In the Brothers Grimm fairytale, The Bremen Town Musicians, the musicians, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a cockerel, all past their prime and rejected by their owners, set out to make a new life for themselves as musicians in Bremen, Germany. They never made it to Bremen. Continue reading “The Bremen Town Musicians”
Located in the shadows of the much larger St Peter’s Church, Riga is St John’s Church. Like St Peter’s, it dates back to the early 13th century. Continue reading “St. John’s – Riga”
On Sunday, 9th January 1905 (Bloody Sunday) hundreds of workers protesting against oppressive labour practices and seeking improved living conditions were killed by the Tsar’s guard in St Petersburg. This heavy handed response by Tsar Nicholas II set off the failed 1905 Revolution. Some say it also spurred on the successful 1917 Revolution, which saw the Bolsheviks seizing power from the Tsar and the creation of the communist Soviet Union. Continue reading “1905 – Bloody Sunday Monument”
Ever since my first (and indeed only) visit to the former Soviet Union about 30 years ago I have had a fascination and liking for the brutalist style monuments and sculptures found there and in other countries of generally socialist leaning. Sadly – with one significant exception, that being North Korea – this style of art is no longer produced, and that which was produced is often decaying, has been moved to monument graveyards or has be deliberately destroyed because of the political nature there-of. My liking for the art form is purely related to its grand and bold scale, its gravitas as it were, rather than the brash and perfunctory political statements it so often makes. Continue reading “Latvian Riflemen Monument”
Thankfully most of us have not lived in situations where we have been oppressed for most of our lives. We have not had our freedom taken away by tyrannical regimes, been incarcerated or exiled for crimes we did not commit, lost our loved ones without trace, been persecuted for our religious convictions or lost everything with no recompense. Continue reading “Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (1940 -1991)”
Given the multiplicity of other more obvious attractions within the square, you might be forgiven for missing this ‘sight’ when visiting the Town Hall Square in Riga.
The slightly domed plaque, depicted in my attached picture, is located on the ground between the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the House of Blackheads. Continue reading “World’s First Decorated Christmas Tree”
Roland, not to be confused with Saint Roland, was a nephew of Charlemagne.
He was a Frankish military leader and governor who died at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778 – a famous rout for Charlemagne and inspiration for the ‘Song of Roland”. Continue reading “Roland – A Symbol of Justice”
Like all the surrounding buildings in Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums), the city’s 17th century neo-classical Town Hall was destroyed in World War II. The current very aesthetically agreeable Town Hall, built in 2003, is an amazingly true copy of the original (picture 2), right down to detail such as the coat of arms and statue of Themis – Greek goddess of divine law and order. Continue reading “Riga Town Hall”
Without doubt the colourful House of Blackheads, a Gothic building with a Dutch Renaissance façade, is the greatest crowd puller and most photographed building in Riga. Continue reading “House of Blackheads”
The Old City of Riga has a collection of small squares, each worthy a visit in its own right.
One of, if not, the oldest of these squares is the cobbled Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums). This has been the administrative/local government centre of the city since it was founded in 1201. Since then markets, festivals and all manner of events have occupied or taken place in this square. For those into it, this used to be the place to go for an afternoon’s merriment at a public execution or two. Continue reading “Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums)”
The Rambling Wombat 