Vi reiste til Gardermoen søndag 1. desember,
side vi skulle tidligavgårde fra Gardermoen.
På hotellet ble det en god middag med øl og
rødvin.
Program for dagen
1. dag
Vi flyr fra Oslo til Riga. Etter ankomst tar vi en liten byrundtur i buss på veien til hotellet.
Vi passerer bl.a. noen av de gamle tradisjonelle trehusene langs Daugavaelva, som
gjennomskjærer byen. Trehusene har mange flotte farger. Noen er nylig istandsatt og
mange har vakre utskjæringer, skodder og fine dører. Her bor en del av byens mest kjente
borgere. Vi fortsetter forbi det store nasjonale biblioteket – en meget moderne bygning,
som har stor betydning for byens innbyggere.
Ved ankomst hotellet sjekker vi inn eller plasserer bagasjen på bagasjerommet, om det er
litt for tidlig for innsjekking, før vi går ca.350m til en lokal restaurant og setter oss ned
for en hyggelig tre-retters velkomstlunsj /-middag, hvor vi har muligheten for å bli bedre
kjent. Ja, i Latvia kan de spise godt og de liker det også. Det er innsjekking etter lunsjen
eventuelt.
Resten av ettermiddagen kan man ta det med ro eller utforske litt mer. På de mange
koselige kafeene, barene og restaurantene 5-10 minutters gange fra hotellet ønskes man
alltid hjertelig velkommen, om man trenger en matbit og noe godt å drikke. Hotellet har
også en hyggelig bar-restaurant – just in case.
Soloppgang over Østlandet.
| Ankomst
Riga Flyet var i rute fra Gardermoen, og vi landa i Riga litt før ruta. |
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Riga is the capital, the primate, and the largest city of Latvia.
Home to 605,273 inhabitants, the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population.
The population of Riga metropolitan area, which stretches beyond the city limits, is
estimated at 860,142 (as of 2023). The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the
Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2
(118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3–33 ft) above sea level[12] on a flat and sandy plain.
Riga was founded in 1201, and is a former Hanseatic League member.
Riga's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art
Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture.
Riga was the European Capital of Culture in 2014, along with Umeå in Sweden.
Riga - Wikipedia (13. desember 2024)
Her bodde vi.
Wellton Centrum Hotel & SPA – Hotels – Wellton Hotels, Riga
Fra byvandringen
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 Riga is an old Hanseatic Town and partner city of Bremen. It was gifted the sculpture by Bremen in 1990. It was planned to put it in the recently designed “Park of Peace”, but this park never made the step from the design on paper to the real world. And so the animals found their home near St. Peter’s Church. |
Here’s the interpretation that I liked best: The animals are looking at a world that is new to them, that they hadn’t been allowed to discover before. Almost as if they were checking if everything is alright behind the curtain and if it is safe to make first contact.
There is a ritual that people like to follow when visiting the Town Musicians. Rubbing the noses of the animals is supposed to bring good luck. The respective parts of the statue are already quite shiny from all the rubbing. The most athletic visitors can even reach the rooster’s beak all the way on top and will, therefore, have an extra amount of good fortune coming their way!
Town Musicians of Bremen in Riga - But what are they doing in Riga? (13. desember 2024)
| Til
lunsj fikk servert suppe i brød som forrett. Litt uvant å spise opp serviset. Men det var godt. |
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Noen bilder fra julemarkedet i Riga
Honey - whether added to your herbal tea or enjoyed straight from the spoon,
honey is a delicious way to strengthen your body.
Packed with antioxidants ant antimicrobial prperties, LAtvian hovey acts as a powerful ally in the fight against winter ailments.
Latvian natural remedies - Latvia (13. desember 2024)
Etter byvandringen var det godt med kaffe og kake på et konditori. Her er vi på et stort kjøpesenter, Galerija Centrs, som lå rett over gata fra hotellet vårt. |
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"Galerija Centrs" is a place to indulge in elegance and the charm of fashion.
In the place where "Galerija Centrs" is currently located, from the 13th to the 16th
century, there was the trading port of Riga and the Rīdzene river flowed,
since 1938 there has been active trade here.
Galerija Centrs | LiveRiga (13. desember 2024)
Operahuset i Riga.
Huset ligger i utkanten av parken "Opera Skvers"
Opera Square is located between the Latvian National Opera and the
Freedom Monument and Aspasia Boulevard and the Riga Canal Edge.
The city canal was formed after the demolition of the protective walls of Riga
and partially filled the fortification ditch. The length of the city canal is 3.2 km.
On both sides of the canal gradually, beginning in 1859, greenery was formed.
The first greenery was installed according to the draft of the Lübeck engineer
A. Wendt. For the installation of greenery 1863-1879.
the autumn of the year was continued by the gardener Reims, from 1880, when
the Garden Authority was established at the town board under the direction of
G. Kufalta, the greenery was substantially remodeled.
Higher demands were placed on garden art. On the canal edge grows dioecious ginkgo, American yeast tree, 20 varieties of native trees, as well as 110 varieties
of introduced trees. In 1887, the fountain Nymph, designed by A. Foltz, was
installed in the greenery of the canal edge near the Latvian National Opera.
Operas skvērs, Rīga - redzet.lv (13. desember 2024
2. dag
I dag drar vi på byvandring gjennom labyrinten av smale gater og åpne plasser. Vi kommer
blant annet forbi Nasjonaloperaen, det gotiske Svarthodenes hus, de svenske portene og
kruttårnet. På Rådhusplassen finner vi det tradisjonelle julemarkedet, vakkert omgitt av middelalderlige hus. Det var her verden for første gang i 1510 kunne glede seg over synet
av et pyntet juletre.
Julemarkedet er et overflødighetshorn av julelekkerier og latvisk brukskunst. Fine duker
og servietter i lin, strikkevarer, trearbeider og ravsmykker. Av og til opptrer lokale
folkloregrupper på markedet. Man føler seg hensatt til en svunnen tid! Underveis besøker
vi flere spennende spesialbutikker.
Byvandringen slutter på den kjente Café Black Magic, der vi skal smake på Riga Balzam
med en bit sjokolade til. Den svarte bitterdrikken kan nytes til kaffen, helles over vaniljeis
og brukes i drinker og kaker. Etter en hemmelig oppskrift skapte apotekeren Kunze i 1752
den populære drikken som medisin mot alt – unntatt kjærlighet. Vi setter oss sammen på
en autentisk restraurant i hjertet av Riga, og får servert en god to-retters lunsj.
Ettermiddagen er satt av til egne eventyr på julemarkedet. Vi anbefaler en kopp varm
sjokolade på Café Emihla Gustava eller Café Kuze.
Måltider inkludert: Frokost og Lunsj
Frokost på hotellet. Bobler hver dag.
 Caffeine |
Så
var det en ny dag med ny byvandring. Til venstre: reklame for Caffeine: The fourth largest retailer in Latvia, Reitan Convenience Latvia (formerly known as Narvesen Baltija) is the leading convenience store and kiosk retailer in Latvia with 57% of market and 240 locations nationwide. Reitan Convenience Latvia (13. desember 2024) Bildet til høyre viser gata vi bodde i Audeju iela. Gata var stengt for gjennomkjøring. |
Audeju iela
| Rock
og barokk i samme bygning. |
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Rock of barokk
| First mention of the St. Peter's Church is in records dating to 1209. The church was of masonry construction and therefore undamaged by a city fire in Riga that year. The history of the church can be divided into three distinct periods: two associated with Gothic and Romanesque building styles and the third with the early Baroque period. The middle section of the church was built during the 13th century, which encompasses the first period. The only remnants of this period are located in the outer nave walls and on the inside of a few pillars in the nave, around which larger pillars were later built. St. Peter's Church, Riga - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024) |
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 Trehest og suvenirbutikk ved Peterskirken. |
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The House
of the Blackheads (Latvian: Melngalvju nams, German: Schwarzhäupterhaus) is a building situated in the old town of Riga, Latvia. The original building was erected in 1334 as a warehouse, meeting and celebration place for merchants. It was the biggest public building of Riga. From mid-15th century it was also used by Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried merchants, shipowners and foreigners in Riga. The building and most of the old town was bombed to a ruin on 29 June 1941 on a fight by the Nazi German and Soviets' army. Notwithstanding the protests of locals and monument protection specialists the remains were demolished by the Soviet Government on 23 May 1948. It was rebuilt between 1996 and 2000 |
by city of Riga, and other funds were donated from people who wished to participate in the rebuilding process; "I build the House of the Black Heads" by donating 5 lats (approximately
7-11 EUR) they could place a brick in the wall. There were more than 5,000 participants.
The House of the Black Heads was officially opened on 9 December 1999.
House of the Blackheads (Riga) - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024)
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 Til minne omdet aller første offentlig juletreet. Riga and Revel: who was first |
We know this for certain since references to the tree are preserved in
the archives of the Brotherhood of Blackheads (Bruderschaft der
Schwarzhäupter). This mediaeval organisation united single
merchants and seafarers who had previously been members of the
Grand Guild of the Free City of Revel – now known as Tallinn.
The Brotherhood existed from the middle of the fourteenth century
until 1940. Its members had a tangible influence on life both in Revel
and Riga, where they owned a house in the Town Hall Square. It is next
to this building, restored in 2000, where the commemorative plaque
stands in honour of the first Christmas tree.
How Riga Decorated the First Christmas Tree and Set an Example to the World – Neighborhood (16. desember 2024)
There are two
distinct types of Latvian national costume,
based
on the historic period in which they arose: the
"ancient dress"
period from the 7th to 13th century, and the "ethnic"
or
"ethnographic dress" period from the 18th and 19th
centuries.
One iconic
feature of Latvian women's folk dress is the
traditional
Latvian belt, a wide sash with a woven geometric
pattern.
Different regions of Latvia have their own distinct
patterns and colors.
Culture
of Latvia - Wikipedia ((16.
desember 2024)
 Cafe Riga Black Magic A unique place in Riga, where the most famous Riga balsam recipe,together with magical souvenirs, chocolate and confectionery, offersvisitors a journey into the distant past... The modern bar "Riga Black Balsam" is connected with the ancient storyof the origin of "Riga Black Balsam" an dits inventor, alchemist and pharmacist |
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most popular in the city and was considered a medicine that could cure almost or all
ailments. It is possible that in the18th century, not only this balsam was offered in this
place, but alsoconfectionery and chocolate products, herbal teas and coffee with
balsam additive for health and strength.
Who knows... All the beauty of legends can be hidden in the fact thatthet were created
with inspiration and continue to influence us even afterseveral centuries, and make
them very enjoyable to look at and enjoy.
Riga Black Magic 16. desember 2024
 Cafe Riga Black Magic |
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Til venstre demonstreres tryllesjokolade
Over: Vi smaker på Riga-coffe og en spesiell te.
Dag 3: Jugendkvarter
Riga
har
et av Europas største og mest imponerende antall
bygninger i jugendstil/art
nouveau. Som et åpent museum finner vi her mer enn
750 hus med overdådig pyntede
hus fasader, og hundrevis av bygningene er vakkert
renovert. Det historiske området
er ikke uten grunn oppført på Unescos
Verdensarvliste. Vi blir imponert over de
mange vakre husene på spaserturen i det enestående
jugendkvarteret. Dyr, blomster,
mennesker, geometriske mønstre og bølgende former
ses overalt på hus fasadene og
preger hele bydelen.
De
overdådig
pyntede husene til det finere borgerskapet stammer
fra slutten av
1800-tallet, da Riga var en av de største byene i
det russiske tsarriket. Samtidig var
denne stilen blitt moderne mange steder i Europa.
Løft hodet og kikk opp på husene på
turen gjennom Alberta Iela – en særlig interessant
gate. Her ser vi grinende, sure,
skrikende og smilende ansikter. Vi blir med på en
spennende omvisning på Art
Nouveau Heritage Museum, som ligger i en leilighet i
jugendstil. Deretter hygger vi oss
med lunsj på en spennende restaurant i hjertet
kvarteret.
På
ettermiddagen
har vi tid til å utforske Riga på egenhånd. Her kan
man fordype seg i
de mange kulturelle og historiske attraksjonene Riga
kan tilby, eller byte stemningen på
de mange julemarkedene i sentrum av byen. På kvelden
samler vi oss for en flott
tre-retters middag på en fabelaktig restaurant i
hjertet av Riga (avgang 02.desember).
Måltider inkludert: Frokost, Lunsj og Tre-retters Middag (avgang 02.desember)
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To søte snømenn utenfor Grand hotel |
Om formiddagen spaserte vi fra hotellet og til
Jugentmuseet i Riga.
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Greek
mythology, Atlas (/ˈætləs/; Ancient
Greek: Ἄτλας, Átlās) is
a Titan condemned to hold up the heavens or sky for eternity after the Titanomachy. Atlas also plays a role in the myths of two of the greatest Greek heroes: Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology) and Perseus. According to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Atlas stood at the ends of the earth in the extreme west. Later, he became commonly identified with the Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa and was said to be the first King of Mauretania (modern-day Morocco and west Algeria, not to be confused with the modern-day country of Mauritania). Atlas was said to have been skilled in philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. In antiquity, he was credited with inventing the first celestial sphere. In some texts, he is even credited with the invention of astronomy itself. Atlas (mythology) - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024) |
Atlas bærer himmelvelvingen på sine skuldre.
On 5 September 2013, as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Latvian
National Opera and Ballet Theatre building, a monument was unveiled in honour
of the great Rigan and ballet dancer Māris Rūdolfs Liepa (1936 – 1989).
Following an invitation from curator Helēna Demakova, the monument was created
by Estonian artists Jaan Toomik and Jiri Ojaver, who are professors at the Art
Academy of Estonia, who have represented their country at the Venice Biennale, while
of all the artists in the Baltic States, Jaan Toomik is received the greatest international
recognition and renown. The monument’s architects are Peter Pere (Estonia) and
Juris Gertmanis (Latvia).
A monument to the great ballet dancer Māris Rūdolfs Liepa (2013) — The Boris and Inara Teterev Foundation
(16. desember 2024)
Fontene utenfor Operaen i Riga.
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Freedom Monument - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024)
In 1856, the ramparts of the Riga Fortress [lv] were demolished, replacing the 'Sand
Bastion' with the name of Basteiberg (German: Basteiberg) (originally known as Bastion Hill).
| Around 1893, a pseudo-swan-style swan cottage, work of Riga's architect Heinrich Scheel, was placed on pontoons along the Bastejkalns Canal - usually pulled ashore in the winter months, where it is still today. Swans donated by "Riga Bird Breeding Society" Bastejkalns Park - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024) |
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was the reconstruction of the greenery of Bastejkalns. The creation of the German: Basteiberganlagen plantation of the Bastion Hill lasted from 1859 to 1887. In 1860, a wooden pavilion was erected and replaced in 1887 with the first Bastion Hill café.
Bastejkalns Park - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024)
Jugendstil-museet
The Riga Art Nouveau Centre is the only museum in the Baltics that presents a complete
picture of the historical heritage of Art Nouveau and offers an authentic environment
for discovering and savouring Art Nouveau in an early 20th century apartment in Riga.
The Riga Art Nouveau Centre is one of the youngest museums in Riga. After a thorough
inspection of the premises, the authentic interiors of 1903 were recreated in the
apartment, so visitors could discover Art Nouveau at its fullest, from home planning to
the minute details, such as door and window handles.
Riga Art Nouveau Centre | latvia.travel (16. desember 2024)
Fea leiligheten i Jugend-museet
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Konstantīns Pēkšēns (born 3 March 1859, Mazsalaca parish, Russian Empire — died 23 June 1928, Bad Kissingen, Weimar Republic) is one of the most prominent Latvian architects of all times. After Jānis Baumanis he is the epitome of the second generation of Latvian architects. Many Latvian cities and towns take pride in buildings designed by Pēkšēns, but Riga alone can boast more than 250 multi-storey brick buildings and a great number of wooden houses erected following his designs. Konstantīns Pēkšēns - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024) |
Trappegangen på Jugund-museet
 Lunsj på restauranten den flygende Frosk https://restaurantguru.com/ Flying-Frog-Riga |
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The Nativity of Christ Cathedral (Latvian: Kristus Piedzimšanas pareizticīgo katedrāle, Russian: Христорождественский кафедральный собор), Riga, Latvia was built to a design by Nikolai Chagin and Robert Pflug in a Neo-Byzantine style between 1876 and 1883, with decorations made by the firm of August Volz, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire.
It is the largest Orthodox cathedral in the Baltic provinces built with the blessing of the Russian Tsar Alexander II on the initiative of local governor-general Pyotr Bagration and bishop Veniamin Karelin.
Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, Riga - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024)
Middagstid
Dag 4: Julemarked ved den ortodokse katedralen og operaforestilling
I dag besøker vi den russisk-ortodokse katedralen med de vakre løkkuplene. I sovjettiden
ble kirken brukt som planetarium, men etter Latvias selvstendighet fungerer den igjen
som kirke. Det hviler en spesiell atmosfære i bygningen, med sine fantastiske utsmykninger
og malerier. Vi tar oss god tid til å kjenne på den flotte stemmingen. Etter besøket,
opplever vi julemarkedet ved katedralen fylt med spennende kunsthåndverk og juleknask.
Her finner vi masser av autentiske og håndlagede juledekorasjoner, og hele området er
fylt av en flott førjulsstemning.
Ettermiddagen har vi til fri disposisjon, og her kan man ta seg tid til å finne et hyggelig
spisested i sentrum av byen. Reiseleder vil selvfølgelig være behjelpelig med tips om
spennende attraksjoner og gode restauranter, som er verdt et besøk.
På kvelden spaserer vi noen minutters gange over til den Nasjonale Operaen i Riga og
gjør oss klare for forestillingen.
https://www.opera.lv/en/production/lelisir-damore/
L`Elisir D´Amore er en opera i to akter av Gaetano Donizetti.
Denne hadde sin uroppføring i 1832.
Noen bilder fra Markedshallen
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and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998.
It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930. The main structures of the market are
five pavilions constructed by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars and incorporating Neoclassicism and Art Deco styles. The market is 72,300 square metres
(778,000 sq ft) wide with more than 3,000 trade stands.
Riga Central Market - Wikipedia (16. desembler 2024)
Moderne kjøpesenter like ved hotellet vi bodde på.
The history of “Galerija Centrs” goes back to 1938, when a cornerstone was put,
and the building started. After an ambitious reconstruction of the building in
2006, the center acquired its’ current look and the outstanding glass roof, so
that daylight shines upon the Rīdzene street – in that way, the “Galerija Centrs” became the first shopping gallery in the Baltics with such a glass passage.
Galerija Centrs - Galerija Centrs (16. deember 2024)
Riga’s tallest church with a tower offering a breathtaking view of the red roofs of
Old Town, the modern part of the city, Riga Bay and the Daugava River with its large port.
The tower is 123.25 meters high, and visitors are taken to the second gallery at the height
of 72 meters.
Riga St Peter’s Church | latvia.travel (16. desember 2024)
To bilder tatt fra tårnet på St. Peterskirken.
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St Peter’s Church was built in 1209, but just some walls and some pillars have remained from that time. Initially, it was a small hall, possibly with a separate bell tower. The current basilica was created during renovations in the 15th century. Riga St Peter’s Church | latvia.travel (16. desember 2024) |
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The Latvian
National Opera and Ballet (LNOB) is an opera house and opera company at Aspazijas boulevard 3 in Riga. Its repertoire includes performances of opera and ballet presented during the season which lasts from mid-September to the end of May. During a typical season, LNOB presents almost 200 performances, including, on average, 6 new productions. The largest is the Great Hall which houses 946 seats, while the smaller ones – the New Hall, the Dress Circle Hall (Beletāžas zāle) and the Red Hall – have a maximum seating capacity of 338, 170 and 100 respectively. LNOB employs a total of approximately 600 people. Latvian National Opera - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024) |
Forestillingen vi så var:
L'elisir d'amore
L'elisir d'amore (pronounced [leliˈzir daˈmoːre]; The Elixir of Love) is a
melodramma giocoso (comic melodrama, opera buffa) in two acts by the
Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto, after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's Le philtre (1831).
The opera premiered on 12 May 1832 at the Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan.
L'elisir d'amore - Wikipedia (16. desember 2024
Dag 5: Hjemreise
I dag er det klart for hjemreise, og vi setter kursen mot flyplassen.
Vi flyr med Air Baltic tilbake til Oslo og er fremme på Gardermoen på ettermiddagen.
Måltider inkludert: Frokost
