HEY, GUYS!!!!!!
Greetings to you all from far away Latvia! It is almost 4PM here on Wednesday afternoon--7 hrs. ahead of you all....
We are staying in a beautiful apaetment--fully furnished with every convenience. O)ur cousins have had us scheduled almost every hour of every day to do nsomething or other. Just the last 2 days we have had some free time.
BTW--We have a laptop in our apt. for our use--that is why ai am writing you....having withdrawl symptoms....
The weather here is awesome! it has been about 70* and the most beautiful blue skies and white, puffy clouds. Yesterday we were caught in some T-showers while cruising Rigaš center and had to fend with plastic bags over our heads for the 20 min. walk back to our apartments. Today, we were smarter and we all brought our umbrellas. Still-it was no fun....
I cannot tell you how many miles we have all walked by now! People walk to most everything. The Big Song` Festival is going full Swing all week. We went to watch the opening parade of all the singers and dancers and every choir in Latvia....and mamy, many more people--all marching alphabetically by every Region in Latvia (endless...) and then, within every`Region, there were all the participating Groups and choirs, etc--also alphabetically...We stood by the street-side for 7 hours. It just about killed my knees! it took 2 days to recover.....
OK! mayby on to more interesting things....
This City, as many others in Europe is beyond cleaan! You don't even see a cigarette butt on the streets--anywhere! They have these tiny trash receptacles attached to the walls everywhere and people deposit anything they have in there. The flowers are fresh and beautiful--plantings in al the Parks. I have taken a lot of pictures and also at one of our cousinš gardens who seems to have nothing` better to do except drive to her Country house (about 1/2 hr. away to water her huge garden there. She is a bit of a fanatic about her gardens--they ARE beautiful! many flowers there ai have not seen--so I took pictures of them. You will all have to help--especially those in the more Northern climes.....
OK! My Sister wants her turn at the laptop--so I will close for now.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS--as I do not intend to check all the answers and comments--but I will look in whenever I can.
Remember--I will be back home about 7/22.
Sveiks!!!!! Gita
Greettings from Latvia!!!
All I can say is WOW! This does not constitute a reply, so I have not violated your rules. Just an expression of delight that you are having such a wonderful time.
Happy---
There are NO rules!
All of you, PLEASE indulge me again.....This is also the Post I will continue on with all my photos and commentary....Just brace yourselves!
I have now been checking in quite often, as I have solved the puzzle of how to get to my e-mails on this laptop. The keyboard is so small, I am still having finger problems....
DG is easy--I just search for this website.
SO! You all can reply as much as you like. I enjoy reading. I have been checking up on a couple of other Posts as well. BUT--there are the 3 of us and they want to check their e-mails as well.
It is now Sunday-7/13. Last night were the Closing Song Festival HUMONGOUS choir performance held in the new, outdoor Riga Arena. This place would rival any`stadium! There was a huge aphitheater and seats on the hilside to accomodate well over 100,000 people. AND--EVERY seet was filled! There were also many,many market-type booths around the long entrance walk selling all kinds of hand-made goods and foods.
NOW--just to get to this place called ''The Forrest Park Arena'' , first we had to walk 1 mile to catch the trolly car/streetcar and then stand, packed like sardines in it, as these poor streetcars--running non-stop from the city to the park, had to ''schlepp'' most of the 100,000 spectators and many of the performers, to the Park. As the trolley stopped at each stop, more people would squeeze in--literally standing shoulder-to-shoulder, breathing down each other's necks.
Then--upon arriving at The park--there was another mile-long walk, just flowing with the ''river'' of people through a beautiful, wooded road--huge trees on both sides, to approach the performance area. From there on--people just continued en masse to find their sector, their section, their rows of seats and their numbers.
The seats were backless bench-type and pretty uncomfortable as the seats were made of sturdy slats--which hurt my butt after a while.
The Choir--you CANNOT IMAGINE!!!!! I know you can`t!!!!!.
It consisted of 250 different Choirs from across the World (all Latvian--of course) 24 men`s choirs and 68 women`s choirs with a total of 12,000 singers and, besides them, aprox. 9000 folk dancers!!!! All these Choirs had been practicing for years! Does it boggle your mind a bit to realize that, after a few rehearsals, they all sang in perfect harmony??? It just blows ME away!!!!!
In addition to all the performers, there were 20 brass bands for a total of 800 participants. DO YOU KIND OF GET THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS FESTIVAL???
BTW--EVERY person in the Choir is wearing his or her National Dress--wherver they are from--and all the women have fresh flower wreaths (wowen in many, many field flowers, daisies, gerberas, etc...etc...) on their heads. Every laureate conductor (About 30 of 300) had his/her turn at conducting one of the music peaces and when done, left with arms-full of flowers presented to them by young girls--kisses included!
This was the 24th such a Festival (held every 5 years--somewhere--in Latvia . The very first such Festival was held in 1873 and, even all throughout the Soviet occupation years, the ''Reds'' did not dare to stop it--they just ''infiltrated'' these huge events with a bit of their own propaganda--thus giving subtle ''permission'' for the Festivals to continue.
Anyway--I digressed a bit--------
When it was all over, we hung`around (everyone in the audience was invited to) to sing along with the Choirs on the stage till the cows came home. We started our trek out of this Park at about 1:45AM.... Same long walk out of the Park.....
According to the TV reports, this sing-along continued until 4-something AM.
SO! We are now packed like sardines for the ride back on the same Trolly cars. No one paid for the rides! On the 15 min. ride back, we all were singing every song someone started. There were a few ''non-Latvians'' abord who probably had NO clue as to what was going on!!!!! They just gave us all funny looks.......
I know this is long--but--to me this is such an awesome event one can only witness once or twice in their lives--unless you are rich and can afford these trips every 4-5 years.
There are many more events going on. The massive Folk-Dance performance is totally UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
There were well over 2000 performers, who had been practicing the assigned dances for almost 4 years. Then, at the Song Festival, there are these huge, mass rehearsals to get all the steps, timing and formations down pat and in unison. I tell you, a military precision, while hopping and jumping and dancing and running on and off stage, was totally achieved. It was beautiful--beyond words!!!!!
They showed the performance on TV--and seeing from an aereal perspective was just amazing. Sitting in the seats you just never, quite, got the ''BIG picture''.
We now have a ''FREE'' (??) week before we go home.....HA! You wish!!!! We still have 2 family ''branches'' to visit. We have not even seen them yet! More great food and great company and conversations.
Another BTW--------As soon as we start speaking, they know we are NOT from Latvia. Obviously, our speaking the native tongue has assumed some different overtones and pronounciations. Well! We DO all speak it fluently, BUT--it just is not the same....
Very well! I will stop for now......Give you all a break!
I realize there will be people who ARE interested in all this-----and there will be people who are not. There is always the ''Freedom of Choice'' thing...
Love to you all---It will be hard returning to the heat and humidity of the Eastern US......:o((
Gita
I can't wait for the photos. How often is the Big Song Festival put on?
Sounds like you are having a marvelous time! The choir festival must be a sight (not to mention sound) to behold. I know you'll have a great week visiting family, too! SO much catching up to do... letters, email, etc. just aren't the same as visiting in person!
*HUGS*
This is so exciting Gita, I love your descriptions and can almost see it in my mind. Maybe PBS or someplace will pick it up and present part of it. Can't wait to see your pictures!! Have a wonderful remainder of your trip!
This message was edited Jul 13, 2008 9:16 AM
Wow! That is impressive. You description is wonderful, I enjoyed reading it. Can't wait to see pictures. Enjoy your final week there and come home safe.
The festival sounds fantastic, Gita. I'm really looking forward to the photos too. So funny that they think you speak with an accent. LOL
It sounds as though you are enjoying yourself in Latvia. I am like the others who found myself imagining all the merriment that you described. A one hundred thousand seat arena is most impressive. I just cannot imagine myself doing very well in a crowd that size. You forever amaze me Gita.
What sorts of foods are you having to eat? I too will be waiting to see the pictures that you are taking.
On a gardening note, the tiny tomato plants that you gave me at the swap have grown quite large and have begun producing small green tomatoes. I can't remember seeing anything grow as fast as these plants did. I will let you know when I start eating them.
Enjoy the remaining time that you have there.
Ruby
We miss you Gita, but love reading about your trip and your different adventures. We are all looking forward to seeing your beautiful pictures when you return. Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation. Have a safe journey back.
I am so happy to have stumbled across this thread, Gita. I was telling Mike today that I missed seeing your posts. It's great that you are enjoying your visit and I really have enjoyed reading about your trip and can't wait to see the pictures. It's really good to hear from you and I''m glad you are sharing it with us. .
Hugs, Shirley
Ruby,
For foods in our apartment we are on our own. There is a small, well equipped, grocery store right across the street from our building called ''Maxima''.
In my observation, prices on dairy foods seem a lot less here than in the US. The assortment of cheeses is impressive and smoked fish are easily available. GOOD smoked fish!
Mostly we are eating ''real'', dark rye bread and cold cuts and hams and fish,etc on it. I so craved carrots I bought some to munch. Overall, I miss salads and fruits.....We could buy/make those, of course, but it just doesn`t seem practical.
Since we have been tothe ''Old Riga'' center quite a lot, we all, usually, stop in a small restaurant/pub and have something to eat. I, of course, always have one of their awesome, locally brewed beers. YUM!
BTW--beer here comes in larger bottles--1/2Liter--whatever that is in ozs??? Everything is now refrigerated. Last time I was here--1994--nothing was. Warm beer---YUKKKK!!!!
The building we are staying in is a massive, 8 story, dark gray stone building in a large ''u'' shape (built in 1913) It has a beautiful, central courtyard with beautiful plantings--thanks to one of our cousins--who is the building`s Manager. This building was one of the first co-op type apartment buildings in Riga.
Our cousins` grandfather bought one of the VERY spaceous apartments in 1935. When the Soviets occupied Latvia in 1939, these huge apartments were divided up in smaller ones and a bunch of Russians lived here, trashing the place. When Latvia got it`s freedom in 1990, people were allowed to re-claim their ancestor`s properties through a very complicated .
I have to stop right now. I will continue where I left off......Sorry!
continued....
Our cousin, Nata here waged war for almost 5 years to prove ownership through inheritance and then to evict the vermin from her reclaimed apartment. Due to this weird law--you could only eveict someone if you found him/her an equivalent living space. Each time she did find one, the ''case'' went to court and the bum found some reason or other why the new place was not desirable. Then my cousin had to search foranother one----and so it continuedn for maybe 4 years. 1000`s of Lats spent in all the litigations for nothing.
Finally, I think the judge just told him he had to accept and so he was eveicted.
Our other cousin, Zenta, had a most beautiful house and garden already in 1994, which she had also inherited from and elderly relative she cared for until her death. Eventually, she sold this house for 1/2 million$$$ and bought the apartment above her sister here and a country home way out of the city. Then she also bought another apartment and all this is now renovated. We are staying in one of them. BTW--these renovations cost a lot, and they are taking out 25-30 year mortgages for that with pretty high %`s.
Well-that was just an overview so you can appreciate the difficulties and struggles they had to face here to rightfully live in their grandparent`s properties.
OK! Today seems we have a totally free day--again. Might walk down to ''Old Riga'' and take in some more sights. I want to get some pictures of the huge City Market downtown. You will not believe it!!!
Will stop again for now.
Tilll the next time.....Gita
In the last years, out relatives have totally refurbished the apartments and have divided them in 2 separate apartments each for theit married children.
That Festival and huge co-ordinated choir sounds "Awesome".. Gita.
Thanks for gviing us a bit of history of your beloved family.
Oh wow, I can't wait to see pictures of that architecture Gita!
Gita so nice to read your posts, bet it's overwhelming..as you say, can't even imagine what the choir and bands must sound like..and to have their native dress..lucky you to be enjoying such beauty...
I have one small correction to make on the figures.
I said the Arena seated 100,000 people. It is more like 40,000. The 10K number was referring to the total number of people in Riga that have gathered for this festival.
And Ruby--I meant to mention another ''trivial'' fact about food here. When you go out to eat in these cafes and Pubs, EVERY little condiment is charged for--like: cream, pats of butter, spoonfulls of jam, slices of pickles, etc......
Also, as for transportation on the trolleycars, one way ride anywhere costs .40Santims (about90+ cents US). Not cheap, as most people commute anywhere they go by buses and trollys and trains.
OK! We are off tonight to visit with a family that are friends of out cousin, Nata. More food!!!! Everyone wants to feed you here. Good, yummy, great food....
We had another rainy, drizzly day today. Bummer! Went to a Park and then took the trolly to a huge Restaurant called Lido. Mostly--they have great beer......
OK....Ciao until next time!
Gita
such wonderful stories from you. you must be having a great time.
have a great day
How awful that your family had to go through that to get their property back. Fascinating stories, Gita.
This is for you.
Gita so glad you are enjoying yourself...look forward to photo's..
Hi, All,
I am up early this AM--along with the shrieking Sea Gulls outside. What a racket!!!!
Yesterday, we went to visit 2 more of our relative`s places and ate and ate--more delicious shishkebobs of diced pork bits and chicken pieces and the most delicious, home-made cakes. This was a new home this young couple had built--and he (Maris) wanted to show it off to us. They have a 5yr. old little boy and are expecting their 2nd child in September.
Did you know that in Latvia '''Maternity Leave'' is for a full year with 70% of your pay? ALL Moms could use this long a bonding time! THEN---The Government pays a very large sum of money to the parents for producing another Latvian child. This is, sort of, an incentive to re-populate Latvia with Latvians--as there is still a good 50% of Russian population here that just is NOT leaving. They truly hate that here and resent the interference they instigate.
Then we went to our old (86--and dharp as a whistle) Aunt`s and her daughter`s and husband`s house and ate more sweets and cakes and fresh berries and fruit and drank wine. I got to meet the girls, who were youngsters when i was there in 1994.
Such accomplished young ladies they are now! No one slides through life here on easy street. Education and music are very high, and almost mandatory in all schools here and high on everyone`s priority list.....Can you guess? Thr BIG`Song festival?
Today the son of this family will take us for a ride in the more ''away'' country side to see some more of this beautiful little Country. He is picking us up here at 9AM.
Tomorrow evening we are going to another concert (somewhere) a small distance out of town. I let my sisters do all the scheduling.....We all can`t be the ''chiefs''--gtotta have at least ONE ''Indian''......
This coming Sunday EVERYONE is gathering for a big farewell cookout for us at our cousin`s country place. Then--early Monday morning--we have to be at the Airport here at 5AM and start our long trek back home.
To be honest with you--I am very eager to get back to my own ''turf''. Visiting is always nice--but ''There`s no place like home!''......
I have taken off the rest off the week after I get home. Besides recovering from the 7-hr. jet-lag, I bet I will be busy catching up in my Garden.
OK! Chat with you all later. Time to get organized here.....
Hugs, Gita
We'll be glad to "see" you back at home, too! Amazing stories -- thanks for sharing!
Wow! Sounds like a great visit! Can't wait for the photos.
You know what? I feel like musing..........Waxing sentimental........:o/
We took a LONG drive today to a beautiful Park 2 1/2 hours drive away today. Our old Aunt`s grandson, Maris, drove us. We walked and walked--maybe 5+ miles through woody trails covered in roots and dark soil. Many of them followed a river with beautiful, orange/red stone cliffs and caves.
This Park had a fairy tale to tell with carved figures of the subjects (in the tale) here and there all through the walk. They` were all hand-hewn and axed and carved from huge logs of oak. A pamphlet (for 60 santims) told the tale and had photos of all the figurines. it was a fantasy`tale with the usual content of evil conquering the good. We climbed many steep steps and stood in awe of the scenery from above. More photo Ops.....
It was a LONG, tiring walk--maybe a totaql of 3 hours. My older sister, LIga, HAD TO read every sign and explanation. That is just the way she is....
Aftyer we walked out of the Park, Maris drove us a short distance to a wonderful, country cafe and we had lunch. ALL home-made food, soups and salads. The 3 of us had a wonderful meal, and beer for about $20!!!! WHERE can you beat that????
e drove the 21/2 hours back along the dirt roads along the Sea--the Bay of Riga. Hit huge traffic jams (rush hour) when we got to the City. Nowadays, it seems everyone here drives cars--and expensive ones!!!! The Police are out in force to catch speeders with computerized radar--NO mercy! This whole place seems just like back home--except for the wonderful people and the clean streets, and the great food and beer.
OK! Here`s the musing/poetic part..........
At this time, I am looking at this trip like a colorful ''fruit`salad''. I ''eat'' it every day.....It is filled with colorful ''ingredients'' and so very pleasing and tasteful.....Because I ''eat'' it every day, I cannot tell you how wonderful each and every ''ingredient'' of it is. It just is!!!
After I get back home, I will start ''digesting'' it. I will allow my mind to remember each and every ''ingredient'' of it and revel in it`s beauty. I believe it will be only THEN, that i will appreciate this trip. Right now, it is just too complex and too diverse.......
It will take me a long time to get my photos uploaded anf ID`d. I HOPE that I will not procrastinate this time with putting all the printed photos in a huge album--as I am known to do after a trip...
I have also collected odd pieces of small driftwood fro various beaches as well as some pine cones and shells. I have a craft project in mind!!It will be a wall-hanging/mobile-type of a thing.....I have also bought small amber pieces to suspend within it and some heavy, gray stone ''buttons'' to incorporate as well. So far it lives in my mind only--but that is how all my projects are.....until they become reality.
rest assured that i will take a picture of it and share it with you all.
OK! have to go! Our cousin just came in with fresh picked berries from her country home.....
CIAO!!!! Gita
Gita, this is so special for us still "back home." You have a talent with words and each thing that I read, I feel as though I am there.
I understand what you are saying about savoring the trip after arriving back at home. Sally said much the same thing about visiting Rome. She said that re-living so many of the events afterwards were in some ways better than the actual event which was so overwheming at the time.
Am really glad that you were able to make this trip. Your sister did well with scheduling things it seems.
Have a safe trip home.
Ruby
HI Gita,
What a great idea to gather natural "treasures" along the way, with the thought to do a wall hanging.
With all the great food and beer you are having I'll bet your clothes are gettng a little snug..LOL
On second thought...you are doing a lot of walking..Whew! Five miles??? great stamina you have there girl!
Sounds like your family is really treating you royally.
Cheers,
Carol
It is so nice to read of your travels, and I agree with Ruby, you have a great way with words. Your country sounds beautiful - I just hope they don't get too westernized and lose the things that make them who they are. I look forward to your photos, and that collage/wall art sounds perfect! Have a wonderful day :)
Waiting for more stories Gita!!!!!
She should be just arriving home!
She was going to visit with another relative so she could be in a place where she doesn't have internet access.
"SHE" IS home!.........:o)
I drove home Monday evening--after flying half way around the World--at least 13 hrs. total. Then my Sister and I and a friend of hers took a van from the Airport (Newark, NJ) back to my sister's place--maybe a 20 minute ride.
I was going to stay the night there, but my Sister and I have a strained relationship (stupid sibling c--p--even still at out old ages), and I just got tired of it all and decided to drive the 3 hrs. back to my place in Baltimore--tired and sleepy as I was. The time here was 7 hrs. BACK from the time there, so I was royally wasted to have done all that in one day.
I have now been home 2 days. Unpacked--grocery shopped--garden somewhat attended to--small gifts doled out to my neighbors for keeping my garden watered, etc.
Slept 12 hrs last night! I think one more day/night and i will be back on track....
I was out in the garden half the day--everything has tripled in size! ONLY in 3 weeks!!!! My Sun Gold tomatoes are ripening and I have picked hand-fulls of them. They sure are sweet!
Right now, I am catching up with all my "watched" threads. E-mails are taken care of.
I was going to upload my digitals--or at least start to do it tonight. I am not sure how many I took, but I will divide all the photos in at least 3 or 4 different folders. One will be ONLY flowers--as i took a lot of pictures of flowers I had not seen and will post them for ID'ing.
SO! You all be patient with me, OK? I have to look through all my pictures and decide which ones would be of interest to the "general public" (you all). THAT will take a long while!
Bye for now! Gita
Welcome home!
Thanks, Happy!
It's ALWAYS great to be back home--no matter how wonderful a trip one had.
Gita
Welcome home! We'll wait as patiently as possible for photos... we're just glad to have you safely stateside after what sounds like the trip of a lifetime. :-)
Welcome back Gita.
I feel as you do....there is no place like home.
We all look forward to seeing your photos.
Thank you all!
See? I am still screwed up! Been awake since 6AM. If you add 7 hrs. to that, it would be 1PM. Finally got up. No sense laying in bed trying to fall back asleep when your body is awake.....
I DID upload all my digitals last night. Had to put them in 6 different folders!!! There were over 450 of them! Mind you--everywhere I went, I was photographing with both cameras. I have 14 rolls of regular pictures also. Most are 24's, but I have about 4 that are 36's. had to buy them there as i ran out....Now I am trying to price places for developing...Target seems to be the one. Went to Wallgreens--they want $6.99 per a 24-roll and $9.99 for a 36 roll....times 14 makes a lot of $$$$$.
Target was $4.79 for a 24--and just $7 for a 36.
I will post pictures of one Lily to get a head start.....This Lily (according to my relatives) used to grow all over Latvia, but now is not all that available anymore. The stem is so stiff, you would think it is wired! You cannot even bend it! It must be an Oriental Lily of some kind because of the leaves.
We had several in out apartment in a vase (thanks to our cousin, who would pop in all the time with goodies and flowers) and in the evening the fragrance started emanating.....MY GOD! It would knock you over--at least give you a headache! We were in the adjoining room watching TV and it just started drifting over......Out of this World!
I would like to know if this is available, or a recognized variety in the USA (NOT likely!) so I could get some. Actually, I made a deal with my cousin--she is going to try to dig up a couple in the Fall and sneak them to me as something else.....as mailing plants is not allowed. I imagine Latvia is in zone 6??? Kind of like Mid-Canada....Hudson Bay area?
Because it is flat--NO mountains and right on the Baltic Sea, it is pretty temperate.
OK! So here is a picture of this Lily.
This message was edited Jul 24, 2008 7:15 AM
Here's another shot. I WILL post this on the Lily Forum as well.
Tried a close-up. Kind of blurry.....SO pretty!
Everything grows well over there, as it should, with the nice cool nights and days around 70* with no humidity.....
Any guesses????
No Idea..but it sure is pretty.
Here is one of my Cousins--the gardening fanatic--in her immaculate garden. There Lilies were just planted last year. They were amazing!!!!
