Today the sun shone for most of the day, so much so that it was a bit sweaty getting around. It was a sort of ‘mop up’ day seeing a few things that I still wanted to see like the Powder Tower and the Swiss Gate. I wanted to see a museum as well, it was about the barricades the city erected around all their major buildings in 1991 demanding their independence. It was one of the star attractions but do you think I could find it. Round and round I went, I finally had to conclude I wasn’t going to find it. It remains a mystery to me. Anyway, it was a pivotal moment in Riga’s history when they manned the barracades and gained their independence.
I kind of mooched about today. I had my coffee in the best café yet – Conti- on Laipu Iela. Then I went off sightseeing at a leisurely pace, following little cobblestone lanes around what little is left of the old city wall. I had some lunch, at a leisurely pace, at a place called Neiburgs, which, by the way looks like a very nice boutique hotel to stay in. Round and round I went looking for the museum that is impossible to find. I also poked my nose into souvenir shops to see what I could see, which wasn’t much. Then I came home for an hour before going back out for dinner. This time, surprise, surprise I found an Italian restaurant. But all rather unremarkable. In fact the whole day was a bit unremarkable and windy downy.
Now to pack for a moving day tomorrow. The bus doesn’t leave until 1pm. I think I’ll get the Airbnb guy to ring me a taxi to get to the bus station but first coffee and a final meander to farewell Riga who has done herself proud. My head has started to turn to Vilnius and I do wonder how it can stamp its uniqueness as both Tallinn and Riga have done. Despite the fact that they are indeed unique, they have already started to run into each other as I try to. Remember which city it was I saw whatever it was.
This apartment has been nice apart from a scarcity of hot water and a very slippery shower indeed. So much so that I won’t be having another shower here. A short story today as I get started with the packing. Moving days always make me a bit more nervous.xxxxxxxx