Day 42 Home From Riga

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We are home safe from Riga, the Paris of the North.  We took lots of pictures, so if you get a chance, check out the link above.  It would have been better if I could have downloaded each day's pictures separately, but I forgot the adaptor for the memory stick, and I don't know how to download them in groups.

We had a wonderful time, and being with the Lubans made it special.  I had met John, retired librarian from Duke, a couple of times and enjoyed his company, but had not had a chance to meet Sheryl, also a librarian.  Getting to know her just a bit, was such fun.  She was interesting and funny and was generous in showing me around her new city.  One of the things I learned about her is that she and 3 friends hiked the Inca Trail in Peru, up to Machu Picchu, sleeping in tents, hiking in the rain, the altitude etc.  It is great to know people who do adventurous things I would never consider, crossing the street against the light, for example.  I enjoy hearing about it.

Our visit to the Opera House to see The Barber of Seville is a memory to treasure.  I had never been to an opera in a real opera hall, so it was quite an experience.   I was confused at the use of the French Revolution in the story, but I will have to look it up. 

 Our family did have the chance to hear Beverly Sills sing at Duke in '77 or '78.  I read in the paper that she was doing her final tour before retiring and wanted to hear her.  It was cheaper to dress David up in his little suit and take him with us than to hire a sitter, so we promised him a trip to Swenson's ice cream parlor if he was very good.  We had seats in the nose bleed section of the hall, and David was sitting next to a nice older woman, younger than I am now, I suppose, looking back on it.  During the intermission, she asked him if he was enjoying the performance.  He thought for a second and then said "It's good.  I didn't understand it, but I guess you aren't supposed to understand yodeling."  The nice lady was struck by a sudden coughing fit, as were several people around us.  I guess they didn't want to laugh at the small child. We demonstrated, not for the last time, that while our family has class, most of it is lower.

We caught the early bus/big van to Klaipeda so that we could catch some of the festival.  This bus was quite clean, but must have had no shocks at all, because there were times when my spine jangled all the way up to my teeth.  There were only 4 passengers this time instead of full to capacity going.  Do you think the extra weight from people and luggage held it to the road going?

We did not get back in time to see the burning of winter or most of the masks, etc.  We only saw one person in mask and one dressed up child, but were in time to cruise the craft fair/flea market.  Some of the things could have been at any similar event in the US - baskets, wooden toys, wooden spoons, etc.  They also had more hand knit woolen socks, mittens, hats and booties than you could shake a stick at and breads, and smoked pork products.  Several stalls had felted wool items that were beautiful.  The foods offered were dried fish cooked in various ways, doughnuts, and waffles on a stick.  They stuck the stick in as the waffle was baking, dipped them in chocolate and nuts, coconut or sprinkles and off you went to dribble chocolate all over yourself.  I only ate one of the ones I was holding, by the way.

We may have foiled our first pick pocketing scheme, but I can't swear to it.  A large man and a large woman, both middle aged, came up on either side of me at the coffee car and literally squeezed me between them.  I said, excuse me rather loudly and wiggled out.  The man said he was sorry and moved off.  My money was in my inside zipped coat pocket and my tote was empty, so I was safe.  Del was standing a few feet away and the woman and another woman walked over and stood bumped up to his side.  I saw her hand go out from under a cloth over her arm toward his side pocket and I said, "Watch your wallet." in a loud, sharp tone.  She and her companion moved off immediately without getting anything. I don't know if they were crooks or if I have an overly active imagination.  They certainly weren't subtle.  I do know that it was the first time I have felt in any way uncomfortable in any crowd. 

In any case, we had fun.  I'll stick in other stories of the trip on other days when I have only laundry to talk about..