Roaming Latvia’s Capital - Riga, Riga, Latvia

Unlike Tallinn, Riga’s Old Town is not confined within a wall. It spreads out to cover a much larger area. especially when you include the well-preserved Art Nouveau District. Something to consider when you’re planning your strategy to see the sites. It is, however, every bit as beautiful as the Estonian capital and has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So it’s a little bit the same but with its own unique personality.

Riga’s Old Town has a parkland next to it with a canal you can either cruise or walk along its banks. The parkland separates the old from the new, keeping the hustle and bustle of the modern city at bay. Riga was also part of the Hanseatic League and much of the architecture in the medieval centre reflects this. That means on a sunny day you are bound to get some beautiful pictures.

So, this is where we found ourselves on our first full day out in the city. We caught a tram around the corner from our apartment and in about 20 minutes found ourselves negotiating cobbled streets. We couldn’t help drawing comparisons with Tallinn, they share so much in common, on the surface anyway.

Outdoor terraces abound and with the returning sunshine, they were full. After some hours of exploring, we were lucky to find a seat outside Beerhouse Number 1, a small pub in Kalku Lela (No.1), one of the main thoroughfares. It’s a great place for people watching and had about 60 beers on tap from around the world. To find it, look for the Stella Artois and Alus Krogs signs. With so much on offer, this place became home base after our wanderings each day. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).