Latvia

In the era of the Soviet Union, going on vacation is a trip to the countries of the socialist encirclement, where the political and economic structures were copied from the Soviet pattern. Fortunately, the options were diverse: exotic Azerbaijan and Armenia competed with the semi-European Baltic republics. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were for the Soviet people their native Europe, so the Baltic perfumes and sweets are remembered with special warmth, because they are almost French and almost Swiss.

You can talk about the sights of this country endlessly, nothing will leave indifferent here, but the heart of Latvia has always been and will be Riga. They say that you can see Riga in two ways: climb the observation deck of St. Peter’s Cathedral and admire the wonderful view of the “cock city” (the rooster is a symbol of Riga and therefore crowns the spires of many buildings of the old city) or walk through the old streets, listening to Latvian speech and breathing the smell of this city. Personally, I am more impressed by leisurely walks in the historical center, because then you can remember not only the image of the city, but also feel the Latvian culture that lives and breathes in every inhabitant of this country.

In modern Russia, trips to Latvia have lost their relevance, as you can go anywhere, the Iron Curtain has fallen, and the attitude towards Russians in this small but cozy country is very difficult. But the really good is not forgotten and, therefore, many people remember the charm of quiet narrow streets and the solemn sound of the organ, and the original beauty of sand dunes and the splendor of coniferous giants still amaze the imagination of tourists. Everyone will discover their own Latvia: the gourmet will appreciate the variety of luxurious dishes and the quality of beer, the aesthete will love the interweaving of different eras in the architectural appearance of Latvian cities; the lover of fun will be delighted with entertainment, which are represented by both common places for recreation and national holidays, and the romantic will enjoy the magnificent landscapes of this country, which does not dazzle, but charms.

Olya Yakubovskaya