RIGA, LATVIA

I welcome you to spend some time with me in a city on the Baltic that has a long and varied history. It is hard to believe that a city that has changed hands and political control dozens of times over its 800+ year history. Prior to the first mention of Riga as a city under the Hanseatic League [Old German-Prussian] the Romans had a small outpost there[600], but did not take too well to the cold.

In the 1500's Riga became a Luthern town ruled by the Polish-Lithuanian state. Lithuania the neighboring Baltic state at one time ruled from the Baltic Sea to the Black sea. However from time to time they had various alliances with the Poles the Finns and the Sweads.
Thus, in 1621 the Sweadish State took control of Riga only to be conquered by Peter the Great of Russia as he began to eat into the Lithuanian empire state by state.
Jump 100 years ahead, and Napolean tries to take Riga from the Russians. Close, but no cigar, the result is mass destruction of the surrounding areas which led to the present day neat street plans created during the rebuilding.

About the 1860's The Nationalistic Riga Latvian Society is formed and the First All-Latvian Song Festival takes place. The week I was there they were celebrating the Hanseatic Festival. So though Riga was still under the Tsar in the 1860's they managed to maintain some central national identity, yet it would continue to be tested for the next 100 years. Riga was one of the most important cities in Russia where Industry and International trade flourished. Mostly because they have a natural seaport. In fact, it is so desirable that even the Dutch, 60 years earlier, had a hold on nearby Jurmala Rigas' port entrance to the Baltic Sea. Jurmala is the beach resort for today's wealthy Russians. Along the beach front there are many very large mansions that reminded me of the plush estates along Ponte Vedra beach in North Florida, or the many international estates that lie along West Palm Beach. In 1918 In the capital, Riga, an independent Latvian state was declaired, and they signed a peace treaty with Russia.

That did not last long. As Hitler was taking Poland, the Red Army walked into Riga and re-established the Soviet regime. A year later mass deportations of the population to Siberia began. As the Russian-German Axis began to crumble, the Germans who had paid 2 million dollars to get control of Lithuania, and its port Klapeda 150 Kilometers South of Riga. Then Hitler decides to take back Latvia in 1944[without payment to Stalin] and would have kept it if it weren't for the pressure put on them in the west after D-Day. In October 1944 the Russians retake Riga.

It was during this battle that the famous bridge crossing the Daugava river at Vansu Tilts was destroyed. Also, the Germans heavily bombed the city, and destroyed many ancient buildings including the most Famous, St Peters. Only 3 walls were left of the great Medieval Cathederal. The Russians defeated the Germans, and immediately began another mass deportation of the civilian political and intellectual leadership to Siberia.
For the next 50 years they ruled until Peristrokia. In 1990 the undaunted Latvians declared independence and were recognized by the west. In 1998 they held a massive celebration for the 800th anniversary of Riga. From 1967 to 1980 the Cathedral was completly restored ; including the addition of and elevator to the bell tower was installed. Above,left,you'll see several Photos from this location.

Riga is the home to many embassy buildings. Outside the US Embassy I spotted this statue/fountain in the corner built into the wall The city is very old European with a basis in the grain trade and a strong. guild-merchant tradtion found in many old medieval towns.

Almost forgot to mention that there is a very large Zoo north of the city that opened in 1901. It is located on the banks of the Large shallow bay to the north west of the city near Jurmala.
While traveling through the city it is interesting to not that many people speak English, German and Latvian. The makeup of the city is 43% Latvian, and 43% Russian with the rest Ukranians and Poles and others. The city boasts of 6 large Museums; 51 Libraries; 18 Culture Centers a ZOO and the Circus. I was in the city on three different occasions, and only scratched the surface, so give yourself time to explore.