FOCUS - AUGUST 2017 39 When choosing a destination to trav- el to, the list, although extremely long, can be quite a challenge. I am soon to embark on a trip which will put me at the 99th country I have visited, so I some- times think there is no place that I would be interested in going to. Then, once I arrive I am constantly surprised at the fascinating customs and cultures I find and wonder why I had not selected the place earlier. This was the case on a recent visit to Latvia, a country I had heard about but never really knew much of. Latvia is one of the three Baltic nations located on the Baltic sea (across from Scandinavia). It was part of the former Soviet Union, but has done well on its own since the collapse of communism. Their largest trading partner is Russia and the prod- uct is lumber. With recent sanctions imposed by the European Union, trade has dropped significantly and tourism is beginning to take a larger share. I entered Latvia from the south, by car. My driver spoke little English, but tried very hard to make sure everything was satisfactory. On these types of trips I pre-arrange local guides in cities. My very first stop was Rundale Palace. This unbelievably beautiful castle dates back to 1736, however, during the Russian occupation the palace was used as a school, a granary and offices for the So- viet Union. Now, however, it has been beautifully restored to its former glory and a half day excursion is well worth the visit, especially seeing the attractive gardens, which equal many found in European palaces. I continued on and as soon as I en- tered the city of Riga, Latvia’s capital, I was taken with the cleanliness and character of the place. As we drove into the Old Town and stopped in front of an amazing building, which turned out to be my hotel, I was quite surprised at how beautiful it was. I don’t usually promote hotels in my columns, but this one, the Grand Palace was spectacular. The old city is quite striking and dates back to the turn of the 13th cen- tury. Many of the buildings, although not that old, certainly date back to a bygone era. Depending on your interests, there is something for everyone in this very cosmopolitan city. The Town Hall square is the centre of activities. Once a meeting place it is now lined with restaurants, boutiques and tourist shops. Many of the buildings were destroyed during the Russian oc- cupation, but as part of the city’s 800th anniversary, a major restoration project was undertaken in 2001. Among the many sights is the house of the Blackheads. It was destroyed during WWII, but has been rebuilt to its previous glory. The Brotherhood of the Blackheads was a group of German bachelors who were responsible for 300 years of building construction in Riga. Among the many buildings in the Old Town, St. Peter’s Church is a must see. Towering high above the town, it is visible from everywhere. Another great place to do a little shopping and see some old architecture is the Convent Courtyard. A former convent, it has been renovated and is now home to many shops, galler- ies and a porcelain museum. When visiting Riga, be sure to leave the old section and venture out into the newer part of the city. Many people do not and therefore miss a great deal of the sights, which can be quite interest- ing, bordering on fantastic. One such locale is the Art Nouveau district. This area makes up roughly one third of the buildings in the city of Riga. One of the reasons it exists is that Riga’s popu- lation grew by 88% from 1897 to 1913. Art Nouveau décor was all the rage throughout Europe and North America and in Riga, it knew no bounds. Today ...................... Please turn to page 40 BY JONATHAN VAN BILSEN NORTHERN EUROPE’S HIDDEN GEM The Old Town Square of Riga. The spectacular gardens at Rundale Palace.