm-uDFplz-HYcoz4MhaShUhTZGO7-9uQTSvj7BcSvhcdLugHCt74BN8cxk/s2048/412E8A4F-6F83-42AA-AB30-15E1ADF5AEC0.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jLTveye9DU1OFTwvOHb6VvmRlxCQu_mEOFJ2tvYnePoNGXHWSC55O96MVf8KunIJb48OmUnjr8g2EEMDAxm-uDFplz-HYcoz4MhaShUhTZGO7-9uQTSvj7BcSvhcdLugHCt74BN8cxk/s320/412E8A4F-6F83-42AA-AB30-15E1ADF5AEC0.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man-made pond on Reserve</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Visitors to the Reserve can learn from the demonstrations of people, dressed in period costumes, what life was like centuries ago. The Reserve, together with the castle, is a major tourist attraction in Latvia. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It is certainly worth visiting all the castles in the region to learn more about Latvian history. The beautiful gorge that we drove through just made it all the more memorable. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Information taken from <i>Latvia Travel Guide.</i></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-88812476272714762572021-02-03T00:00:00.119-08:002021-02-03T00:00:05.769-08:00Castles of Latvia - Krimulda Ruins<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZz_cMIJ3CENgGxJ1Hv-rm41YotfpB_yJH4iwT1ztFgOgIi1YeElwZQg_o2E2Hpnj6o9bO6g_dCSUH1jBmNH1bLfzIjBPuH_m5Bamj8LG3YZkXv1mnkvyFsAiLVTWcvYTVcFlWVegUUs/s2048/F3E4457F-FF83-4838-8D74-2771A32BD8D4.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZz_cMIJ3CENgGxJ1Hv-rm41YotfpB_yJH4iwT1ztFgOgIi1YeElwZQg_o2E2Hpnj6o9bO6g_dCSUH1jBmNH1bLfzIjBPuH_m5Bamj8LG3YZkXv1mnkvyFsAiLVTWcvYTVcFlWVegUUs/s320/F3E4457F-FF83-4838-8D74-2771A32BD8D4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guaja River gorge view from cable car</td></tr></tbody></table>This week we're taking a bit of a break from castles that we saw because this castle doesn't exist any longer. Last week I told you about the view over the Guaja River, and today I'll tell you how we explored the other side of the gorge.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Krimuldaa.jpg/400px-Krimuldaa.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="400" height="148" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Krimuldaa.jpg/400px-Krimuldaa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krimulda ruins</td></tr></tbody></table>The castle that doesn't exist any longer is the Krimulda Pils. It was built about the same time as the Sigulda Castle and was destroyed in 1601 in a war with their enemies from across the river. It was never rebuilt again. From the Sigulda tower on the edge of the ravine, soldiers could look across the gorge and watch the comings and goings at the Krimulda castle. <br /><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsBxeNycNl9uoqdJox9tUc9UNMdQhfKluQaBGjkvTKrcKXGu6Z8iXjoQGnUmHJBOHA9apAalUnJuniO8nMnYSlXFDr1uj_bKXo26S7E9rnX2PtE1zL-kOeem3vYT-efDeMnh3SAt5LkY/s2048/BB7CDDE5-8FDA-4FA9-9EEA-80AC9AA6652C.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsBxeNycNl9uoqdJox9tUc9UNMdQhfKluQaBGjkvTKrcKXGu6Z8iXjoQGnUmHJBOHA9apAalUnJuniO8nMnYSlXFDr1uj_bKXo26S7E9rnX2PtE1zL-kOeem3vYT-efDeMnh3SAt5LkY/w200-h150/BB7CDDE5-8FDA-4FA9-9EEA-80AC9AA6652C.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today the only way to access the Krimulda area from the Sigulda side is via a cable car. We decided we were brave enough to check it out, so we enjoyed a ride 40 meters above the river. <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Krimulda_rehabilitation_centre_01.jpg/1920px-Krimulda_rehabilitation_centre_01.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Krimulda_rehabilitation_centre_01.jpg/1920px-Krimulda_rehabilitation_centre_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krimulda Manor</td></tr></tbody></table>The cable car let us off on the site of Krimulda, which today is the home of Krimulda Manor. This manor, originally built in the middle of the 1800s as a sanitorium, was a location to rebuild health, beauty and inner peace. It was a retreat for the wealthy in the early 20th Century.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>The most unique part of the manor was the sunbathing pavilion built for the sanitorium residents. In the 1920s, this semicircular building had porches facing the sun where residents would soak up the healing rays during the summer. Today it is still a beautiful area, surrounded by flower beds. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/117772693_190276605847499_1969612763798417298_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=0lMMrmK8GHQAX8_GoeF&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=ea07ace73a89cd7d8a4d1fa9009e8f65&oe=603B9632" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/117772693_190276605847499_1969612763798417298_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=0lMMrmK8GHQAX8_GoeF&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=ea07ace73a89cd7d8a4d1fa9009e8f65&oe=603B9632" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunbathing pavilion</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />It was certainly worth the ride in the cable car across the Gauja River gorge to see this interesting manor even though the castle is long gone. </p><p><br /></p><p>Next week, we continue our tour of castles. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-69667493516063955192021-01-27T00:00:00.175-08:002021-01-27T00:10:36.863-08:00Castles of Latvia - Sigulda Pils<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54UgUY-LFzV6ucG1y0wHB6ftowXeSI5BL_NwI3c30YtemYfzaZMIQpvXJivJRim0csV29oMeDz4bVjf87PNILpYGL1cADNv0u2Jug6c280OtYaYKrIyrXUb6dYb3MMl7A9cDuNzrsEX8/s2048/A8DFECB4-36AF-437A-B002-F81486890DF2.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54UgUY-LFzV6ucG1y0wHB6ftowXeSI5BL_NwI3c30YtemYfzaZMIQpvXJivJRim0csV29oMeDz4bVjf87PNILpYGL1cADNv0u2Jug6c280OtYaYKrIyrXUb6dYb3MMl7A9cDuNzrsEX8/s320/A8DFECB4-36AF-437A-B002-F81486890DF2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigulda Pils</td></tr></tbody></table> Similar to last week's castle that we explored, this castle sits in ruins today. Sigulda Pils, located in the city of Sigulda, is northeast of Riga. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Built in 1207, this fortress was constructed on the edge of a precipice overlooking the Guaja River by the Brothers of the Sword, part of the Livonian Order. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxPZN2LpOjY6wDBXglWr4Vff2DyiH7zWgXVD-fb9yOD9pitB_liaAB_ZOrLDP5HIHqa_gEIlxe5y7Z14bE4hyFxOShLFNfUZTlQlYh_5YiTHdlcvJxnKRGW98BDD7BAjjc5JhDhoq_PQ/s2048/A03C450E-C7DD-41B4-B45D-A7BBC4908EC5.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxPZN2LpOjY6wDBXglWr4Vff2DyiH7zWgXVD-fb9yOD9pitB_liaAB_ZOrLDP5HIHqa_gEIlxe5y7Z14bE4hyFxOShLFNfUZTlQlYh_5YiTHdlcvJxnKRGW98BDD7BAjjc5JhDhoq_PQ/w150-h200/A03C450E-C7DD-41B4-B45D-A7BBC4908EC5.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance Tower</td></tr></tbody></table>As we approached the reconstructed entrance tower, we were in awe of the sheer size of it. How could walls this large be built in the early 1200s? They didn't have the equipment we do back then. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepwsTniWiP4-V4fPNpIZPoP7nhi5DuaPpay1NJTSRArKK475sKeBoaVieph3RZDuQ0BDMw1umDDy-__nqhfG4MtP5RMPxZMtGGzjrEwif9AcDdTE2Dmy8t3R_DdGauvYuWI0twS6nauA/s2048/9017A1C9-49E9-46FC-9C2E-0108C92C43D3.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepwsTniWiP4-V4fPNpIZPoP7nhi5DuaPpay1NJTSRArKK475sKeBoaVieph3RZDuQ0BDMw1umDDy-__nqhfG4MtP5RMPxZMtGGzjrEwif9AcDdTE2Dmy8t3R_DdGauvYuWI0twS6nauA/s320/9017A1C9-49E9-46FC-9C2E-0108C92C43D3.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing of original castle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The original castle was quite large, as seen in the sketch to the left. The church was the main building inside the walls. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was interesting to see what the reconstructed fortress wall looked like on the inside. The soldiers had the different levels to protect the land side of the fortress, shooting through the small access windows. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHanXg_75ocdBg8eeicXK7q9Zvkz-L0hlr1a5dbtDEwp-WJsm7kxrKdqHYEQ3OyF-ozP-XgtyqYeQBPIf9YvllyzEjhnQNlNQnCjXry6_6zEozLowU-2JiSeh7cyfhlgrqZSfLiGdIrc/s2048/9E51C819-3FAD-4AFE-BA3F-2C1181961700.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHanXg_75ocdBg8eeicXK7q9Zvkz-L0hlr1a5dbtDEwp-WJsm7kxrKdqHYEQ3OyF-ozP-XgtyqYeQBPIf9YvllyzEjhnQNlNQnCjXry6_6zEozLowU-2JiSeh7cyfhlgrqZSfLiGdIrc/s320/9E51C819-3FAD-4AFE-BA3F-2C1181961700.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstructed wall </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div> <br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhAg5ZeiQA4uuHHde5rNEwi279yhul43YP_78FWfuHpdOf3tIlx-iwR9bmAMCV8zwefg8LusahS4hSHbhbRFubQ5UaIfDwFN5mxMj0APzQGdn3Uisggk45jz6eHwu8QvevjzlkbTPBa8/s2048/9B67B71B-A5DC-48D7-B3D3-1F5025F90692.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhAg5ZeiQA4uuHHde5rNEwi279yhul43YP_78FWfuHpdOf3tIlx-iwR9bmAMCV8zwefg8LusahS4hSHbhbRFubQ5UaIfDwFN5mxMj0APzQGdn3Uisggk45jz6eHwu8QvevjzlkbTPBa8/w150-h200/9B67B71B-A5DC-48D7-B3D3-1F5025F90692.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel wall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Notice the tiny holes in the outside wall for defense in the picture on the left. This connects to the chapel wall. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of the ancient castle lies in ruins. We could see the outline of the chapel, but that's about all. Everything else is gone. After being damaged in wars in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it was never rebuilt. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_8t4YAtCD4Vvz47IKlYHJAM0uItMXIelpXXbmzpP1xzESChGcR3ljHLMt53eDyoigCX94H83t1y8W7Ly3g6AflwW3AeIF0WLLFGA0pdil4shTarXeGjYXnsKsjTxUmjyrTtXSJn7q3o/s2048/907A3EDC-58AE-433A-957C-7D7F3FA92536.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_8t4YAtCD4Vvz47IKlYHJAM0uItMXIelpXXbmzpP1xzESChGcR3ljHLMt53eDyoigCX94H83t1y8W7Ly3g6AflwW3AeIF0WLLFGA0pdil4shTarXeGjYXnsKsjTxUmjyrTtXSJn7q3o/s320/907A3EDC-58AE-433A-957C-7D7F3FA92536.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruins of the chapel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbvtvwv4t1K43ZxUt-x-CgAPel0qbWKS-HN3gXfFHgPA2mYyEUc56I4-yF9X2NO820hLJCagoplPYRF66tviMfpwyHEXompGP_bl9xiGsXUgwUymHX9rspV-6XP9qPARWIjs5BdeJgUg/s2048/DF055F84-A41C-4661-AB87-0F1548EDAF5C.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbvtvwv4t1K43ZxUt-x-CgAPel0qbWKS-HN3gXfFHgPA2mYyEUc56I4-yF9X2NO820hLJCagoplPYRF66tviMfpwyHEXompGP_bl9xiGsXUgwUymHX9rspV-6XP9qPARWIjs5BdeJgUg/w200-h150/DF055F84-A41C-4661-AB87-0F1548EDAF5C.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open-air stage</td></tr></tbody></table>On the site of the former courtyard, an open-air stage has been built where the Sigulda opera festival is held annually. Other concerts take place here, also. At least, they found a good way to bring many people to see the historical structure yet today. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Behind the stage, an ancient tower has been preserved with a viewing platform constructed on top of it. This tower is literally on the edge of the cliff and has a magnificent view of the gorge below. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKGHjgeYqsljxHlPYmYrI9trQ95CuZxf8JSDwPO0ud-tHX34y8Zr1HDv_jUja8c93zjCmXVOxi04Liec0t259XBn4gRrDc-8Fbm0bT1dgWBbDBLVJaa9FF0BP1umsUh_u538fOPWrVJE/s2048/8EE3AD6D-F007-479F-B74C-FFF37E752E52.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKGHjgeYqsljxHlPYmYrI9trQ95CuZxf8JSDwPO0ud-tHX34y8Zr1HDv_jUja8c93zjCmXVOxi04Liec0t259XBn4gRrDc-8Fbm0bT1dgWBbDBLVJaa9FF0BP1umsUh_u538fOPWrVJE/s320/8EE3AD6D-F007-479F-B74C-FFF37E752E52.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewing tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Next week, I'll tell you what's on the other side of the gorge. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig44UKn1EN-lHBZxpWj69pMSNJjNthujUIjUulCKfrEh1LYO4LpgF8MzMUCAq3EnbhG1qsp_W-DWsGsThN7863k59wY8hiChTUBR3TaC9YnFRSEFAXuzMa8cFDzhLTHGrxKUq2Vh_13Ac/s2048/225630F8-CFE0-40C2-BABD-9ED300E8F6E1.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig44UKn1EN-lHBZxpWj69pMSNJjNthujUIjUulCKfrEh1LYO4LpgF8MzMUCAq3EnbhG1qsp_W-DWsGsThN7863k59wY8hiChTUBR3TaC9YnFRSEFAXuzMa8cFDzhLTHGrxKUq2Vh_13Ac/s320/225630F8-CFE0-40C2-BABD-9ED300E8F6E1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p></div></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-34168926035949067622021-01-20T00:00:00.126-08:002021-01-20T00:00:07.865-08:00Castles of Latvia - Cesis Pils<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/CesuPils_2017-09-10.jpg/500px-CesuPils_2017-09-10.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/CesuPils_2017-09-10.jpg/500px-CesuPils_2017-09-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cesis Castle</td></tr></tbody></table>Since we are in CCP virus lockdown here, I have to take you on a tour of Latvian castles that we visited last summer. The only thing I've seen in the last month is the inside of my apartment or grocery store, neither of which you want to see.<br /> <p></p><p>The first castle I'd like to show you is in the town of Cesis. The pils (the word castle in Latvian) sits on a small hill surrounded by the city which, of course, grew up around the castle. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dETcv4mxnpnhWp3OgdnHSElusAuxR-sXaXIxXb9QHRmvFUMMBpLhuX7dxMSg2z2ZxSnI9iY4Nbb63ZvXCeFXFXKRf_5POisrqCb_SZyXIEMuqEELh8dSmdlSdvDgVrLyN_fL9g4zHQI/s2048/FC836FD4-0369-43AF-998A-CDFD2B449C19_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1923" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dETcv4mxnpnhWp3OgdnHSElusAuxR-sXaXIxXb9QHRmvFUMMBpLhuX7dxMSg2z2ZxSnI9iY4Nbb63ZvXCeFXFXKRf_5POisrqCb_SZyXIEMuqEELh8dSmdlSdvDgVrLyN_fL9g4zHQI/w188-h200/FC836FD4-0369-43AF-998A-CDFD2B449C19_1_201_a.jpeg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model of the castle</td></tr></tbody></table>Most of the castle today is ruins. It was first constructed of stone around 1209, so it's been around a very long time. When it was completed, it became the seat of the Livonians. The Master of the Livonian Order used it as his residence from 1239 to 1561. The Livonians were the rulers of the territory known as Latvia today.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpxIKOHvUO44zNLb-h0GD5nxdm1c5oz7bAnc_b55ulHELyhCUzMYvI-m-NkU9Kz2tFiaY4aBP5Mb5uLSKILJXVsnVp1hIi3pMGswi10ltVTfDd2LfiIb7Ih0LhVN_UKqpa4IgVz-5ez0/s2048/0BEAD13D-C9AA-49B9-99BF-D8DC7CF1FA54.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpxIKOHvUO44zNLb-h0GD5nxdm1c5oz7bAnc_b55ulHELyhCUzMYvI-m-NkU9Kz2tFiaY4aBP5Mb5uLSKILJXVsnVp1hIi3pMGswi10ltVTfDd2LfiIb7Ih0LhVN_UKqpa4IgVz-5ez0/s320/0BEAD13D-C9AA-49B9-99BF-D8DC7CF1FA54.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Altar in the ruins<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br />The ruins sit in a beautiful park now. We wandered around the grounds of the old castle and came upon an ancient altar that was used in the castle hundreds of years ago. My husband was intrigued because he could still make out the crosses on the four corners and in the middle of the stone altar top. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe8wdbcE0mS1J5VsKclABfG8Rmefye6L4wZoD2UCWl-lzCdnCJ9DU6DSss7SD02KACpGe2DcCmb3zu6-CkMZSjyUjija0j_jQA2D_qZmQZqjoK0hbuG2w4v8_qxOm8mXSiszpzf4YH60/s2048/E3438ABB-EACF-4C04-A847-A8D3588C1420.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe8wdbcE0mS1J5VsKclABfG8Rmefye6L4wZoD2UCWl-lzCdnCJ9DU6DSss7SD02KACpGe2DcCmb3zu6-CkMZSjyUjija0j_jQA2D_qZmQZqjoK0hbuG2w4v8_qxOm8mXSiszpzf4YH60/s320/E3438ABB-EACF-4C04-A847-A8D3588C1420.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Lutheran Church</td></tr></tbody></table>Not far from the castle another ancient building stands in witness to its long history. St. John's Lutheran Church, built in the later part of the 13th Century, was the cathedral of the Livonian Order. Of course, it was part of the Catholic Church back then but converted to Lutheranism in the 16th Century. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>The church has been restored and renovated many times over the years with the 65 meter tower added in 1853. The burial plates of the Livonian Masters are located within the church. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.dreamstime.com%2Fb%2Fchurch-saint-john-cesis-latvia-europe-25229890.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" height="237" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.dreamstime.com%2Fb%2Fchurch-saint-john-cesis-latvia-europe-25229890.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Altar of St. John's </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The plain-looking church was built in the Romanesque style with large arches and high ceilings. The pulpit was constructed in 1748 and the altar in 1858.</p><p><br /></p><p>It truly was amazing to walk around structures that have stood in this city center for close to 800 years. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from <i>Latvia Travel Guide. </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-74790443708513095082021-01-13T00:00:00.099-08:002021-01-13T00:00:04.912-08:00Honoring Covid -19 Healthcare Workers<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc6gt5YXVBLqBOCVDwqqnGo3bRFc04r8E4z8cKXwCrXgpzbi1gKt_NceOaBVE9lReuJbzRIvOl1hzt8nSG149SCgCIQ1Cy09f2ZnsP4j_9-wZ-nTMcOMQyMPOSjK9cT7olC_ag-N79FQ/s2048/4BFDBB2F-29CD-4A32-9323-CCF0D842704F.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc6gt5YXVBLqBOCVDwqqnGo3bRFc04r8E4z8cKXwCrXgpzbi1gKt_NceOaBVE9lReuJbzRIvOl1hzt8nSG149SCgCIQ1Cy09f2ZnsP4j_9-wZ-nTMcOMQyMPOSjK9cT7olC_ag-N79FQ/s320/4BFDBB2F-29CD-4A32-9323-CCF0D842704F.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthcare Statue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">Many things in Riga have changed since last March when the Chinese virus descended on the world. One lasting thing will be a 20-foot statue that now adorns the lawn in front of the National Latvian Art Museum. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This statue, dedicated way back in June of last year,</span><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">appeared as a way to thank the healthcare workers for their untiring work in the hospitals. The woman, wearing a lab coat, gloves and a face mask, has her hands out in service. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1GIWhdn6cCWQQdB9hGBbBuOoTwr3Yu0DAXz0NjhN8JVxk60lc2kx2okHJw24eAyqcp6SmWDlVkHCJVmP85yxvFZPuCGn7p03glOzoREbOZzlfZ-xbXjPwi9eP_0RpZIQ_moV_uDJgf0/s2048/0E799D5F-39A8-4598-832C-E297A7DC7D36.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1GIWhdn6cCWQQdB9hGBbBuOoTwr3Yu0DAXz0NjhN8JVxk60lc2kx2okHJw24eAyqcp6SmWDlVkHCJVmP85yxvFZPuCGn7p03glOzoREbOZzlfZ-xbXjPwi9eP_0RpZIQ_moV_uDJgf0/w200-h150/0E799D5F-39A8-4598-832C-E297A7DC7D36.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Latvian Art Museum</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sculptor Aigars Birkse created the artwork, along with the European League of Institutes of the Arts. They said this statue</span> <span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;">“is dedicated to medics in Latvia and around the world, praising their selfless courage and care during the Covid-19 outbreak.”</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcIMxVlPXfaWE6k3glhYogov-Qdv1uQnXVqhzrCCSpnev1uDcFk5O3g3S9Kp_nnT2KMO01jolmlKU8WcDdOdrN6XK7Ylx7IxJkDUcsidL7xhML85EDU0xEAd_4ZMU7zPR1Ph8lEEScwc/s2048/9BFF8D1A-F61B-4E85-9A18-5F0FCFC174AF.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcIMxVlPXfaWE6k3glhYogov-Qdv1uQnXVqhzrCCSpnev1uDcFk5O3g3S9Kp_nnT2KMO01jolmlKU8WcDdOdrN6XK7Ylx7IxJkDUcsidL7xhML85EDU0xEAd_4ZMU7zPR1Ph8lEEScwc/s320/9BFF8D1A-F61B-4E85-9A18-5F0FCFC174AF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum in background</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;"><br />At that time, Latvia had not been affected by the coronavirus very much at all. During the summer, life in Old Town Riga was pretty normal, except for the lack of tourists since the borders were closed. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;">However, since November, Latvia has seen an outbreak similar to the US. We are currently in a lockdown until February 7. The numbers are very minimal compared to the US, but our hospitals are full to overflowing. The only stores open are grocers, pharmacies, and, of course, wine stores.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L18mrWukOCHFJ3SYjHJ5v7Jd9ve5_EKSB1_CDrAxL5LHiJowjJ8qcLjzr0B7NT7EejDczUoSsoQNGvdYa47cVMseuha0cSEZ7I72hbuLQo8uyN0DYTZI9CE8EG_3pZlR5rhoPs8PRYk/s2048/956D63D6-89BD-4F7C-BA6C-5B8E9BFC2FD1.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L18mrWukOCHFJ3SYjHJ5v7Jd9ve5_EKSB1_CDrAxL5LHiJowjJ8qcLjzr0B7NT7EejDczUoSsoQNGvdYa47cVMseuha0cSEZ7I72hbuLQo8uyN0DYTZI9CE8EG_3pZlR5rhoPs8PRYk/s320/956D63D6-89BD-4F7C-BA6C-5B8E9BFC2FD1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thank-you for all to see</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Indy Serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">I think that healthcare workers all over the world deserve our gratitude for stepping up during these trying times. Latvia found a way to make that permanent.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", serif; font-size: 19px;">Information taken from <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-latvia-statue-healthcare-workers-honour-a9574836.html">Independent.co.uk</a></span></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-66365604748003362632021-01-06T01:00:00.155-08:002021-01-06T01:00:04.296-08:00A Foxy Tale <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UqKJqfn6FC9Cg3H4uTQReOOOOPUvG4Hh04Z96rlm-5b0VWQc6DAGGVyM6S8reOHa_96XsKTkK8N2S6tNmj0lN4tu14LHaVK455qsILo8_h0oL6oVLJNzQKSQ_Cr35CtYQlRAWNpijlI/s2048/DD63DB05-4A95-418D-A3EE-DA8A72F6A812.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UqKJqfn6FC9Cg3H4uTQReOOOOPUvG4Hh04Z96rlm-5b0VWQc6DAGGVyM6S8reOHa_96XsKTkK8N2S6tNmj0lN4tu14LHaVK455qsILo8_h0oL6oVLJNzQKSQ_Cr35CtYQlRAWNpijlI/s320/DD63DB05-4A95-418D-A3EE-DA8A72F6A812.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A unique sighting</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Last week we discovered something unique to Riga. We looked into a rumor of a building with a fox sculpture attached. When we located the building, we were surprised to see how large this fox actually was. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>As you can see by the picture on the left, it's several times my size. It's standing on a portion of a building but crawling down toward the ground. </p><p><br /></p><p>There wasn't much of an explanation as to why this particular animal was built in this particular location. Well, there was a sign posted on the wall, but it was written in Russian and Latvian, so I couldn't read a word of it. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7eIF6EOyIki68_MCHtVXgmwK-qbAmNztmpBLjLhg5q-upF2wI7AFXS9N9LtoePJhNS2Ks6RoPefO6pLBvJ8LYz5P-xBxWrm5t7GKo4q4gCp8PIbEGoZtfhi1ZBs05pEPweZ9iDtlGNM/s2048/55B1D28A-BCF1-47CB-ADDF-252A0E7E9638.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7eIF6EOyIki68_MCHtVXgmwK-qbAmNztmpBLjLhg5q-upF2wI7AFXS9N9LtoePJhNS2Ks6RoPefO6pLBvJ8LYz5P-xBxWrm5t7GKo4q4gCp8PIbEGoZtfhi1ZBs05pEPweZ9iDtlGNM/w320-h240/55B1D28A-BCF1-47CB-ADDF-252A0E7E9638.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building next to the fox </td></tr></tbody></table>The neighborhood where we found it wasn't very memorable. In fact, it was rather run down, like many old Soviet neighborhoods are in Riga. <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvjh9ws383Z12jNlfIdiCGmO0hMIG3W8PhC9l83LLngKBlSG3uFEON4l_-9Srlop3QG1pZS473XeGLvRHzhgWweuFLRij6YNVt0BNhA_uA6EOgm4EbcmTDfGuI_op_xXRPGIRf6eMyoI/s2048/AFC26B66-1E3D-4E0C-A698-4952A6A04DEE.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvjh9ws383Z12jNlfIdiCGmO0hMIG3W8PhC9l83LLngKBlSG3uFEON4l_-9Srlop3QG1pZS473XeGLvRHzhgWweuFLRij6YNVt0BNhA_uA6EOgm4EbcmTDfGuI_op_xXRPGIRf6eMyoI/w200-h150/AFC26B66-1E3D-4E0C-A698-4952A6A04DEE.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Soviet buildings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>None of the surroundings explained why the fox was located there. Just down the street, we spotted a tall Soviet era building that is known in Riga as "Stalin's birthday cake." You can see why it has that nickname, even if it's a science research building in Latvia. It's built in the typical Soviet era bombastic style. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCddP0_5xaZzYEcNgXNrRPGqqwxGXj25XcNCYMon2k0ms8uYgvp021uSt6SMhALlKA6-aNDo5k-Qi_zD78PJi8DSWErS6-YnCaBVUVDDGSfrMmYfbj6uGwa3IFjLmHU62T-RI8mrQJf0/s2048/AD825F31-B26A-44C4-B92B-66792CF43C94.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCddP0_5xaZzYEcNgXNrRPGqqwxGXj25XcNCYMon2k0ms8uYgvp021uSt6SMhALlKA6-aNDo5k-Qi_zD78PJi8DSWErS6-YnCaBVUVDDGSfrMmYfbj6uGwa3IFjLmHU62T-RI8mrQJf0/w150-h200/AD825F31-B26A-44C4-B92B-66792CF43C94.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stalin's Birthday Cake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOFZGBVwmb62WCZQQwv5pTCHhS3K817thU0_cIUcYgol6S0tCo1biHJ7hWcPucWhex5cvmXu0axWQTmbtydzc1HZQ3NVx3Z9giwfwGmR2g3DLhegLnnfi7YFElyxQQSRASeJO2RnwXeA/s2048/E067133C-87C2-4286-B18C-60E80D6AD20C.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOFZGBVwmb62WCZQQwv5pTCHhS3K817thU0_cIUcYgol6S0tCo1biHJ7hWcPucWhex5cvmXu0axWQTmbtydzc1HZQ3NVx3Z9giwfwGmR2g3DLhegLnnfi7YFElyxQQSRASeJO2RnwXeA/s320/E067133C-87C2-4286-B18C-60E80D6AD20C.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographic occasion</td></tr></tbody></table>Even though the surrounding buildings had no draw, the fox itself did draw other interested people taking pictures. After all, it isn't every day that you see a fox climb on a building. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>When I returned home again, I did some online research about the fox. It turns out that the title of the structure is "Born for Freedom." It was actually constructed to take a stand against fur farms in Europe. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCE6OZ-QDz0xBsQbbEo2eXcwzljhpkOjZUtA78zFeYO2cNS4-aNJkfXk-KQpCmysX69xA_h8WwsxS1tZvvvoT3qzovN3FG6ReB1lhZMfJS9YonQpZbJJw5q6PXp2vWOzcIIvhqLC4IyA/s2048/CEF2A35B-3E4A-403C-8EF3-35359B521DEF.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCE6OZ-QDz0xBsQbbEo2eXcwzljhpkOjZUtA78zFeYO2cNS4-aNJkfXk-KQpCmysX69xA_h8WwsxS1tZvvvoT3qzovN3FG6ReB1lhZMfJS9YonQpZbJJw5q6PXp2vWOzcIIvhqLC4IyA/s320/CEF2A35B-3E4A-403C-8EF3-35359B521DEF.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Born for Freedom</td></tr></tbody></table>It was created by Aleksandr Marinoha and his father Olegs. Aleksandr is a student at the Art Academy of Latvia. Together with more than 100 people, they created this sculpture out of thousands of metal wires and hemp lines. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArEr6Fc-6ItBgnX1FmUTIziK-5L683tyBUhDbAXLGiwryxjJ87aLBXalRGWtaksHFsci9bPejWwj8iE34euYBazrJo3OnVQTz1xO4R5_Dbd4kHGgTnQhFND-ajdZAtmoE5_DVrBcaZ9o/s2048/000289C0-5318-46B6-8652-58163F5DCC4C.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArEr6Fc-6ItBgnX1FmUTIziK-5L683tyBUhDbAXLGiwryxjJ87aLBXalRGWtaksHFsci9bPejWwj8iE34euYBazrJo3OnVQTz1xO4R5_Dbd4kHGgTnQhFND-ajdZAtmoE5_DVrBcaZ9o/s320/000289C0-5318-46B6-8652-58163F5DCC4C.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No small matter</td></tr></tbody></table>A date wasn't specified for the construction of the sculpture, but it sounded very recent, stating that a ban on the fur industry was now in effect in the mink fur farms across several countries in the European Union. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>It was a rather impressive discovery on a cold morning in Riga. I'm wondering now if this will be a permanent tourist attraction in our city. </p><p><br /></p><p>Information taken from <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/photos/giant-fox-takes-stand-against-fur-0">Giant Fox Takes Stand Against Fur</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-57858317274081964302020-12-30T01:00:00.101-08:002020-12-30T01:00:02.430-08:00Winter Wonderland<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJmbwlNBdEXgTp_UaqqEly5fLlS1d4p7scrokSEo_ZfteZZK_fxx2LvAnPwhLtyqNVL-aEJu6Bw_bchQLu1d0hbMk824GZj6amLgBQXQUk0XB8kicx6x57AkKrkdAYaMPZcn-cVIIAc8/s2048/59F63583-1911-4C19-A2A7-7B9202F060AF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJmbwlNBdEXgTp_UaqqEly5fLlS1d4p7scrokSEo_ZfteZZK_fxx2LvAnPwhLtyqNVL-aEJu6Bw_bchQLu1d0hbMk824GZj6amLgBQXQUk0XB8kicx6x57AkKrkdAYaMPZcn-cVIIAc8/w400-h293/59F63583-1911-4C19-A2A7-7B9202F060AF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral Square in the snow</td></tr></tbody></table>On the day after Christmas, Riga had its first snow of the winter. Since we haven't seen the city covered in snow yet, we went for a walk around Old Town. I wanted to share the beautiful night with you. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>The picture below was taken out of our family room window. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNjNQdVqdbt4ikv-XCtwTsINkyS2Jbxp6OlZL4QBrurjfpepWvm1mjtIrlXbJ1YfOHcjfAzTeXn3FmBeV0FlQfNmltzbNB8CW4cc0fLaBgXwe91cQJnQpUOE2psj-D7AmHQcSVcJGsxE/s2048/02B81747-799C-4AC5-8711-BBD114F0B890_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1913" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNjNQdVqdbt4ikv-XCtwTsINkyS2Jbxp6OlZL4QBrurjfpepWvm1mjtIrlXbJ1YfOHcjfAzTeXn3FmBeV0FlQfNmltzbNB8CW4cc0fLaBgXwe91cQJnQpUOE2psj-D7AmHQcSVcJGsxE/w187-h200/02B81747-799C-4AC5-8711-BBD114F0B890_1_201_a.jpeg" width="187" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral tower </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2nTv3dznHcjNRTFMS5RBZMsapAq_kv9d8Y2OkpV0rYoP1EFXav8FE6tNKSo9Z9p89V3M9qk5tlCOTXuWBqigtYYbPEF42YdWPKVcVWI2p94-ZYgOiUFnx3UJIGdmUcnrlVAH6bXBJZY/s2048/C5E3F751-C9DC-45EC-B857-35D72E351F94_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2nTv3dznHcjNRTFMS5RBZMsapAq_kv9d8Y2OkpV0rYoP1EFXav8FE6tNKSo9Z9p89V3M9qk5tlCOTXuWBqigtYYbPEF42YdWPKVcVWI2p94-ZYgOiUFnx3UJIGdmUcnrlVAH6bXBJZY/s320/C5E3F751-C9DC-45EC-B857-35D72E351F94_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riga Castle from the park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The scenery was amazing as we walked in the falling snow. It looked like a movie set. </p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG67_7ITPU3I3oluPp2SsYRPRVVpa5HpOyJHTT_7vFlClf1XFE3Ow1z6u2gPppkJuCI66W1D2fCwW5OXhKWbZRLOK6VVwQLS__sTbnkq15K1-wTw_Sh564sGMJ-CUhEEZkrrfyqW5BP58/s2048/827F1861-103E-4BE7-9973-4A7C2C6F2F0F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1914" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG67_7ITPU3I3oluPp2SsYRPRVVpa5HpOyJHTT_7vFlClf1XFE3Ow1z6u2gPppkJuCI66W1D2fCwW5OXhKWbZRLOK6VVwQLS__sTbnkq15K1-wTw_Sh564sGMJ-CUhEEZkrrfyqW5BP58/s320/827F1861-103E-4BE7-9973-4A7C2C6F2F0F_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picturesque shops</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We were surprised how many people were out and about. Earlier in the day, the streets had been bare. I think people just wanted fresh air after being in lock down for so long. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe47QgnIXsipy5gL7_QODJwxBqaEDT8MGd-uXvRSTfY2oTPrmHFfm6PLwQlnf89tC_W3C4owxrfP9R5kpzHsnrQTRgs_XUWOVlc-g2Dh7_603nKQ-Pds1oS4i2VT40AUe3E8K_ML4iQk/s2048/B3E72B82-81F5-4C00-8A09-3F1A4C8BEC27_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEe47QgnIXsipy5gL7_QODJwxBqaEDT8MGd-uXvRSTfY2oTPrmHFfm6PLwQlnf89tC_W3C4owxrfP9R5kpzHsnrQTRgs_XUWOVlc-g2Dh7_603nKQ-Pds1oS4i2VT40AUe3E8K_ML4iQk/s320/B3E72B82-81F5-4C00-8A09-3F1A4C8BEC27_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Typical street scene<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It will be a night to be remembered for many years to come.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JjyuMmWX-iMVAQfhDrr2_5n-mNnw7h4GT7Zgd_624uiDLXmsKjvFVGbzZuqi6h7JjOxi4_jl-e_4OxtPEZ85HGMGwUMedCaATKN4Oa_6o00mgq40tRqxurNngHOCVbvAlGFjAyxd9Yw/s2048/ACB9F44A-7C2D-4EB6-B7FF-9D51711D5D55_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JjyuMmWX-iMVAQfhDrr2_5n-mNnw7h4GT7Zgd_624uiDLXmsKjvFVGbzZuqi6h7JjOxi4_jl-e_4OxtPEZ85HGMGwUMedCaATKN4Oa_6o00mgq40tRqxurNngHOCVbvAlGFjAyxd9Yw/s320/ACB9F44A-7C2D-4EB6-B7FF-9D51711D5D55_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icy tree branches</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Later in the evening, the snow turned more to freezing rain coating the trees. The icy trees sparkled in the street lights. It was magical to say the least - and rather wet to walk in. :) </p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiy6Js9Gs06zF6Ph_iEtIzxdMMOVH9f0yMqR3f2_-aMLC5LlhSKYFWgM9xY6spUmR8qBh0WOCvTA1Vyev9K0D49rbbe1Tg8i_0GMInUL7ixvxGXSJ2H7DG0dOQ6t65Ng1pLlHaAxYGaU/s2048/D624B92A-D9ED-49EA-9D33-1E9A162E32DA_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1677" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiy6Js9Gs06zF6Ph_iEtIzxdMMOVH9f0yMqR3f2_-aMLC5LlhSKYFWgM9xY6spUmR8qBh0WOCvTA1Vyev9K0D49rbbe1Tg8i_0GMInUL7ixvxGXSJ2H7DG0dOQ6t65Ng1pLlHaAxYGaU/s320/D624B92A-D9ED-49EA-9D33-1E9A162E32DA_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A coffee shop in a small park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuFhYljewawE5vEmzKeLqwqXyJ9kHt7YxwxObApK6chz1Sqoqh4cAvWc4K03t_k7hJlNRIQEZV6ozFbk1OmTedTCByK0niqOrdQ2ZS9zlDdVx7QQUpRFjKC4rZrYhVzk-VKxjjZoNfoM/s2048/C856A655-501F-4C66-A67E-E4D535D2E496_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuFhYljewawE5vEmzKeLqwqXyJ9kHt7YxwxObApK6chz1Sqoqh4cAvWc4K03t_k7hJlNRIQEZV6ozFbk1OmTedTCByK0niqOrdQ2ZS9zlDdVx7QQUpRFjKC4rZrYhVzk-VKxjjZoNfoM/s320/C856A655-501F-4C66-A67E-E4D535D2E496_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the Daugava River</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-85362875742621975342020-12-23T00:00:00.152-08:002020-12-23T00:00:02.597-08:00Merry Christmas from Riga!<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIx8hqyYhZXveRKGpWPo_-zjV5LXKWLfQIKld6n4w8KDsJB4OYfnxJ4R0kXBrV4QQ_1GAqHKQvYgfxv6FEbVn59Zd8r4iAslRjhrmD_pJwwKpoXfDaKtZRSxcAoh-m2NU53Lt0_kbS_E/s2048/813F14B4-667A-4493-AE78-E17C74316D62.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIx8hqyYhZXveRKGpWPo_-zjV5LXKWLfQIKld6n4w8KDsJB4OYfnxJ4R0kXBrV4QQ_1GAqHKQvYgfxv6FEbVn59Zd8r4iAslRjhrmD_pJwwKpoXfDaKtZRSxcAoh-m2NU53Lt0_kbS_E/s320/813F14B4-667A-4493-AE78-E17C74316D62.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of the Black Heads </td></tr></tbody></table>After our month-long visit to the States, we returned to Riga last week. I'd like to share some seasonal decorations with you. This is our first Christmas in Latvia, so I can't really compare the beauty of the Christmas lights to last year. I'm sure that Christmas in Riga is very toned down from the usual celebration. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>We've seen several large decorated trees around Old Town as we've walked the small area. The trees are beautiful, but in between there aren't a lot of lights. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmXtfXUz3GqrJVpoCAMsZZMdFUeN9_eJjaMGqA9tei7A5oThu3m8lCpSFVdEyF0bTtHVpp4ZyZtgGYw6T6yGSHpnunb8RNCAqNXOtWhpXMSprLzJbdYzwfCvr6Go_PqmB6s-CupPEUvs/s2048/22E3D1EC-A9FA-4AAD-B798-C4FDD9048337_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmXtfXUz3GqrJVpoCAMsZZMdFUeN9_eJjaMGqA9tei7A5oThu3m8lCpSFVdEyF0bTtHVpp4ZyZtgGYw6T6yGSHpnunb8RNCAqNXOtWhpXMSprLzJbdYzwfCvr6Go_PqmB6s-CupPEUvs/s320/22E3D1EC-A9FA-4AAD-B798-C4FDD9048337_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dom Square </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>I know that there is usually a large Christmas market in Dom Square which is about two blocks from our house. The square is usually bursting with small huts where vendors are selling lots of goodies and mulled wine, plus the Christmas decorations that tourists like. </p><p>We did witness that last year when we were in Riga on January 8 to search for an apartment. This year it's completely bare except for the large tree in front of the Cathedral. <br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLkW_S4kFcm0AcvgeReallptSCvKkDsg4PDlX6ecPT5l-_F6aWpWyiUKS2f3TAa1u2l7QSarmCPWu4Nr5VVXkf9URmlTgK993q3AzJByL9FzFRAc5axVqaFEl1ujhziuehyZcLmOpdrA/s2048/8DF23A52-7D8D-4C86-A5A6-1A1FB6F9BD5C.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLkW_S4kFcm0AcvgeReallptSCvKkDsg4PDlX6ecPT5l-_F6aWpWyiUKS2f3TAa1u2l7QSarmCPWu4Nr5VVXkf9URmlTgK993q3AzJByL9FzFRAc5axVqaFEl1ujhziuehyZcLmOpdrA/w200-h150/8DF23A52-7D8D-4C86-A5A6-1A1FB6F9BD5C.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown decorations</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br />Since daylight hours are from 9:00 to 3:45 at this time of the year, Christmas lights are very important to Latvians. We haven't seen the sun at all since our return since it's always gloomy and rainy here. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs8yl6i7vDKMLHFgcpX5wJWxKRuC9pQjmGof4PFCy-9LoMMOOs5olfTdJJUdBM7HvWanPjifbcD3fUw77iKBjqZnXubX2PdHw-Dua4eyYOVU-eTsErih9K9dkgiuyEwVstgtMb9qMTBs/s2048/78099D92-E85A-4D01-ADB7-F91F8E234A48.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs8yl6i7vDKMLHFgcpX5wJWxKRuC9pQjmGof4PFCy-9LoMMOOs5olfTdJJUdBM7HvWanPjifbcD3fUw77iKBjqZnXubX2PdHw-Dua4eyYOVU-eTsErih9K9dkgiuyEwVstgtMb9qMTBs/w200-h150/78099D92-E85A-4D01-ADB7-F91F8E234A48.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riga City Hall</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>When we returned, we heard that the restrictions for the virus control were much stricter than when we left. As a result, everything is closed here except the grocery stores and pharmacies. It will be a strange Christmas indeed. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDcVVlcfQ6oapOVUdsglfT0RHpFPrB0Vmfmhl3fxKL_cWEWeNp2bfjPzBbw2PKQNTukGMdbKzhP27qTnJ2bmGxglnkcYg_zUvEanuQ4WuVRBPS_Jf7HpZu65BUeLLUzqjxdBdySNvjsA/s2048/0FFC1452-A3F1-4CA6-95BC-4E0D2040D0A9.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDcVVlcfQ6oapOVUdsglfT0RHpFPrB0Vmfmhl3fxKL_cWEWeNp2bfjPzBbw2PKQNTukGMdbKzhP27qTnJ2bmGxglnkcYg_zUvEanuQ4WuVRBPS_Jf7HpZu65BUeLLUzqjxdBdySNvjsA/s320/0FFC1452-A3F1-4CA6-95BC-4E0D2040D0A9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick walk in the park</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We've been quarantined for 10 days from our arrival, except for fresh air that we can get during walks in deserted spaces. That's not hard to find since the streets are pretty much empty. <div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxjlzbbNj1VkI1TLKZDCFf0o77IJT49qAI4y4PYnGnO1oEca8sKTmRGotQ87CmG6wVjBCayi64_OyYGTCAlto1xoqYQC5OJ3DOrpklIZbM0qCEPcjVNi_-KLKTufJp6Bc2P2JOaxHA-o/s2048/DBA5D25E-6130-4B79-BDB2-B7EF0924BCCE.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxjlzbbNj1VkI1TLKZDCFf0o77IJT49qAI4y4PYnGnO1oEca8sKTmRGotQ87CmG6wVjBCayi64_OyYGTCAlto1xoqYQC5OJ3DOrpklIZbM0qCEPcjVNi_-KLKTufJp6Bc2P2JOaxHA-o/s320/DBA5D25E-6130-4B79-BDB2-B7EF0924BCCE.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riga Castle</td></tr></tbody></table>Despite all these restrictions, we will celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem as we do every year. After all, that's really what Christmas is all about. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas to you all! </span><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-13712215123354711952020-11-11T00:00:00.168-08:002020-11-11T00:00:08.214-08:00A Memorable German City<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStJ2BNrY-sI4MHiGzZhsadm6eZh7-IyjpKdYnPcsp5xxSFhezncaZVKyB3Ol7Epr3HGGfa8maJRDjyZ8xFXJ45dFJTQXty3Fv9AhSCEid5A3xMsthyphenhyphen4lgY5LB3_o84XN4f0H9Tocs-jg/s2048/964FE79E-FFA7-4319-9DD8-B35DA9C5316B.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStJ2BNrY-sI4MHiGzZhsadm6eZh7-IyjpKdYnPcsp5xxSFhezncaZVKyB3Ol7Epr3HGGfa8maJRDjyZ8xFXJ45dFJTQXty3Fv9AhSCEid5A3xMsthyphenhyphen4lgY5LB3_o84XN4f0H9Tocs-jg/w400-h300/964FE79E-FFA7-4319-9DD8-B35DA9C5316B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Severi Church<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When we visited the Luther sites in our trip to Germany in 1983, we went to Erfurt to see where Martin Luther was ordained in the Erfurt Cathedral in 1507. This imposing structure sits at the crest of a hill in the city. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7ok206xsZX52a993XUd8GrYV6X-SF9rKH_wpSAEpeoPUBK_ZjFaQb8t5JLwdXJvu40T4ZmeKf6qK9mrme4sWiYxLstVoyBHSgub7wahRkKtfSErL_Hj_whRfrbV3SqPScudN-bJBjw4/s2048/B12516AA-5289-4917-9FAF-3D82D3EEA699.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7ok206xsZX52a993XUd8GrYV6X-SF9rKH_wpSAEpeoPUBK_ZjFaQb8t5JLwdXJvu40T4ZmeKf6qK9mrme4sWiYxLstVoyBHSgub7wahRkKtfSErL_Hj_whRfrbV3SqPScudN-bJBjw4/w150-h200/B12516AA-5289-4917-9FAF-3D82D3EEA699.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer size of the cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table>While we were in Germany this summer, we again visited Erfurt. The size is just as impressive today as it was back then. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The size of the building can't really be described. The altar is so far away when you're in the middle of the church that you don't realize that the candle sticks are as tall as a person. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKoL_uwiaXx1Kpq-2cwU4MuBK-BgUVLyRm0Dj-PUTI80LoqXRevtUke1ZTkURmKUbspTAyodzWIwseKLfYEswwzRwvINh8A-unFEi-AwByodpyceUKvfVbJmZDsHdNMh32M9iVmeK2eI/s2048/E75DAFD4-869A-41B9-BD83-E743CFDD699B.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKoL_uwiaXx1Kpq-2cwU4MuBK-BgUVLyRm0Dj-PUTI80LoqXRevtUke1ZTkURmKUbspTAyodzWIwseKLfYEswwzRwvINh8A-unFEi-AwByodpyceUKvfVbJmZDsHdNMh32M9iVmeK2eI/s320/E75DAFD4-869A-41B9-BD83-E743CFDD699B.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the altar<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I remember on our first visit that a woman was working on the main altar in the cathedral. She stood on top of the altar, changing the candle in the candlestick, which was her height! <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8CusNuIr9Jx-RLe0P4C_zHH4LG-nkmfWOxpwMcBjHDY5_muM8P3MSB4ozMsjbbbxh-YqhQOCdsRfgfNVEIEFsiq4qJuXL9fGJ3xuxGg-XcuG1f4Co4OuQHn7Vj3AeoeZYCMNxY6lwFA/s2048/06A05329-C223-4EAD-9A8A-C700D12646C6.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8CusNuIr9Jx-RLe0P4C_zHH4LG-nkmfWOxpwMcBjHDY5_muM8P3MSB4ozMsjbbbxh-YqhQOCdsRfgfNVEIEFsiq4qJuXL9fGJ3xuxGg-XcuG1f4Co4OuQHn7Vj3AeoeZYCMNxY6lwFA/s320/06A05329-C223-4EAD-9A8A-C700D12646C6.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking toward the organ<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p>The organ is massive also. I can't imagine worshipping in this cathedral every Sunday. I wish we could have heard music soaring to the rafters in the massive space. <br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGqOcQsYhiRNmzqU0CLPzh9GnqbtM7nKbDPIfYa-JlnuyHESEXsn4XOT275A0ljrupp_R1m61le_mBZU0T-2S2rHVah7xhVHE7SL3M99tvtRCdLdZ07nbuSZ4UAbNsbrw6P3mZWWwZ5g/s2048/AE49F091-3DDA-4BCD-B5CB-400F24B8E58B.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGqOcQsYhiRNmzqU0CLPzh9GnqbtM7nKbDPIfYa-JlnuyHESEXsn4XOT275A0ljrupp_R1m61le_mBZU0T-2S2rHVah7xhVHE7SL3M99tvtRCdLdZ07nbuSZ4UAbNsbrw6P3mZWWwZ5g/s320/AE49F091-3DDA-4BCD-B5CB-400F24B8E58B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across from Cathedral Square<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The rest of Erfurt is much more colorful than it was in 1983. Then this city was part of East Germany. We said that the rulers of this communist country didn't know what paint was. Everything was dirty and gray. </p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2tAP1LL8Ko0QBqyMWXc2jQKkVuX0PAMzXd3V0-s-tLxkLJ8Gh_yn_jLHUVt8cfj29y9kBCwSnCAV7KzOiYr5pV_YiqGCQ_hTBfL0L45lo3n5KYHjtKgOxSBrpVylJopDH87kQ8MK2Lk/s2048/E41D7922-44D9-4EAB-8938-27A39BBDEB6A.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2tAP1LL8Ko0QBqyMWXc2jQKkVuX0PAMzXd3V0-s-tLxkLJ8Gh_yn_jLHUVt8cfj29y9kBCwSnCAV7KzOiYr5pV_YiqGCQ_hTBfL0L45lo3n5KYHjtKgOxSBrpVylJopDH87kQ8MK2Lk/s320/E41D7922-44D9-4EAB-8938-27A39BBDEB6A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every color of the rainbow<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Today the buildings in the city of Erfurt are colorful and quaint as seen in the pictures. It was a joy to walk through the streets of this bright city in August. </p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislaQAzriK-a8mCWnQayNaFLKHElEsheUNe03zhPG2WGbLpx6hvvn1UPe0gl0fEeqzvC6IL5RI9BxL1WFrsnf20g3pn51yNLPw8hclIpawUa9oWc5iO4sm6yUbbonV2-n5IJ8twhW7WAg/s2048/E6F05A66-B472-4D30-81E3-1B206986B0AA_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2048" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislaQAzriK-a8mCWnQayNaFLKHElEsheUNe03zhPG2WGbLpx6hvvn1UPe0gl0fEeqzvC6IL5RI9BxL1WFrsnf20g3pn51yNLPw8hclIpawUa9oWc5iO4sm6yUbbonV2-n5IJ8twhW7WAg/w320-h245/E6F05A66-B472-4D30-81E3-1B206986B0AA_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A creek added to the scenery<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGN-0Qh9RJF6wwD1_bAYv0Pm6kIvSQGtVAs35M6hA773HajHWHvQ_plbDNYSoZ_U4WMiIl2gEe4jVL68hH_ukuw7FHgQyQT-qGWO-wIHQZSGRskz6ATCeB3P8fQ0u78D1NSmLRXsIYVo/s2048/49795CAF-6415-4D8B-9539-53B3749E56CF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="2048" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGN-0Qh9RJF6wwD1_bAYv0Pm6kIvSQGtVAs35M6hA773HajHWHvQ_plbDNYSoZ_U4WMiIl2gEe4jVL68hH_ukuw7FHgQyQT-qGWO-wIHQZSGRskz6ATCeB3P8fQ0u78D1NSmLRXsIYVo/w320-h315/49795CAF-6415-4D8B-9539-53B3749E56CF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the blue trim<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Put Erfurt on your bucket list for sure.</p></div></div>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972486610295402335.post-23277381341174599892020-11-04T00:00:00.147-08:002020-11-04T00:00:03.598-08:00Excitement in the Neighborhood<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></blockquote><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrykbY3hIuA2a4-TxVtBmohRG0MFR0HvyZPqqcQxqvckJ3GvunqPuAO7nu6NzOnC8a3UsxxKD_kIu_7i_nwzo8_vncc2BCCIqvxnaXxhn1bcTvaj7-TVjRvXFvsPMCN4_FsrysbB-gFA/s2048/F9CD9CD8-376E-4C21-B306-92FC67A72B9F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrykbY3hIuA2a4-TxVtBmohRG0MFR0HvyZPqqcQxqvckJ3GvunqPuAO7nu6NzOnC8a3UsxxKD_kIu_7i_nwzo8_vncc2BCCIqvxnaXxhn1bcTvaj7-TVjRvXFvsPMCN4_FsrysbB-gFA/s320/F9CD9CD8-376E-4C21-B306-92FC67A72B9F.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglican Church<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p> Last week we had some excitement on our quiet street. Someone rang our doorbell at 7 PM, something which never happens. My husband went downstairs to see who was there. He came back and announced that a movie crew was going to shoot a movie scene from 9:00 to 3:00 in the morning. </p><p><br /></p><p>We've never had anything exciting like that in our corner of Old Riga. I knew I wanted to share the experience with you. They were going to work by the Anglican Church which is across the street from us. I took all the pictures out of our window, so you can see how close we were. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvusH4fZ-6oZG8vFKy6IeMa9bf0As5mJKRjXSbt5V9rFIPMGD9M4qqJbKgU6qJSZNylnTfnRGYsvXSHw79EeNQtCbhpP66puB9b2Vw1iSmGmhAoC3mplgLbDnSgsEm_mHbnDOrsG5pfw/s2048/3D6924D4-2562-4C37-ADC5-D1C466408065_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvusH4fZ-6oZG8vFKy6IeMa9bf0As5mJKRjXSbt5V9rFIPMGD9M4qqJbKgU6qJSZNylnTfnRGYsvXSHw79EeNQtCbhpP66puB9b2Vw1iSmGmhAoC3mplgLbDnSgsEm_mHbnDOrsG5pfw/s320/3D6924D4-2562-4C37-ADC5-D1C466408065_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotlight in the embassy garden<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>They pulled up around 9:00 and plugged all the spot lights in. Our neighborhood was illuminated that night. They unloaded all sorts of equipment for their use. Good thing our bedroom is on the back of the apartment. We shut our bedroom door to block out the bright lights when we went to bed later on. </p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUigNdKiFhm0Ij9_9VjGE06G9vCcTCWaCKcUoFpATWDQgz5xzJ3qvJcUZh4CohfBNwk2kizQObRaHSQYbW6PKnn0kXz_Uk76B3GqI7bGZkv4ecEED53_cYYnr_WSLWeZ1e2UhmjaullZM/s2048/1611F412-94F7-40F9-9172-8040A9507D87.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUigNdKiFhm0Ij9_9VjGE06G9vCcTCWaCKcUoFpATWDQgz5xzJ3qvJcUZh4CohfBNwk2kizQObRaHSQYbW6PKnn0kXz_Uk76B3GqI7bGZkv4ecEED53_cYYnr_WSLWeZ1e2UhmjaullZM/w200-h150/1611F412-94F7-40F9-9172-8040A9507D87.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing around <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It started raining shortly after their arrival. That seemed to slow them down a bit. They didn't look all that busy. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAbkN4Ab53RslnBiiS6BGp2kEbugwQfpGMv9VPgdX7atY6c-ZPKysJosB5qViG09qqpM0TlZ2EGrbg2To1K4KqFM_2wPCX3fCRKZEzNqZ-ATLgGW5PeGjrtDq1qMzQIczx-Si5u8N5MQ/s2048/AFCF41FE-FE7C-4ED3-A230-410DE03386C5_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAbkN4Ab53RslnBiiS6BGp2kEbugwQfpGMv9VPgdX7atY6c-ZPKysJosB5qViG09qqpM0TlZ2EGrbg2To1K4KqFM_2wPCX3fCRKZEzNqZ-ATLgGW5PeGjrtDq1qMzQIczx-Si5u8N5MQ/w320-h240/AFCF41FE-FE7C-4ED3-A230-410DE03386C5_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Equipment set up</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I was surprised by all the stuff filling up our quiet street. Most of it didn't look too important - of course, it was covered up because of the rain. <br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJO5-P9QBBki9ezCRGjmSo-6SlVjVL7vbPe7_Y7vTet5W2fFApdSIBEPcPMtT3kmmYTYnHd6_qpN_NXO-v_dBmKlisjtu4oC_05uvQnHDrdhG-_sZLScZzkIaK3t_XZWqWhCTwujs3NQ/s2048/812069D2-6864-43F2-8990-8A95C4B9CF98_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJO5-P9QBBki9ezCRGjmSo-6SlVjVL7vbPe7_Y7vTet5W2fFApdSIBEPcPMtT3kmmYTYnHd6_qpN_NXO-v_dBmKlisjtu4oC_05uvQnHDrdhG-_sZLScZzkIaK3t_XZWqWhCTwujs3NQ/s320/812069D2-6864-43F2-8990-8A95C4B9CF98_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man in the right lower corner making rain<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>After the rain ceased, I could tell that they were setting up for filming a scene. A man with hoses and a very long-handled spray nozzle was practicing in the courtyard of the church. They were going to film a scene in the rain! I couldn't figure out why they waited for it to stop raining first then.</p><p><br /></p><p>I realize the pictures are all dark since it was in the night. I hope you can see what's happening. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dZMRBngW9wYRXrpo4kI6GFvWx0wbec53FKvdErD15cIz5nqLiVS9ur-BVt-UJU-qd_tJNTl3WTl6n7jAnju2Ztxc4M5mi4FGtA8gRO-dnBiXR-roR-hgqcYZT0Jg5yv-xDXx44ddzGU/s2048/1F0716D0-BE49-4C10-8662-596C6EF5674B_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dZMRBngW9wYRXrpo4kI6GFvWx0wbec53FKvdErD15cIz5nqLiVS9ur-BVt-UJU-qd_tJNTl3WTl6n7jAnju2Ztxc4M5mi4FGtA8gRO-dnBiXR-roR-hgqcYZT0Jg5yv-xDXx44ddzGU/w200-h199/1F0716D0-BE49-4C10-8662-596C6EF5674B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actors in the "rain"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>After several attempts to make it "rain," they added some stunt doubles who ran through the rain and entered a back door of the church. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouIfgx1263rjqOF-PCKBW2xgmP-LdJO1Ce8DXjd7Iga8qHlZ3NKbXJvnjYi0i3Sp5JxipV8e9ISEqnFMhkCibuwiiX1OiBMETEOiOXJvURiDpAM2t_3PqqnZaGFkn-gpjLUC74GbhhlI/s2048/83873F39-4DF0-4840-8A02-3E6B64BA7BCE_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1850" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouIfgx1263rjqOF-PCKBW2xgmP-LdJO1Ce8DXjd7Iga8qHlZ3NKbXJvnjYi0i3Sp5JxipV8e9ISEqnFMhkCibuwiiX1OiBMETEOiOXJvURiDpAM2t_3PqqnZaGFkn-gpjLUC74GbhhlI/s320/83873F39-4DF0-4840-8A02-3E6B64BA7BCE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actor disappearing in door<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>After several tests, it looked like they had figured out what they needed to do the actual shot. The "actors" ran across the courtyard in the "rain" and entered the door. I'm sure the scene that they rehearsed lasted all of two seconds. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I have no idea at all what movie they were filming. I'm sure it's something in Latvian so it doesn't really matter to me. It was interesting to watch. And I did hear someone call, "Action!" twice. I was surprised to hear this English word. </p><p><br /></p>connie cortright.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272061294816440158noreply@blogger.com0