The Black Cats
Our lack of an accurate map was now clear as we stood and studied our two maps to decide which way to go next. We chose to walk down Meistaru Street towards the Great Guild’s building. This was where we hoped to see the famous cat statues.
We had been told the story about the cats. Junior merchants who had been refused entry into the Great Guild put the cats on top of their nearby building. The cats looked away from the Great Guild and demonstrated what the junior merchants felt about their rejection.
In Liva Square we found the Great Guild building but not the cats. As we walked away we met a couple off Aurora who had a better map and we were pointed to where we could see the cats. Back through the square, look for a collonaded building and at the top of the steps look back and there were the cats. They also told us that the Three Brothers buildings were in scaffolds and perhaps not worth walking to this visit.
Doms Square for a break
It was time for a sit down and to have a drink after our failure with the coffees earlier. Back to Doms Square where we joined friends off the ship for a drink and a sit down.
Walking back to the House of the Blackheads
We sat for nearly an hour before we went looking for the tourist office. We did a lot of wandering in and around the streets until we noticed the small ‘i’ signs in the left hand side of the House of Blackheads! Now finally we had a map of Riga.
We stopped for lunch at an open air bar area. Lunch for me was a cheeseburger plus fries, not very traditional but delicious nevertheless.
Back to Aurora
Walking back along the river towards Aurora, these were the views of the castle and some tags under the bridge.
and a couple sitting on a bench enjoying the sunshine.
Back on board we watched a tug arrive as the Captain explained that Aurora would back off her berth and then spin so she could sail back down the river.
We passed a huge private yacht moored just downstream as well as a Baltic ferry.
The city side of the Daugava River was very different to one I had watched on the way up the river earlier. We passed quays with cranes busy with coal as well as a small container port. The industrial activity continued for many miles downstream.
I could now see one of the sights we hadn’t visted away in the distance. This was the golden dome of Nativity of Christ Cathedral.
These were the graffiti we passed further down stream in one of the industrial areas.
Aurora reached the mouth of the river after 6.30 pm. There we could see a beach that stretched away out of sight.
The Baltic had a swell for the first time this voyage.
Dinner was prawns in parcels, soup with chorizo sausage, sirloin staek and my favourite of honey and ginger ice cream.
The Headliners gave us a great show entitled ‘Stop! In the name of love” No surprise that this show featured the music of Tamla Motown. At the end of the show we learnt that this particular show was being retired and we’d just seen the very last performance.
Sending postcards cost £1.85 and had to be at reception 2 hours before the ship left Riga – 3 pm.
The clocks changed overnight giving us another hour’s sleep.
… Day 11 Baltic Sea