Back in 2005, when I was 15, I moved from Riga to United States. I was able to go back to visit when I was 19 and last August, ten years after initially leaving Riga, I had an amazing opportunity to visit again… this time with a companion- my husband! I cannot express enough how meaningful it was for me to be able to show him where I grew up, where I went to school, my favorite yummies that I am unable to get here in United States… I was able to share with him my home…home, I miss everyday. Now every time I say,- “oh in Riga…” he knows exactly what I mean. So here is a little “recap” of our time in Riga, Latvia so you can get a glimpse of what home was for me.
We flew into Riga at 11 pm and were fortunate enough to be picked up from the airport by my friend’s aunt (Mila). When we arrived at my friend’s (Noeminj) house, we were sweetly welcomed by her family, and spent another hour catching up and drinking hot tea with cookies and such.
DAY 1: Let the adventures begin. Frederick and I got passes for public transportation and off we were to the neighborhood I grew up at. We got off at the closest stop and walked to the apartment complex while I was nonstop pointing at buildings “there is the music school that I auditioned for at 7 and brutally got declined..” or “I briefly went to this kindergarten” as we were looking through the fence at the playground my group would play at. Every little memory became alive as we walked towards my home. Then there it was. Red five-story apartment complex. It hasn’t changed. The windows looked new. The doors to the stairway now had a code thingy… everything else– the same. I pointed to my window (s) where my apartment was wondering how it looked inside now…
After showing Frederick my home, I was curious to see if my favorite little café was open (it is inside the little corner store). In the back of the store there is a pastry, cookie, coffee section where this sweet lady makes your coffee and you can pick out a little pastry or cake to accompany coffee. I remember when back when (8th grade?) my friend, Vera, and I would skip last class and go here, order a little Napoleon cake, coffee/tea, and just talk and talk… such good times. I really cherish these memories as I miss those times so much… Nostalgia is dawning upon me…
Short 15 min walk and we were at my school – RĪGAS 53. VIDUSSKOLA. Here I went through grade 1 until grade 9 (the beginning of which we moved). The school was empty pretty much– some people were painting the classrooms, cleaning, preparing for September 1st (when school begins). We were lucky enough to see my music teacher (Skolotaja Rita) who always pushed me to sing in school choir… haha such fun yet frustrating time… 3 years guys.. 3 years… then I quit.
After exploring this school, we took a trolejbus to my art school, RĪGAS MĀKSLAS SKOLA, that I started at 12. My classes there began right after my regular school until 8 or 9 pm. Busy busy girl I was. I loved it.
We continued to the Old Riga where we got some lunch, pastries, and coffee!
On the way back, 11 pm, we mistakenly took the wrong bus and long story short – we were so lost that came home around 1 am. Whew!
DAY 2: Was a Saturday… we went to the church I used to go to and it was nice to see everyone and in a way kind of weird. Weird because all the babies and kiddos that I knew became teenagers and it was just a reminder that I have not been in my hometown for a long time. After church my friend invited some of my other friends/family and we spent a day catching up, eating good home cooked food… it was good to kind of just chill. In the evening, Frederick and I escaped people and went on our own adventure of exploring Riga.
DAY 3: I took my hubby to the famous LIDO! It is a place where any tourist should go to no matter how cheesy it is… it is kind of like a theme park/restaurant where during summer there is roller blading in the middle of it or ice skating during winter times. The restaurant is the reason I brought him there. It is kind of like a giant version of IKEA cafeteria. Same concept– grab a tray and go on the adventure trying all the Latvian cuisine there is… from “olivje” (Russian or Latvian potato salad) to what we call “fish under the blanket” (herring covered with shredded beets)… possibilities were endless.
In the evening we met up with two of my art school friends (the other two were traveling). It was so nice to see them because this group of girls made me feel like I belonged (being an art kid was quite a challenge) and to this day we keep up with each other even being so far away from each other. Good friends stay friends forever!
True happiness– husband, hometown, and old friends.
DAY 4: Frederick and I hopped on the 15 min train ride and we were in Jūrmala. Jūrmala is basically the Baltic Sea beach that has different areas for shops, restaurants, parks… there are pine trees everywhere… A real seaside vacation. The water was quite cold but you still could see some brave people swimming. People here will go to the beach even when it is covered in snow! Haha them Latvians!
After playing in water and sand, Frederick and I were back to Old Riga for some dinner! We went to ROZENGRĀLS restaurant. It is a tourist attraction as the whole restaurant is underground and you expect it to be cheesy and not good… it was totally cheesy as people were wearing old time Latvian attire, but it was honestly the most amazing dinner we had for the whole time we were in Rīga. Not going to spoil what’s inside… have to experience that for yourself! Go visit Rīga!
DAY 5: HAHA was going perfectly until Frederick and I went by one of the bakeries and got basically thrown out because we took a picture. Whew, talk about rude people… that kind of ruined my morning for a little. However, it was our last whole day here so we decided to check out one of the malls! It was fun to shop at the stores we don’t have in USA.
Rubbing on the famous Musicians of Bremen… the monument was a gift from the German city, Bremen, centuries ago. It is heard that if you rub the noses of all four animals you get a lot of luck… or something like that… I only got to rub two… I was too short to reach the rest of them!
Trying out the McDonald’s in Riga! I would say it was better than the one in Stockholm.
DAY 6: Taking a bus to Tallinn, Estonia. Isn’t my hubby so handsome? Gosh, I am such a lucky lady!
Bye, bye Rīga! It was such a nice time to be home again. It was quite sad to leave my friends behind again… and to those I did not get to see– you are in my hearts forever. Until next time!
xoxo
-O