I tried to fall asleep last night, I really did, but to no avail. I had to take a couple of Exedrin P.M.s to get the job done. I had a date to meet up with Svetlana, who is a close friend of one of my Chicago friends. She lives in Riga and attended my show last night. It felt good to have a friend there even though we did not really know each other.
She picked up the clothes I wore when I flew to Riga and had them dry-cleaned for me which was awesome because they are my “international flying clothes” and comfortable beyond words. I had considered having them laundered by the Albert Hotel. So it was with great joy to receive them cleaned and pressed on Friday morning.
Svetlana had achieved “Goddess Status” in my book before I even saw her at my gig Friday night! She picked me up promptly at 2PM on Saturday and we began our tour of Riga. Latvia has been fighting for freedom for centuries and most recently from Soviet rule. We stopped by the Freedom Monument. I feel the significance of this monument as every Latvian is well aware of their country’s history of occupation and the fight for independence. I snapped a couple pics of the city scenes around me. It was at this point that I realized that I had forgotten to bring my telephoto lens.
This entire city is filled with lovely stone structures colored in mint green, blue and goldenrod. Svetlana drives me to her favorite views of the city and waits patiently as I get out to take photos. I am dying to get to Old Riga which is the historic Medieval center of this lovely city. There are buildings there that have been standing for 800 years.
We approach Old Riga. Our first stop is the Dome Cathedral built by Bishop Peter, the founder of Riga. Construction was started in 1211A.D. Wow.
Svetlana parks the car and indicates that I get out. We’re going in!!!! She talks to the admissions person, gets my ticket and leaves me to it! I enter the quiet vastness of this place. It demands devotion and there is no doubt that this church was built to contemplate the glory of God.
It is filled with statuary and has super high ceilings whose beams are completely adorned with colored scrollwork. There are huge stained glass windows and altars everywhere.
I look down at the floor which is worn from centuries of footsteps. It is majestic but not overly ornate. It is so quiet that even a whisper seems a transgression in this place. I love old churches. I start shooting photo after photo but not nearly as many as I wanted to. I couldn’t get the detail I wanted because I left my darned telephoto at the hotel. No matter. I am very happy to be here. But I have to hurry because I have big night ahead of me and I will need to rest if I can.
As I turn to leave I notice a sign that says: “Entrance to the Cloisters.” Oh my God!!! Cloisters!!
I walk through the door and the brisk cold hits my face. I step onto the stone walkway of the cloisters which encircle a snow covered courtyard. There are all kinds of ancient artifacts out here: old steeple adornments, columns, statues, cannons and cannonballs from centuries of restoration and salvaged from the two fires that destroyed the steeple.
Unfortunately, the signage out here is all in Latvian. Bummer. I take more photos and go back inside before my nose starts running. It’s cold! I am very grateful for this opportunity to see this place. I run out to meet Svetlana who has been waiting patiently for my return to the car. We have just enough time for an early dinner!
