Day One Hundred Forty - May 25

Our arrival time is 09:30 into Riga but we pass the entrance to the harbour around 08:30. During our sail in we pass huge mounds of petroleum coke that are being transferred to ocean freighters. This type of product is used for heating purposes.

We have made our way to the cruise terminal where the German cruise ship Mien Schiff is already docked.

The gangway is on three today and I make my way to it. Unfortunately, the pier is about three feet above the gangway, so an alternative is needed. Passengers will need to leave the ship on the fourth floor. All this confusion has caused a 40-minute delay in leaving the ship and we will still depart at the scheduled time.

The distance into the Old Town is one kilometer and a shuttle service has been provided by Oceania. I climb onto the bus which is becoming crowded as many people have chosen to explore on themselves. For this reason, I leave the bus to make my own way into town.

I catch up with friends, Keith and Ilona to visit the city today. Yesterday through research there were a few places I wished to see so it is off exploring.

We are on the same side of the river Daugava as the Old Town which is not too far. A quick walk-through Old Town we are on our way to The Freedom Monument. It is a memorial constructed for the fallen soldiers fighting for Latvia Independence (1918-1920). Two army guards stand motionless for 30 minutes with rifles at their side. Every thirty minutes the guards leave their position at the base of the monument and march twice along each side of it and then return to their posts. The guards are changed every hour between 09:00 to 18:00.

One of the churches to see is the Golden Dome Nativity of Christ Cathedral. We are prevented from taking pictures in the cathedral, but I do see what looks like a mass. A priest is leading the prayers with a small congregation who are singing and then going up to an open coffin to kiss someone or something in it.

Continuing along Brivibas Iela we come to an exhibition on the history of the KFB in Latvia. I am not sure whether this was the actual building but if it was then we were able to go into the building and then leave it. Something people going into a KGB office generally do not do. Sadly, no one was available for us to buy tickets.

Okay it is off to visit the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Old St. Gertrude. It has a long association with the city's German community.

When we leave the church a Canadian Flag is flying over the offices for the Canadian Embassy. Our walk continues past several other Embassies including Ireland and Belgium.

I wanted to see Albert Street where you have art neco in all its splendor. Our OLife enrichment lecturer, Dr. Hutt indicated that a part of the Berlin wall was at one end of the street however I did not see it.

We pass the Riga's Graduate School of Law and the Stockholm School of Economics on our way back to the Old Town.

A quick stop at Patisserie Konditoreja where the three of us have a pastry, coffee, and a hot chocolate for me. Wow four countries before I find my Danish pastry.

All fueled, it is time to look at the Old Town which has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first building we see is the cat tower. Legend has it that the house builder was not invited to become a member of the guild, so he built his house with the cat showing its backside as a means of protest.

The market square includes a guild as well as several restaurants.

A final stop before returning to the ship was to the House of Blackheads also in the Old Town. Its red brick façade building was first erected for the brotherhood of blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants back in the 14th century. The general public is allowed to visit the building however on this day it was closed.

Back on ship prior it is off to Trivia where our team had a successful day placing second. There are only four of us now as one of the members tested positive for Covid.

It is still out there and some passengers neglect to wear masks when back on board as all Covid restrictions have been removed in the ports we are in.

Leaving Riga at our scheduled departure time of 17:00 we are off to Tallinn, Estonia, 275 nautical miles away.