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For a few years, I needed to go to the Baltic international locations. Three small international locations lastly gained independence from the previous Soviet Union in 1991.
Residing in Sweden thirty-five years in the past, I accompanied the oldest son in sixth grade to Tallinn, Estonia, shortly after the liberation. The number of meals was scarce, and all the things appeared poor. In any case these years of independence, I’m certain the residing customary has risen.
Final yr, at a Half Marathon race in Copenhagen, I seen a younger man in a Nationwide Latvian outfit handing out postcards with invites to run a half marathon in Riga in October 2023.
From the beginning space within the Previous Metropolis of Riga
I used to be excited to lastly take the prospect to see one other capital metropolis in a Baltic nation. Having come residence to Denmark, I’m nonetheless excessive from all of the impressions.
Latvia has a extremely advanced historical past. Germans, Swedes, Poles, The Russian Empire, the Nazies and the Soviet Union have dominated them. They lastly gained independence after the First World Battle, solely to lose it once more earlier than the Second World Battle.The previous metropolis of Riga is from the Center Ages and has buildings from completely different durations and kinds. Some had been destroyed in the course of the Second World Battle and rebuilt of their former splendour. A number of parks and canals reduce by way of the previous metropolis, including to the wonder.Unforgettable had been the conversations we had with Latvian individuals. They had been extremely educated in language and tradition, historical past and artwork and nonetheless humble and sincere concerning the darkish sides of their historical past.
Many street reparations occurred within the interior metropolis, however many home facades a bit additional out had been worn and look unattended by way of the final hundred years.
We felt protected in every single place within the metropolis and on public transportation. Musicians had been performing within the streets and underground passages, gathering some cash.
A view from St. Peter’s church in Riga
The cardboard that invited me to Roga
