This is part of the fifth section of our around
the world trip.
Complete Trip Overview &
Map
Coming from Estonia
16/6/99 Out of one small Baltic country and into the
next,
Latvia, with polite customs but motorcycle insurance required, $US 7.00
for
one day transit, or $US 23.00 for a week. We opted to take the risk
with
one day insurance. Straight to the capital Riga for a Belarus transit
visa
at $US 44.00 processed next day. This will only allow us forty eight
hours
in the country. A shame for a country requiring hard currency that they
won't
let us stay longer easily.
17/6/99 A visit to the small occupation museum sums
up the plight of the baltic countries turmoil of the 20th century. To
have gained
independence early in the century only to be taken over by communist
Soviets
with all land and businesses nationalized and farms collectivized and
finding
the German WW11 forces liberators from communistic oppression, only to
have
their country destroyed by the Red Army bombing to drive out the
Germans
with conscript Red Army Latvians fighting the "volunteer" Nazi Army
Latvians.
Stalin after the war again took control sending hundreds of thousands
to
immediate death by execution and torture while the others spent a
slower
death in Gulag Camps in Siberia while the western nations sick of
fighting
turned a blind eye to the Baltic peoples problems. Not till the early
1990's
did the people have the right to self determination.
18/6/99 Gauja Valley, Latvia's main tourist
attraction outside Riga, an undulation in an otherwise flat country
where the Knights of the Sword built castles overlooking the river
valley to protect their lands.
The new Latvia seizing on history within its boundaries has and is
rebuilding
these castles and other historic buildings in Riga. The T-shirt riding
weather
of the last week continuing along with the uncluttered roads.
Move with us to Lithuania
or go to our next visit to Latvia
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Story and photos copyright Peter and Kay Forwood, 1996-
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