Saturday 10/5/13 off to the country

All packed up and ready to go at 9 am. Latvia Janis is quite the planner I am finding out. Weare going to be gone 4 days and 3 nights

Saturday 10/5/13 out into the country

Latvian Janis has big plans for us. Three nights and 4 days to Eastern Latvia where Janis is from. Saturday: We were in the car at 9 am. (6 of us) heading east. First area was the National park where we saw a ski area, many beautiful parks, old castles from 1200AD and beautiful churches. Proceeding further East we had lunch and ended up way out in the country at Janis's cousins vacation home. Her husband, a builder claimed his grand mothers land in 1992 when Latvia gained their freedom and land could be claimed by the rightful owners. It was very big with three homes and a barn made out of logs from clearing the land. They had a feast for us and most of their family came with their children. Janis and I had a sauna in the house that we stayed in - very nice!! When we left, his cousin said we would be welcome to stay a month when we come back

Thursday night 10/4/and Fri 10/5/13

We are leaving for the Opera house shortly. Last night we had dinner at the house with their daughter and her boy friend. A nice party. We started with balsams(a liqueur made only in Latvia)once again delicious fish. This morning we toured Old Town and our guide was a friend of Latvia Janis. Beautiful city! Renovation of the city continues since the occupation of the Russians ended in 1992 and Latvia became an independent country. At the opera house we saw a modern concert in a smaller section of the opera house. Very unusual and political. One selection was about the importance of remembering the occupation of other countries and fighting to keep their freedom. There was yelling and story telling in the piece. Some of it was in English and many other languages. The Latvian crowd loved it and clapped in unison for a long time. Another selection was about them joining the Euro block. interesting Janis feels right at home here. He is kept very busy translating.

We have arrived in Latvia

We boarded our plane in GR oct 1st at 3:45pm and arrived in Latvia at 2:40pm on to 2nd. The flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was particularly fun. The plane was great and comfy. I thought I was going to have two seats to myself but after take off a woman from Bombay wanted to sit with me because her TV wouldn't work. Possible downer but we started talking, very interesting. Moved to the US when she was 5 but has spent the last 5 years in Bombay writing her 1st book and working as a teacher.35years old. We drank wine and talked for hours until the stu came and said she had complaints about us. Sleep time. We weren't that bad just laughing. The plane from Amsterdam was ok and we we're picked at the Riga airport by Janis, wife valda and Grandson Janis. Lots of Janis's. We call the Grandson John Janis and Valda live downtown near old town in a large appt on the 4th floor. We have our own private studio rm. Mary and Ed Zyneiwitz from White Cloud came with us and they have a nice room also. Janis and Valda are very warm and excellent company. Janis is very busy interpreting for all of us. Dinner was a traditional Latvian soup with dark rye bread - very good! Breakfast- oatmeal, smoked herring, lox and rye bread. Once again very tasty. Off to the market. One more thing, when we arrived Valda presented Mary and I with a rose and hugs. Very sweet! To much to write and so little time. The market was a city block big and wonderful. One building was fresh fish. A totally different way to shop than what we do. Just like Spain. Love it After the Market we walked the parks and Latvian Janis shared much history of Latvia reminding me of how fortunate we are living in America. After lunch we went to the shore (Baltic) and saw the area with Ivars (their daughters boyfriend) Got to go so I will post this without checking it. Bye a big day planned

Making final arrangements for our adventure. Getting flight fear.