Riga--activating our new visas

We had been in Russia almost 6 months and our visas were going to expire so it was time to leave the country (again) and activate our new visas. There were some passports that needed new visas put in them so we took them with us when we left Russia and went to Riga, Latvia. I had not heard a lot about that country so it was very fun to walk around and explore. It is a beautiful city on the Baltic Sea with a lot of history. We arrived early on Thursday morning and didn't leave to come home until Saturday afternoon so there was a lot of time to enjoy the city. We walked through Old Town, visited a museum, looked at buildings, ate ice cream and pastries, dined at the Blue Cow (delicious steaks) and Klondikes (a Mexican restaurant believe it or not), took a walking tour, shopped, strolled over a bridge, watched an American movie (Clash of the Titans) in ENGLISH accompanied by a LARGE bucket of popcorn, AND found 8 or 10 groups of men playing CHESS in the park! We had a great time!!

Riga Airport

A beautiful park by our hotel on our way to Old Town.

Lock Bridge

Newly married couples put their lock on the bridge and throw the key in the water.

Old Town Riga

Riga Cathedral

Old Town City Wall

Old Town City Wall

This building is call the Cat house. On the top of the roof there are two cats. When the owner put them on the roof, they were looking in towards the house with their back sides facing out towards other buildings. The owner of the 'cat house' was upset because he had been rejected from joining the Guild which was housed in the building on the other side of the street. The owner of the other building was very upset and told him to change the direction of the cats (so that the back side of the cat was not facing his building). He would not, so they went to court. The other man won, therefore he turned the cats around.

Another picture of both cats on the Cat House.

Information Center

Our dinner at the Blue Cow.

Dandilions and daisies in the lawns.

Lilacs and lawn flowes?

Riga Old Town street.

Window box in Old Town.

The Swedish Gate in Old Town.

Wooden Shutters

Bridge looking back on Old Town.

Passing the time with CHESS!!