The Home Of The Christmas Tree?

GUAJA.

Woke up at 4am but the temperature was higher than yesterday, our ears weren't frozen!

Although the showers are the most distant from the van we've experienced so far, they are clean and the water is hot. And, they have a door on them.

We've found the address of a park and ride for Riga. Somehow, despite the address being incorrect, we find ourselves at the end of a tramline. There is a manned (womanned, in truth) ticket office so we buy tickets and learn where we need to get off. The tram takes us through the poorer side of the city. We alight at the Concert Hall. An English speaking local explains where we should head. She is very proud of the community funded freedom memorial.

One of the landmarks is the Blackheads House. Legend has it that the Christmas tree was invented here. After a drunken night, the boys decorated a tree then set fire to it. The latter bit didn't catch on fortunately.

We spend a couple of hours wandering around the town, enjoy a coffee then head off back to the van.

The van shows a message that one of the tyres has lost pressure. Fortunately, there is a petrol station opposite so we top it up. It needs keeping an eye on though.

Our overnight stop is north east of the city, about 20 miles away. A lovely setting, we're the only van parked.

The owner has a good command of English, his relative lived in Alnwick in the north east. He likes to talk though. He points us in the direction of a Russian soldier cemetery and memorial. The statue of a woman holding fire in her arms had been hijacked by a stork for its nest.

He also tells us of a bistro a couple of kilometre away. He under sells it. It's a snow centre in the winter, currently it has toboggan rides, canoeing, bouncing trampolines and more. I have a couple of beers and Rosie finally tries kvass a wheat based drink.