We arrived in dark, snowy RIga, Latvia, and checked into Konventa Seta Hotel in Old Town.
The next morning, we set out to see the town. This is the House of Blackheads, the symbol of Riga.
The ornate carvings on the House of Blackheads.
St. Peter's Church in Old Town.
The Old Guild (on the left) and the New Guild (on the right). Most of Riga's classic buildings were destroyed in WWII, but after the war, they rebuilt them all exactly as they used to be.
The Cat House- a Guild member was expelled back in the day, so he built this house, and had those two cat figures' asses facing the Guild.
The cats have since been turned to face the other way.
More ornate doorways.
The longest building in Riga...
The Three Brothers Houses. They are the oldest original buildings in Riga- from the 17th century- and were built by three brothers.
The oldest of the Three Brothers.
The river separating Old from New Town features this lovely sculpture of a dancer, right in front of the Opera House.
Another cool statue in the town park.
The Greek Orthodox Church- the biggest one in Latvia.
Riga has one of the largest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. On this street, every building is amazing.
Another gorgeous Art Nouveau building.
...and another...
Old Town Riga, as they set up for the Christmas Markets.
In the Christmas Market was this bizarre dollhouse filled with adoptable cats, put together by the local Humane Society. These poor kitties must have been freezing in their weird zoo
First mulled wine of the season, BRING IT ON
Riga, Latvia