Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Today, we travelled from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Riga, Lativa, with two enroute sightseeing stops. The bus departed at 9 am and after about an hour on the road, pulled over at a large Circle K station for a rest stop. It felt very familiar because back home, I frequent a Circle K that is only a block from our house.
Rest Stop at the Circle K
After another 1.5-hour bus ride, we disembarked at the Hill of Crosses in northern Lithuania. After using the restroom facilities and purchasing a small wooden cross, I joined other tourists and pilgrams ascending the hill. We were told that there are over 200,000 large crosses and a much higher but unknown number of smaller crosses on this hill. As I approached, I was amazed as the vast quantity of crosses became evident. The tradition of leaving crosses on this hill began in the 1930s when Lithuania was under control of the Russian Empire. During rebellions, families who lost loved ones and could not locate their bodies began symbolically placing crosses in rembrance here; this practice has persisted to today.
After absorbing this inspirational exhibition, I decided to leave a small cross in remembrance of our black cat, Zorro, under the branches of a large spruce tree on the hillside. With teary eyes, I etched a Z on its back before planting the cross in the needle-covered ground. Then, I went to a nearby pavillion to continue viewing this amazing site and collect myself before returning to the bus at our scheduled departure time.
—— Hill of Crosses ——
Cross in Remembrance of Zorro
Our bus ride continued and we crossed into Lativa. After about an hour of riding, we stopped at Rundale Palace. Before touring the castle, we ate lunch at a nearby restaurant, Pils Krogs. We had a great three-course meal with beer which included cold beet soup. I’m not a big fan of beets but I really enjoyed this soup.
—— Cafe Pils Krogs ——
After lunch, we walked a short way to tour Rundale Palace, named after the parish where it is located. We crossed a stream on a foot bridge and entered a huge courtyard surrounded by immense yellow and red baroque style buildings. Inside, our group was divided into smaller groups, handed earphones, and assigned guides. The guide of the group that Jeff and I were in was very good and injected a sense of humor into his narration. The palace was constructed for Ernst Johann von Biron, Duke of Courland, during the mid-18th century. Over the years, ownership had changed hands and today the palace has been restored as a museum. We were led through one magnificant room after another: the throne room, the duke’s sleeping chambers, the white hall, the dining room, the billiard hall, and even the duke’s bathroom. It was all quite impressive.
—— Rundale Palace ——
After our palace tour, we rode the bus on into Riga and checked in at the Radisson Blu Latvija. The hotel was on a major road that was less than a mile from the town center, so Jeff and I set out to explore Riga and find a place to eat dinner. Across the street from the hotel, we encounted a beautiful cathedral, then a peaceful nature park, and then the Freedom Monument before we entered a town square surrounded by shops, restaurants, and stages with live music. We passed through the square and continued exploring streets enthralled with the architecture surrounding us. We were absorbing the Riga vibe and not concerned with identification of landmark features knowing that we would become informed on tomorrow’s organized tour.
—— Rambling ‘round Riga ——
We eventually wound our way back toward the hotel and decided to eat at a restaurant with outdoor seating in the first square that we had encountered. I enjoyed a dish of sturgeon with a local dark draft beer. While dining we could hear music from two stages. I became a fan of a solo guitarist/vocalist at one stage. He played many songs from my youth, was a good singer, and had a tasteful jazzy guitar style. Eventually, after some interesting discussions, Jeff and I set off back to the hotel.
—— Dinner Venue & Live Music ——
The sunlight faded during our walk back and we enjoyed the lights of Riga as we returned. Back in my hotel room, I video-called Jane and said my final goodbye to Zorro who was not looking well. Despite the wonderful sightseeing of the day, my day ended mournfully.
—— Return Walk ——
