Rīga, Rīga, Rīga

Riga is beautiful. Art Nouveau, street musicians, winding streets.

The longer you travel, the more tips you get from other travelers. And almost all tip givers agreed. Riga was disappointing. We even briefly considered driving past it, but thankfully decided to see for ourselves.

Because Riga is beautiful. Somehow, the city manages to harmoniously combine the old and the new. There are old villas next to glass facades and somehow it looks good to me.

Additionally, there is art and music everywhere in the city - trombones and electric guitars, old men singing operas, young men belting ballads, sculptures all over the place. We often stop to marvel and dance. Henry loves music and dancing a lot, so he feels really comfortable here. We wander through the streets and alleys for 1.5 days, visit the Freedom Monument and the market halls, stroll through boutiques, buy ugly magnets, and marvel at the many contrasts.

Here, you can see just as many run-down facades as well-maintained mansions. Wealthy Russians next to extremely poor Latvians. In general, there is a Russian touch to many things here. But not unpleasant, not aggressive, just a touch. Young, fashionable, English-speaking Latvians next to old people who don't speak or understand a word of English. We sometimes communicate with hands and feet.

So, they eventually need some peace and we find a nice playground in the park under old trees. You can still faintly hear the music of a saxophonist standing on the bridge, playing Yesterday by The Beatles.

Honestly, that's how it was.

We could stay for two more days, but we leave the rather uncomfortable campsite (where, by the way, you can only pay in cash) after 2 nights and go on a hike in a bog.

I'm looking forward to it. I don't think Henry is, though.