40 FOCUS - AUGUST 2017 you can walk for blocks along beautifully restored buildings, most of which are uniquely adorned with art, sculptures and designs. Some are open to the pub- lic and well worth the entry. Another sight not to be missed is the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. This Rus- sian Orthodox Church was constructed in the 1890’s. It is the largest of its kind in the Baltic Region and was built dur- ing the Russian Empire and blessed by Czar Alexander II. During World War I the German occupation forces turned it into a Lutheran Church, but in 1921 it once again reverted back to Orthodox. In the 1960’s the Soviet government closed the cathedral and turned it into a planetarium, but in 1991, when Latvia gained independence from the So- viet Union, it was restored to its original splendour. Remember that ladies must wear head coverings and absolutely no photography is allowed inside. The Riga Central Market is another stop worth visiting. There is a large, open air market, but next to that are five hanger-type buildings, which house a variety of vegetables, fish and cheeses, each in their own structure. The unique- ness of the market is not the contents, as much as the buildings themselves. The five massive structures were once used as German Zeppelin hang- ers and were moved 400 kms. to their present location. The market is nearly 800,000 square feet with more than 3,000 vendors. Most of the goods are locally grown or made and samples are plentiful. A short twenty-minute drive from Riga is Jurmala, a seaside resort town, frequented more by Russian tourists than by Latvians. The natural curative features of water in this area were al- ready well known more than 150 years ago and used as therapeutic retreats by the rich and famous. Nowadays end- less golden beaches with salubrious air and the unique beauty of pine forests, attract many tourists. Jurmala is a cozy European town composed of houses surrounded by parks and forests. Latvia and especially its capital city of Riga, is a fantastic place to visit. Be sure to leave at least 3 or four days for your stay, as you will not want to miss any of the interesting sights. Jonathan van Bilsen is a photographer, author, columnist, keynote speaker and can be followed at photosNtravel.com DO YOU KNOW….. what country has absolutely no rivers? Email me your best guess at jon@photosNtravel.com. Answer, next month. Last month’s ‘Do You Know’ was … what does antebellum mean? The answer is pre-war houses, usually re- ferred to during the period before the American Civil War. Latvia (continued from page 39) One of the many art nouveau buildings in downtown Riga. The golden domes of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. The old Zeppelin hangers converted to a giant market. 158 Casimir Street, Port Perry 905-985-2268 virginia.frew@marlintravel.ca MC TICO #4577532 New Winter Sun Brochures are here! Virginia, Colleen, fun seeker Cheyenne, Jean and Leanne Pop in today for your copy of what’s new from your ‘fun in the sun’ agents!