A trip to spend a bit of time with mama - #10 Riga

Riga, pop. 606k, capital of Latvia, a former Hanseatic League city - you can see that in the beautiful Old Town. The description of the Hanseatic League reads a bit like that of the European Union. Interesting.

The legacy of being part of the Russian/Soviet Empire shows too. This was the city where at times I felt like being back in a communist country. Special shout out to the guy taking my order in a buffet near the train station who, after a question which items are vegetarian, hastily pointed and named them and then scolded me for not remembering. A tip to the owner: put the bloody labels next to the items you sell, and fire staff that shout at customers.

Tram system length: 55 km. Riga also has trolleybuses and suburban trains. From the city center you can get to the beautiful Baltic sea resort and beaches in Jūrmala in about 30 minutes by train.

Approach to Riga by bus from Vilnius. There was no train connection back in September, there is one now. Take the train, it's more comfortable and environmentally friendly.

Speaking of contrasts...there is everything in this photo: a rotting timber house, an outdoor toilet, a new car parking lot, and a Soviet skyscraper. 

The area near the main train station is a construction site.

Cars ruin cities.

More cars in the Old Town.

Lots of Ukrainian flags in Riga too.

This green roof is so pointy.

Waiting its turn.

The big long Bastejkalns park along the canal is one of the best features of central Riga. People eat lunch there, meet, rest.

Stables of the presidential residence.

Bastejkalns Park.

Bastejkalns Park.

Freedom Monument and the change of guards:

National Opera.

Vans ruin photos.

Part of the old city wall.

A map of train lines from Riga with prices in Euros. Taking the Tukums line train to Jūrmala costs 1.5 Euro one way.

I like colour coding the train lines. 

Soviet-era RVR ER2 trains.

Serious fall hazard. Hopefully soon these trains will be replaced, and platforms raised, like in Estonia.

The Rail Baltica construction in front, the old Zeppelin hangars in the back.

Refurbished with the help of EU funds, RVR ER2 to Dubulti at the Majori station. When coming back to Riga there was a man on the train who did not want to open his passport for the woman train conductor. They argued in Russian for a long while, but it did not look like anybody else wanted to help the conductor. In the end she gave up, trying to keep a straight face, but she must have been shaken inside. I think in Poland, the guy would have a very good chance to be helped off the train by other passengers or security.

 

Exploring Majori. 

 Majori reminds me of Sopot, another Baltic Sea resort town.

This Orthodox church is something out of a fairy tale.

That's the best photo of the beach I have. :-) That jacket, and a scarf, and a winter hat, were probably stolen by a shady FlixBus Riga to Tallinn driver. I liked that jacket. I bought it in Ireland. I left it on the top shelf in the bus (design error: I did not see it through the bottom of the shelf when I was taking my backpack off the shelf), reported to Flixbus, and the driver did not return them. Earlier, I saw him taking an extra passenger in Estonia for cash in hand.

This beach footpath has lighting. 

The beach is very wide, maybe build another path for bikes on the other side of the lamp posts instead of prohibiting bike riding?

Cropped out the cars.

Back in Riga.

When Rail Baltica is finished the trip to Vilnius will take 2 hours (instead of 4) and to Warsaw 5 hours (instead of 9).

The Rail Baltica terminal construction.

Latvian Academy of Sciences. Looks like a smaller sister of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw.

You can buy a ticket and get to the viewing terrace. The views are great: 

Radio and TV tower - the tallest tower in the EU, currently being renovated I think. 

Sunset over Riga.

Back on the ground. 

So many trolleybuses near the central train station.

...and trams.

This street has an imperial feel to it.

A low floor Škoda tram, 30 km/h speed limit, trees and flowers, blue sky, no car in the foreground. An almost perfect photo. Unfortunately, I didn't ride a tram in Riga because there was no ticket machine at the stop and no ticket machine on the tram, and no way of paying online.   

Birdhouses - art installation.

Orthodox Cathedral.

The central park (still Bastejkalns).

Near the powder tower on the left is the entrance to the free Latvian War Museum.

The first thing you see is a Ukrainian truck donated by Latvians and destroyed by Russians.

A model of a rail gun - I didn't realise they were using two tracks.

August 1915 evacuation trains.

Latvia went through a lot. 

Leaving Riga by bus. The biggest Ukrainian flag I saw on this trip. Again, as with Vilnius, my visit was way too short. I will try to come back when Rail Baltica is running.