Art Noveau Riga Latvia

10b  Elizabetes Riga

Riga is one of centers of Art Noveau with more than one third of the buildings of the central district built in the style. Seeing photographs online of the Art Noveau buildings was the main thing that drew me to Riga. My mission today  to visit the  main street Elizabetes, which intersects Brivibas Boulevard also Alberta Street. It turned out to be quite a hike from my hotel to the area.

When I finally arrived at 10b Elizabetes street I actually squealed with delight, honest.  I stood gaping, and taking photos. I continued to  Albert street, stopping looking smiling snapping. Here are some of the photos.

33 Elizabetes Mikhail Eisenstein

Albert Street 13

4 Abert Eisenstein


 

Albert Street 2 a

I had been wandering for hours and realized just hungry I was; I took a break and had something to eat  I looked at several places but Lidojosa Varde "the Flying Frog" menu looked the most appealing. I sat outside and after trying to make up my mind settled on

yummy dinner

Riga walking tour

I had looked into walking tours of Riga and found Tours in Riga and decided to take their Old Riga free tour. I like this kind of tour it is free but you can tip based on how good you think a tour is. I had an awesome tour with Toms he was a very interesting fun guide and ranks near the top of guides I have had. The tour met at 11 am in front of St Peters Church He plenty of interesting stories as we walked around Riga. The highlight of the tour for me was at the end he sang a bit of a song for us in his native language,

Today was one of the days my leg was acting up and on the tour was a woman and her family from Norway the woman was there celebrating her 70th Birthday with her children and she decided part way through the tour that she should hold on to me when we walked to help me with my knee and I admit it was a big help doing that.

House of Blackheads

dragon

lady from Norway

Town Musicians of Bremen

There is a sculpture of four animals, a donkey, a dog a cat and a rooster in Riga that is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

After the tour ended I decided to set out in search of the Art Noveau section of Riga, that area is covered in another spot on my blog. 

A stroll around Riga

After a Buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room which was located on the 7th floor with amazing views from the windows. I headed out to explore Riga.

I walked across the park to The Nativity of Christ Cathedral Eastern Orthodox I was very impressed by the dome sparkling in the sunlight. I took some photos outside of the Cathedral, I stepped inside the gate to take photos from the side and back but I asked to leave. I guess you are not allowed on the ground. I then read the sign about head covering but the priest?? who asked me to leave indicated I did not need my head covered so I went inside. It was beautiful inside.  There was a baptism going on in one corner and I stayed away from that area. I light a candle and walked around admiring the altars. 

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral of Riga the Cathedral survived both wars but in the 1960's the Soviet authorities closed it and remelted the bells and converted it into a planetarium  Republic House of Knowledge. It also was used as a restaurant before restoration work began in the 90's.

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral

the dome 

at the entrance

the cat

Riga cat house it know for the 2 cat sculptures with raised tails and arched back on the roof. The story is the owner of the house wanted the cats placed with tails turned towards the house of the Great Guild because he has a grudge against its members for not allowing him to join the guild.  After a lengthy court battle the cats were turned around.

cats on 2 towers

I walked down side street off the main square and came across this beautiful little church Virgin of Anguish Roman Catholic Church (our Lady of Sorrows). I went inside looked around offered some prayers lit a candle. The church was first built in 1761 as a wooden church and restored in 1895.

Inside Virgin of Anguish 

Lady of Sorrows (Virgin of Anguish)

Vansu Bridge Daugava river

I was getting hungry and decided to check out a few restaurants I had passed this place called Key to Riga and I was handed a little card;  and since they had an outside eating area I decided it was a good place to have dinner, and enjoy the views and watch the people go by. After looking at the menu I decided on a dish named "Slap from the granny" tenderized and fried pork schnitzel, served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, I looked at the card and saw that I could receive a free glass of wine. It was a interesting dish although a bit rich. I enjoyed people going by and some people doing toasts.

Outside Key of Riga

Slap from the granny

 

Welcome to Riga and the Wishing Tree

arriving in Riga

I booked a shuttle to Krakow airport,  and checked in at 10 am for the noon flight to Warsaw and then I changed planes to fly to Riga. Upon arriving in Riga I was able to book a cab at the airport through Baltic Taxi I prepaid, it was a set price of 14 euro and received a voucher and walked outside and a cab was there so I handed my voucher to the driver. I gave my driver a young woman a good tip I think she was surprised I was just happy for a set price and not being ripped off.  It was a quick drive to the Hotel Roma which was right at the beginning of the city center and across from Kronvalda Park and Riga Canal.

After I checked in and rested a bit  decided to take a walk towards through Kronvalda Park which was right across the street from the hotel.  I saw a tree that was covered with ribbons after asking some people I found it was the wishing tree. 

Wishing Tree

ribbons blowing in the wind

Kronvalda Park

The Dance of Peace

Next up was the Freedom Monument which honors the Soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence 1918-1920. It was unveiled in 1935 symbol of freedom, independence and sovereignty of Latvia it is 138 feet high, affectionately known as "Milda".

(Surprisingly during the Soviet years The Freedom Monument was never demolished. The communist government reinterpreted the star toting Liberty as Mother Russia caring for its three newest members of the Union Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  "Milda" was strictly off limits, and anyone seen placing flowers at the base were promptly arrested and sent to Siberia-Lonely Planet)

Freedom Monument from hotel Roma

Tevzemei un Brivibai for Fatherland and Freedom

Lady Liberty

Honor Guard

Opera House

I was getting a bit hungry and decided to try Elkor Food and Wine they had various quiche and breads and pastry.  I had a broccoli quiche, with a glass of quince wine, something different that I enjoyed. Then it was off to my room. It stays light outside quite late this time of year and I was amazed looking out my window that it was almost 11.

quiche

Lovely big room