I landed in Riga to a cold evening and the break of rain in the forcast. Downtown Riga is very cute but you can still feel and see the marks of war here both with the Germans and Russia. There are cracked walls, chipped paint, warped wood and missing bricks everywhere but if you look at the soul of Riga it is beautiful.

I toured the Occupation Museum and walked in front of the Opera house that gave fame to the Russian Ballet and it's performers including, Mikhail Baryshnikov. Yesterday afternoon as I sat on my Hostel bed.....a group of ballet performers were practicing the in the building across the street from my window. Even with the Russians gone, as they jumped from one end to the other and tip toed with arms stretched to the sky.. you can see they still hold the grace of the masters before them. I thought their practice was my welcoming committee to Riga.

As a city, most of Riga has been rebuilt in it's original style and architecture and what hasn't been rebuilt still holds the antique style with a few bruises here and there. Since there has been occupation in the last 100 years there are photos, documents and memories of those that lived here during the war times and you can still see the strength in the elderly with their wrickled skin, wool socks and hair coveres scarves.

The scars are still strong and around you as the new generation moves in.

A little history for my readers, may we all learn in the process.