Poland and Latvia Highlights

Posted by Amanda Kendle Mar 8, 2007

Looking back over my many adventures in Eastern Europe, I often think about how much my activities can vary from one day to the next. A spy observing me wouldn't have a clue how to classify my interests, that's for sure!

That's how I can justify such differing articles out this week. First, I look at a great day trip from Latvian capital Riga to Sigulda and the Gauja National Park. Although Riga's a perfectly gorgeous city, if you've been doing a Baltic city hop then Sigulda is a really convenient place to head for a day "out of town". But do you know the strangest thing? I still remember that the whole day I spent in Sigulda, I had a line from a song running round in my head - obviously the wrong line, but I kept singing "I lost my wallet in old Sigulda". At least it's one way to avoid forgetting the place I'm visiting.

The second article out this week looks at a completely different aspect of travel in Eastern Europe: history, and especially the impact of the world wars. At the Warsaw Historical Museum in Poland, I still clearly remember being amazed at the destruction the Old Town of Warsaw experienced, and even more amazed at how fast and well the reconstruction was achieved. And I also remember that visiting the museum was a perfect way to spend a cold, rainy day in Warsaw - even though it was late summer.