Spending Time at Home

Our weekends have become more home-bound. We're finding that we are spending much more time staying in and relaxing these days and, when Ash has made our home so beautiful and welcoming, it's an easy place to be.

Natural History Museum

If you want to see Latvia's geological and natural history from several million years ago until today, then the Natural History Museum is for you. At this museum, you can also find a sample of every single leaf and plant found in Latvia, every butterfly and bug, and a stuffed exhibit of every animal. It's an exhibit that has to be seen to be believed. And the vegetarian cafe on site is pretty great, too!

Kipsala

Floating in the Daugava River, caught between the Old Town and the northern suburbs, is the island of Kipsala, an oasis of cobbled streets, old wooden homes and trees. On our anniversary, Ash and I took the day off together and began in Kipsala where we took a beautiful walk along the waterfront and visited the Janis Lipke Memorial, a small museum built on the site of the Lipke home where dozens of Jews were hidden and saved during World War II. The heroic acts of Janis and his family were recently documented in a movie released for Latvia's 100th anniversary.

Riga Old Town

Every time we're driving across the bridge with the spires of Old Riga up ahead, we remember how lucky and thankful we are to be living in Europe. This is a special time in our lives, one for which we have a lot of gratitude.