During the night it seems five more people moved in to our dorm.  We didn’t even notice them come in as we were sound asleep.

We got up at our usual time, had cold showers again and went down to the kitchen for our morning fruit tea.  Afterwards we headed in the direction of Riga train station.  Along the way Claire and I stopped outside the Arora Hotel, which is where Sean and I stayed when last here four years ago.  For some reason it meant a lot to me that I had seen that rundown hotel again!

At the train station we managed to buy our tickets for Sigulda and boarded the train.  Off to Sigulda!  The weather was pleasant and we were treated to some spectacular views of the Latvian countryside.  It was like travelling back 50 years seeing people pushing wooden carts along dir tracks.  The journey was certainly one I shall never forget.

Having arrived at Sigulda we took the opportunity to try some local cuisine in a tiny café.  The food was very nice although we couldn’t honestly say that we knew what we were eating!  Once lunch was finished we headed for Sigulda Castle.

The castle itself is just ruins but the views looking across the Gauja National Park were tremendous.  Despite the fact it had started raining we decided that the nearby cable cars would give us a better view.  It certainly did!  The rain fortunately stopped just in time for the start of our ride ensuring superb views.  Along the way we even saw a newly married couple on a bridge below us.

The views at the end of the ride were superb as well and we took the opportunity to visit what we thought was a stately home.  In reality the building was a children’s hospital and a hostel.

Fortunately on the way back a huge rabble of school children were denied access to our cable car se we had our journey in relative peace and comfort.  On the return journey we got talking to a couple of Kiwis who have been to the Isle of Skye and know where my family lives on the island.  What a small world!

It was time to head back to Riga but for once my directional sense let me down and we arrived at the train station with only to minutes to spare.  In a way the detour was beneficial as it showed how life for most Latvians hasn’t changed at all from their days in the USSR.  In particular the residential areas of Sigulda were proof of that.  We were pleased, however, to have made it to our train.

The train journey passed by pretty quickly and I was really enjoying our final day in Latvia.  Having arrived back in Riga we made our way to ‘Blinoof’, a Russian restaurant on Brivibas Bulevard.  Not only was the food beautiful and incredible cheap but also exceptionally filling.  The most filling pancakes and crepes I’ve ever had that’s for sure!

After tea we decided to return to Reval Hotel’s Skyline Bar and have a pint of Latvian wheat beer whilst enjoying the Riga skyline.

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