Friday, September 13th

Navigated Riga without a map as the old section is compact with discernible landmarks

 Blackheads House (above), first built in 1344, was a guild for unmarried (male) merchants

Completely destroyed in 1941 by the Germans,  flattened 7 years later by the Russians

Today's structure is a complete replica, with Tourist Information on the left

Have to admire Latvian tenacity 

Found the statue of George Armitstead (Good Guy) along the canal

Mayor of Riga (1901-1912) during most of Art Nouveau period

Tremendous growth  - Turning little Riga into a world class city

Armitstead built the Latvian National Museum of Art - beautiful spacious and regal 

Good place to visit

Rain forced indoor activities

- including umbrella purchase

Also visited the 

Museum of The Occupation of Latvia (1940-1991)

Aug 23, 1939 Germany & Russia signed agreement carving up Europe (Russia got the Baltic States) thousands killed/exiled

Germany regains the Baltic States during WW2 with systematic extermination of thousands

 Baltic States returned to Russia end of WW2, communism implemented, thousands sent to Siberia 

Aug 23, 1989 citizens of the Baltic States join hands for 420 miles

Vilnius, Lithuania to Riga, Latvia to Tallin, Estonia

A peaceful demonstration for freedom 

Aug 21 1991 Latvia regains independence
(< 30 years ago)

Towering Freedom Monument has a gilded midriff 

Ventured back into the Art Nouveau area
Can't get enough of these structures and fun to watch the reactions
You gotta smile wondering about the mind creating such fantastical stuff

Tomorrow morning we get the car and head west to Kuldiga with a few stops along the way