Our Cultural Blitzkrieg of Riga
On our second full day in Latvia we returned to Old Town and this time we were determined to see the other sights we missed earlier on. By this time, I felt more at ease and had actually been enjoying our stay since the initial scare upon our arrival. I told myself, "How many people get the opportunity to visit Riga?" I counted my blessings and was very happy.
Due to the preponderance of negative reviews I read about the city prior to the trip, I truly and honestly thought we were going to get robbed and attacked in this otherwise pretty city. I cannot emphasize enough the absolutely angry and scary reviews written on the net by numerous visitors to the city in the past years. Even our local bank told us we couldn't use our ATM card to withdraw money in Riga or Latvia. We had a completely different experience altogether. It was either we got lucky or Riga was just not the horrible, filthy, dangerous, and sleazy city we thought it would be.
Perhaps we had a totally different experience altogether because we did not go to the sleazy bars and clubs many travelers wrote a lot about. We were not interested nor did we plan on it. We just wanted to sightsee and immerse ourselves in the culture. We stayed clear of the clubs, were wary of strangers who appeared too friendly, and everything was fine.
So on this day of cultural discovery, we began our exploration a block away from the Hanza Hotel, our home away from home in Riga. There was this huge brown brick building supposedly a remnant of the Soviet rule in Latvia. It was the Zinatnu Akademija or the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
The Zinatnu Akademija or the Latvian Academy of Sciences
Though dated in style, I liked the building a lot. It looked grand and imposing.
The Zinatnu Akademija or the Latvian Academy of Sciences sign right above the main entrance
For a few LATS anyone interested can go up to the 17th floor for a bird's eye view of the city.
The main entrance to the imposing Zinatnu Akademja or the Latvian Academy of Sciences
A hammer and sickle engraved on a stone panel on one wall of the Zinatnu Akademija
A full view of the Zinatnu Akademija or the Latvian Academy of Sciences
Then on another block nearby there was an equally beautiful Russian Orthodox Church. We wanted to go inside. However, there was a sign in English that was very explicit in prohibiting entrance to visitors wearing shorts. Since both of us were dressed in our khakis that morning, we decided to just view the interior from the doorway. The gilded altar was very impressive looking. Just like many churches of this denomination, photography was strictly prohibited.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral close to our hotel in Riga, the Hanza Hotel
Right outside the church was this little structure that contained religious icons similar to the one we saw in Tallinn's Old Town.
A closer view of the Russian Orthodox Church close to the Hanza Hotel
We also saw this old wooden structure close to our hotel in Riga. It looked like a local residence.
The Latvian National Opera House
Originally built in 1863, it underwent full restoration in 1995. It is said to have excellent acoustics and is regularly used for the opera, ballet, and pop music concerts. The building's exterior resembles Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet Theater.
The facade of the Latvian National Opera House
St. John's Church
The main altar inside St. John's Church
St. John's ornate ceiling and its organ
The pulpit
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
In front of St. Peter's Lutheran Church
We passed St. Peter's Church several times ever since we arrived in Riga and began touring its Old Town. However, I kept forgetting its name and mistook it for another church. Given the number of churches we had seen by then, it became quite challenging matching names to the actual churches and cathedrals. Unlike the majority of churches we visited, St. Peter's Church charged admission. I say it was the least visited church in Old Town since very few tourists were willing to pay.
Inside St. Peter's Lutheran Church
I guess the hop on hop off sightseeing bus is everywhere now. This was Riga's colorful version which we saw parked at the Latvian Riflemen Monument.
Riga's City Hall at the town square. Just like the House of Blackbeards, this building was destroyed during the Second World War but has been recently rebuilt.
The key to the City of Riga at City Hall
The Dome Cathedral
Located in the square of the same name, the Dome Cathedral was first built in 1211 and it used to be called Bishop Albert's Cathedral. It is a mixture of late Romanesque, early Gothic, and Baroque architectural styles.
The square in which the cathedral is located is full of outdoor cafes and restaurants
I didn't pay much attention to the Cat House the first time I saw it. Compared to the other Art Noveau buildings in the Old Town, it was rather plain. What made it historical and stand out from the rest were the cats on its turret roofs.
The façade of the Cat House
Legend has it that there used to be a wealthy merchant who sought membership in the Riga Tradesman Guild but was denied. In retribution, he had two angry looking cats with arched backs made and placed them with their rear turned and facing the Great Guild.
The Cat House with one of the cats on one of the turret roofs now properly facing the Guild Hall.
Here's a closer view of the copper cat with the arched back right on the turret roof of the building facing the exclusive Guild Hall
A plaque identifying the Cat Building
At present there are now two guild halls standing next to each other in Old Town. One is the Great Guild while the other was simply called the Small Guild Hall.
The Small Guild Hall
Another view of the Small Guild Hall
Sign of the Small Guild Hall
The Great Guild Hall
A quiet alley in Old Town
Standing next to the Laima Clock at the Freedom Monument
Padlocks on a bridge in the park next to the Freedom Monument. They were placed there by newly married couples to show their eternal love for each other. The keys to the padlocks were supposedly thrown into the river below never to be retrieved again.
The hill within the park next to the Freedom Monument
A view of the park and the Freedom Monument from the hill
Another view of St. Jacob's from the hill
A school house in downtown Riga
Our pizza from CiliPica
We had dinner here on our second day. This pizza place had branches all over the city from the joint Origa Mall and Train Station to Old Town to the Freedom Monument. We chose the latter since it had the nicest location. The pizza was good and since it catered to the locals, the price was not inflated. We ordered the three seafood pizza and it was delicious.
Meanwhile, back in the Galeria Centers, we viewed the art exhibit they had on the ground floor. We had to buy something at RIMI Supermarket there anyway.
Inside the Galeria Centers Mall
