2015: Exploring the Nordic and Baltic States: BP (Before Putin)

No one wants to see pictures of travel through airports and plane interiors. I had a 5 am taxi; Stuart and John had a later one about 8 am. We all connect to Copenhagen via Air Baltic, but Stuart and John can catch direct flights while I have 3 more legs to get to Bozeman. We booked these flights in December or January, so schedules often change. Delta blessed me with a 6-hour gap in Minneapolis, removing one flight for the summer months, thus offering plenty of time to draft and post the final days for this blog. Total travel time: 29 hours.

Nancy and Eli met me at the Bozeman Airport, midnight. Too dark for a photo, but Eli again rates as:

Dog of the Day

I hope you enjoyed this blog and will consider a similar adventure.

John captured the final photo:

With one day remaining, I chose to explore Riga's neighborhoods across the river to the west. Latvia's impressive National Library, several office towers, and some large hotels have been built along the west side of the river. Riga is some distance inland from the Baltic Sea. Riga neighborhoods were interesting, featuring a mix of construction and architectural styles. One area of homes clustered around a beautiful park with a small lake would equal any western upscale neighborhood. Others contained buildings that appeared abandoned at first glance, but most were occupied. As in Tallinn, often windows had been replaced, insulation added, and the interiors were refurbished. Like Estonia, Latvia has invested in infrastructure improvements, housing, and neighborhood schools. Many streets were still cobblestone, and bike lanes were fairly common, but of mixed quality.

Latvia National Library

Swede Bank Corporate Tower

River Bridge

Apartments. Note the new windows in the second floor units.

Occupied Apartment Building

Wood Frame Apartments

Cat of the Day

Bike Friday Posing for Cat of the Day

More Refurbished Apartments

Partly Refurbished

Fully Remodeled

Cobblestone Street Repair Crew

Westside Park with Lake

Old and New

Elementary School Mural

Auxiliary School Building

Door #1

Door #2

Door #3

The following photos were taken by John at the main market.

Fruit Vendor

Knitted Goods

Fruit and Mushrooms

Wooden Objects

Nuts, Seeds, Dried Fruit

Baker at Neighborhood Market

Yes, I had the chocolate iced and filled croissant.

Vegetable and Fruit Vendor

Vegetable and Fruit Vendor. Another of many.

After packing my bike, I further explored the cobbled streets and lanes of Riga, happening upon an art opening. Surprisingly, everyone was taking photos of the art.

Gallery Opening #1

Atmosphere. Focused on his instrument, the musician never look up, not once.

Gallery Opening #2

My Favorite

Bike Theft?

Layered Slices

Riga was filled with artists of all types, very talented. Musicians played in underpasses, streets, and many of the outdoor restaurants. Some outside dining venues featured multiple stages and nearly continuous live music in the evening.