Riga, Latvia
As we sailed up the River Daugava, the sun crested the horizon and spotlighted the remarkable Vansu Bridge and a nearby contemporary office building. On the opposite bank, church steeples of Old Town Riga projected above the secular buildings.
It was 1201 when Bishop Albert, accompanied by 23 vessels filled with crusaders from Gotland, captured the area around the mouth of the river and founded Riga. Merchants from Lubeck and Westphalia arrived as well as Livonians, Latvians, and Russians. Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1282. Soon it was the main loading port for Russian furs, wax, wood, tar, potash, tallow, and leather. Imports included cloth, salt, herring, wine, beer, and spices.
Today Riga is the largest of the Baltic capitals. Besides its old town, the modern city is renowned for its marvelous collection of Art Nouveau buildings. After loading on coaches, we were given a panoramic tour of the downtown area followed by a walking tour, which was dampened but not spoiled by sporadic fits of rain.
The first highlight of the morning was a dance show staged just for us. The Dzintarins, a folk dance ensemble composed of the cutest Latvian children, entertained us. A little later, we entered the 13th century Dome cathedral for a short recital played on one of the world’s largest pipe organs, with over 6,000 pipes.
Back on board, historian Collen Batey continued with her presentation on the Vikings; and later, historian Olga Stavrakis, Collen, and naturalist Sharon Grainger moderated a panel discussion about the characteristics of medieval cities.
After dinner, our National Geographic photographer Tomasz Tomaszewski showed a very powerful documentary about the famous and influential photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Another great day in the Baltic region.
As we sailed up the River Daugava, the sun crested the horizon and spotlighted the remarkable Vansu Bridge and a nearby contemporary office building. On the opposite bank, church steeples of Old Town Riga projected above the secular buildings.
It was 1201 when Bishop Albert, accompanied by 23 vessels filled with crusaders from Gotland, captured the area around the mouth of the river and founded Riga. Merchants from Lubeck and Westphalia arrived as well as Livonians, Latvians, and Russians. Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1282. Soon it was the main loading port for Russian furs, wax, wood, tar, potash, tallow, and leather. Imports included cloth, salt, herring, wine, beer, and spices.
Today Riga is the largest of the Baltic capitals. Besides its old town, the modern city is renowned for its marvelous collection of Art Nouveau buildings. After loading on coaches, we were given a panoramic tour of the downtown area followed by a walking tour, which was dampened but not spoiled by sporadic fits of rain.
The first highlight of the morning was a dance show staged just for us. The Dzintarins, a folk dance ensemble composed of the cutest Latvian children, entertained us. A little later, we entered the 13th century Dome cathedral for a short recital played on one of the world’s largest pipe organs, with over 6,000 pipes.
Back on board, historian Collen Batey continued with her presentation on the Vikings; and later, historian Olga Stavrakis, Collen, and naturalist Sharon Grainger moderated a panel discussion about the characteristics of medieval cities.
After dinner, our National Geographic photographer Tomasz Tomaszewski showed a very powerful documentary about the famous and influential photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Another great day in the Baltic region.
