ROW Lecture Tour 2013 Latvia

As mentioned in my last post, my next port of call was Riga in Latvia, and of course, more snow. On one of the days I was there the day commenced with a cloudless sky and gradually deteriorated into cloud, rain, sleet and snow. So there it all was in the one day.

The streets in Riga were still very laden with snow, and in many instances very icy and slippery as well, which made walking along them quite hazardous at times.

My very helpful and delightful hosts and their family, without whom my lectures would not have been successful, or even possible. I felt extremely priveldged that their eldest daughter came and held my hand for this photo.

The hotel in the background, is indeed a most interesting place. It is named after the famous scientist Albert Einstein, with numerous quotations by him and other famous, and less famous people, to be found all over, even in the elevators. I would love to have had the time to have made copies of them, and to have shared them with you. Of necessity, that project will require to wait for another time.

Fortunately we had the time to visit the families farm about one hour's drive from Riga toward the Russian border.

Here I am in the blue beanie, sunglasses against the glare from the snow, wearing a ski jacket so kindly lent to me for the occasion. For although I had cold weather gear, the added protection was a real blessing.

In the background can be seen an old windmill for the grinding of the corn which came from the farms. The old mill-stones are still to be found in it.

The sauna is considered an important and necessary part of these northern climate homes with some still following the traditional way of following it by a dive through the ice to the waters below. When I say dive, many may think I am referring to doing so head-first. And this is definitely not the case, for as the local people point out, this is extremely dangerous and the insertion of our bodies should be feet first, and slow at that.

I thought I had taken another couple of photos to share with you. I must have been mistaken. So that is all for this time.