So,Riga is the new Prague ..... unfortunately with the same stag/hen-party idiotic British alco-tourists threatening to spoil the serenity of what is a truly delightful new jewel in the crown of the enlarged European Community.

Opp:
Detail, Art Academy
note painted leaf-veins.

Nowadays the remaining Russians are still the majority of the population, stuck there with their own languaage and culture, living almost separately from the Latvians


Opp:
Museum of Decorative Arts
One of a pair of panels about 60" x 30"

Many of the Latvians are the new travelling cheap-labour "gastarbeiters" of Europe......formerly poor Ireland (Ryanair's base,hence their new air-route) now has 50,000 Latvians (and 100,000 Poles!) registered as workers there, the minumum Irish wage being ten times the minimum in Latvia.

Opp:
Museum of Decorative Arts
a detail showing the excellent painting. Much Latvian decorative art is folk-themed.

Fused and leaded panel.
I found this terrific combo-technique panel on the internet, and it said it was in the Dome.... and we were really disappointed to find it's no longer on show.

Opp:
Apartment block transom
(7 feet wide)
The hall-doorway was open ...I just walked in....residents coming downstairs passed this cheeky SG-tourist and just smiled ....friendly town!

Opp:
Riga Old Town window
Not a bad pic considering I took it at night, from the street, without flash ,and enhanced a very dark image with Kodak Easyshare. No idea of a date...could be modern.

Editor's note:
my favourite of the lot.

Opp:
Detail, Art Academy
Note the painted leaf-veins.

Ex-Soviet states are a great place to get bladdered....all the taxi drivers are ex-KGB..so you just fall drunk into the cab, and they already know who you are and where you live.

Anyhoo...... enjoy!!!

Tony

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