Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
The museum of the occupation of Latvia (Latvijas Okupācijas muzejs) at Rīga is currently at a temporary location. A new and modern building is created next to the town hall and the Melngalvju nams. Until its completion the museum can be found in Raiņa bulvāris 7 – not for from the freedom monument. There it is only a small collection of texts, images and some items in display cabinets.
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The national art museum (Latvijas Nacionālais mākslas muzejs) of Rīga, Latvia can be found close to the art nouveau quarter of the city within the Esplanāde park. It is located in a wonderful building designed by Wilhelm Neumann and dateing back to the year 1905. It contains 52.000 art works and is the most important collection of works of Latvian artists – including paintings and sculptures.
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The main railway station of Rīga, Latvia (Rīga Pasažieru) is located close to the city center, well-connected with busses and a quite modern one with good shops in the basement. It was once a dead-end station with a beautiful station building that was torn down in 1965 and replaced with the current modern one.
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When you’re at Rīga, Latvia you will experience the Daugava river as a mighty and wide stream located near the city center and dividing the old town from the newer parts of the city. You need to cross it to go to the airport, the botanical garden or – by train – if you want to visit Jūrmala. The river is 1020 kilometers long, begins in Russia and passes through Belorussia and Latvia to the gulf of Rīga where it floats into the Baltic sea.
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The central market (Centrāltirgus) of Rīga, Latvia is located directly next to the bus station and not far away from the railway station. You can’t miss it because it is located within iconic buildings once used to built airships. On 72.000 squaremeters you can buy fruit, cheese, meat, fish, flowers and more. The market plays an important role in everyday life and I’ve never seen so many people accessing a market.
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I really love sky bars as they combine good drinks with good views, give you the chance for a nice picture of the city and you can really enjoy sundown. At Rīga, Latvia you just have to leave the old town in direction of the freedom monument, pass the orthodox church and than you’ll already see the hotel Latvia, belonging to the Radisson hotel chain. The old skyscraper is the highest building in that area and therefore the best spot for a bar like this.
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The nativity of Christ cathedral (Kristus Piedzimšanas pareizticīgo katedrāle) at Rīga, Latvia is a wonderful Russian-orthodox church located in the Esplanāde park. It is the biggest orthodox church in the Baltic states and was created from 1876 on in byzantine revival style. It has five cupolas partially covered with gold and a 43 meters high bell tower.
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The freedom monument (Brīvības piemineklis) of Rīga, Latvia is a town’s landmark of the city and a symbol for the national sovereignity of Latvia. It was created during the first Latvian independence between 1931 and 1935 and was built as a replacement for the statue of Peter the Great once standing there. Even when Latvia lost its independence again the statue could be preserved.
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There are numerous places in Rīga, Latvia where you can enjoy traditional cuisine. Often with wooden outdoor areas in front of the restaurant as it is usual in Eastern Europe. A good one is the Vecmeita ar kaki (which translates to ‘maiden with a cat’) next to the unimposing but important castle of Rīga.
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When a German hears of a statue of St. Roland he will most probably think of the one standing at Bremen, Germany. But you can also find one at Rīga, Latvia between the town hall and the Melngalvju nams. The first version from the 14th century was a wooden one which was replaced in 1894 by a version made of sandstone. The current one is a replica – the original one from 1894 can be found within the St. Peter’s church.
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