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We started with a visit to the Central market, which is housed in what were previously 5 German Zeppelin hangars. Here we enjoyed some local delicacies.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5654/...d0e6a524_c.jpglatvia lithuania 16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5660/...cf1f6e07_c.jpgriga 9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/758/2...5d301d85_c.jpglatvia lithuania 18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Funny we ran into this Swiss biker that we had met at the Helsinki camping. We also ran into him a few days later downtown. And today we saw him in Riga.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/2...b7d4d47e_c.jpglatvia lithuania 53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
At the center of the Town Hall Square is a statue of Roland, the Patron saint of Riga. The most memorable building on the square is the House of Blackheads, rebuilt after WWII. It was once the headquarters for the Blackheads Society, a group of “unmarried” German merchants.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5661/...19b949d8_c.jpglatvia lithuania 52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5778/...35d6c675_c.jpgriga 33 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5633/...66a749ac_c.jpgriga 10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5785/...53002a5c_c.jpgriga 35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Riga’s Freedom Monument survived the Soviet rule because of a clever change in the symbolism of the robed woman holding three stars up. These stars originally signified Latvia’s three regions, but during Soviet times, the meaning was changed to prevent its demolition. The three stars were assigned to represent the three Baltic Republics, and the woman holding them represented Mother Russia.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/667/2...18a9fd8b_c.jpgriga 19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5744/...aefb2197_c.jpgriga 20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/589/2...9e08730e_c.jpgriga 21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Riga’s Powder Tower, which once held gunpowder, is a relic of Riga’s medieval defensive systems. Today it is a part of the Military Museum.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5746/...812c1aab_c.jpglatvia lithuania 29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Three Brothers buildings, located side by side on Maza Pils at numbers 17, 19, and 21, represent three architectural styles present in Old Town and are the oldest stone houses in existence in Riga. They were built in the 15th, 17th, and 18th centuries. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5690/...3a6393d5_c.jpglatvia lithuania 34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Riga Cathedral, or Rigas Doms, is a massive Lutheran church originally dating from the early 13th century. Riga Cathedral is impressive for being the largest medieval church in the Baltics, its two-meter-thick walls, and its enormous pipe organ. During Soviet times, it was used as a concert hall.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5770/...26bab8c2_c.jpglatvia lithuania 41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/733/2...d60c08ec_c.jpglatvia lithuania 43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5754/...dcf95d08_c.jpglatvia lithuania 47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/636/2...f614a469_c.jpglatvia lithuania 48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5767/...027ac67d_c.jpglatvia lithuania 50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Swedish Gate was built in the latter part of the 17th century. Most of Riga’s walls, gates, and defensive systems have long since been torn down, but the Swedish Gate remains. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/769/2...b6cae8b6_c.jpglatvia lithuania 30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We did a bit of a walk into the city on our side of the river, where there are several large parks and the area famous for the old wooden houses. These are in stark contrast to the Soviet area concrete buildings.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/623/2...be4d2299_c.jpgriga 37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/654/2...d04f3ee3_c.jpgriga 38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5676/...08dd9bb3_c.jpgriga 40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/770/2...0f26079a_c.jpgriga 41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/669/2...1ccee228_c.jpgriga 43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/2...6f55501f_c.jpgriga 45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5672/...d9de2779_c.jpgriga 48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/768/2...0bfb1a27_c.jpgriga 49 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The drive to the ferry dock is only 168 km and since the ship boards at 10 pm we had the whole day. We got on the road at noon and headed southwest to Saldus and then to Vetsilpis for 288 km. On the way south there was again construction, but the lights were better coordinated. And guess who…we rode past the Swiss biker again. He actually caught up and pasted us at one point where we had to wait so long at the stoplight. From here we again rode on the secondary roads to Vetsilpis.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/747/2...3a29a370_b.jpgScreen Shot 2015-08-23 at 12.12.45 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5832/...22d728a6_c.jpgstockholm2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We checked in and then got in line where we met a boisterous group of Latvians headed to Norway. They had their cabin near ours and invited us in for some home- made Vodka (very good) and venison burgers. Then we settled in for the night and the 10 am arrival to Nynashamn Sweden.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5702/...a32bb18c_c.jpgstockholm1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5833/...7975831d_c.jpgstockholm3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/623/2...1250fd54_c.jpgstockholm5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5721/...defd11f2_z.jpgScreen Shot 2015-08-25 at 12.17.10 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Arriving in Sweden we had a short 58 km to Stockholm, but we took the small road instead of the highway for most of the way.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5677/...c9b507d7_z.jpgScreen Shot 2015-08-25 at 12.17.43 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Stockholm may be one of Europe’s most beautifully situated cities. We took the metro the 20 minutes into town from the camping. We got of in the Old town or Gamla Stan and wandered around the very narrow cobbled streets. Other highlights were the changing of the guard at the royal palace, the waterfront, and the Vasa museum.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/709/2...2db2771d_c.jpgstockholm6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/584/2...58283eba_c.jpgstockholm7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/603/2...2c612d3b_c.jpgstockholm10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/2...f0694cf7_c.jpgstockholm8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/718/2...022307bf_c.jpgstockholm9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5729/...f51e8847_c.jpgstockholm11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5727/...5db80679_c.jpgstockholm12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/617/2...20b724e7_c.jpgstockholm20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/586/2...44c8e71e_c.jpgstockholm21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5759/...fdef271e_c.jpgstockholm24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/2...9e2cb3c8_c.jpgstockholm25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The palace
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5779/...e8386db4_c.jpgstockholm16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/620/2...f38deb84_c.jpgstockholm17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/746/2...b97f54da_c.jpgstockholm18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5736/...0445d9bf_c.jpgstockholm45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The Vasa museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged, the 64-gun warship sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The ship itself is stunning and the displays are really interesting. They have done analysis of the wood to find out exactly what color the boat was and what was used to paint it. They have restored many of the sculptures. The king ordered this ship built his way, which is why it sank in a light breeze because it was top-heavy and very unstable. 60% of the price of the boat was for the excessive decoration.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/...6472ac4e_c.jpgstockholm52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5695/...8ddc4b9f_c.jpgstockholm26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5696/...b049c45c_c.jpgstockholm27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/587/2...9d96ae28_c.jpgstockholm30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/750/2...5130ba24_c.jpgstockholm31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5698/...58999206_c.jpgstockholm32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/606/2...41f66c42_c.jpgstockholm33 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/589/2...0f2e4f37_c.jpgstockholm34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/674/2...38c577c7_c.jpgstockholm35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5694/...eccd2aa9_c.jpgstockholm37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5630/...97ff2c86_c.jpgstockholm36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/699/2...9bae3ebe_c.jpgstockholm40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/591/2...6d57c186_c.jpgstockholm42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/626/2...5ac90a10_c.jpgstockholm44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From Stockholm we are headed back to Trollhattan, but we are taking it slow over two days and only using the smallest roads most of the time.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5813/...de3e2368_c.jpgScreen Shot 2015-08-25 at 12.20.45 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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