Riga city of Art Deco

Soviet imposing monument
see all photos »

We arrived from Latvia on a sleeper train we caught at around 7.00am. We were not sleeping on this train as the journey would only be around five hours but at that time me in the morning there were plenty still snoring.  There were around four carriages loads of people from the Ukraine on bunks arranged in groups of four. Hard benches with a bed roll and thin duvet over the top.  Men and women all mixed together there seemed to be no problem with modesty or any embarrassment.

We a little weary arrived and checked into our hotel, we were greeted by a surly receptionist who rarther looked down her nose a the hot and tired backpackers. We freshened up and set out to explore.  The first thing we noticed was how glamorous and well dressed everyone was, good shoes and designer labels.  The shops reflected this too all the top names represented in the high street. I have to say we felt a little underdressed all the time we were there with our shorts and trainers.

We have found a tour bus is the best way to see a city with limited time

Elisabetes Street Art Deco
see all photos »

We have found a tour bus is the best way to see a city with limited time so we joined one of the better looking operators in town.  This was a good idea as we saw more in two hours that we could hope to see on foot in a week.  Every area of the city was covered, from the old neglected wooden buildings on the wrong side of the river to the fantastic art deco facades on Elisabetes Street.  The tour even offered a look at the living conditions of inhabitants of Riga.The most memorable parts of the trip were the soviet statues and of course the the art deco Elisabetes St.

Breathtaking stucco work in the Church of St Peter and St Paul
see all photos »

An un expected stop on the trip was the St Peter & St Paul Church. This was a pretty but not exceptional building from the outside, once inside our jaws dropped. Every square inch was covered with the most exquisite stucco work by italian artists. It was just amazing this pure white interior was covered with extraordinary plasterwork sculptures and ornate patterns. I am afraid to say the photos posted will not nearly do it justice. I guess you will just have to go your self.