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 Now, this is a country I’d like to spend more time in! Very friendly people, with a most civilised business
manner, and hard at work to repair the damage done by the Soviets.
Riga, the capital, has a wonderful Old Town, and it is a pleasure to take a walk there.
It is possible to go to the top of the spire of the “Doms” (seen below, second spire from left), and the view is quite spectacular:
The centre of the Old Town is the Filharmonie Square...
... and this just a couple of streets along.
Since the country was German-dominated for centuries, it is not surprising to find German language gravestones in the main cathedral:
Of course, there also are some more modern bits to the town.
A last glimpse, before going home...
This is a potted history of Latvia until independence. Somehow, it makes sad reading - work out how many years of independence they’ve actually had:
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2500
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BC First settlements of Latvian ancestors along the Baltic coast.
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1201
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AD Riga is founded by German bishop Albert. German crusaders conquer Latvia and the
German domination continues for 700 years.
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1282
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Riga joins the Hanseatic League.
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1522
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Reformation brought to Latvia by German missionaries.
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1561
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Riga acquires the rights of a free city.
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1629
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Riga and Northern Latvia are occupied by Sweden.
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1710
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Russia wins over Sweden and Northern Latvia goes under Russian control.
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1812
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For fear of Napoleon's attack the suburbs of Riga are burned down.
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1819
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Serfdom is abolished in Latvia.
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1862-1885
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Increase of the Latvian national consciousness.
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1873
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The first all Latvian Song Festival is held in Riga.
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1918
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Latvia declares independence.
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1921
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Latvia's independence is recognised by the international community.
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1934
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Dictatorship for the next six years of the president Karlis Ulmanis.
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1940
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Latvia is occupied by Soviets.
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1941
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Deportations to Siberia begin.
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1941
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Nazis invade Latvia.
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1944
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Soviet army occupies Latvia again.
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1949
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Massive deportations to Siberia.
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1987
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First open protests since the war against the Soviet rule take place at the Freedom Monument.
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1989
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Latvians along with the Lithuanians and the Estonians protest against the 50th anniversary of the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by joining their hands in a human chain stretching from Tallinn to Vilnius.
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1991
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The battle for independence won.
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1999
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The Parliament (Saeima) elects Latvia's first female president, Canadian-Latvian Vaira
Vike-Freiberga.
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