Relaxing At Rundale Palace In Latvia

Relaxing - not really the right mood at such an extravagant residence. Think the Versailles of the Baltics. The palace was built in the 1700s for Ernst Johann Biron, son of a minor landlord of the Russian Court.

It's runaway Rococo and Baroque, a block long building in the middle of the Latvian countryside. Gardens as icing.

The grand interior. That porcelain tower in the corner? A heater. A table set for infinity.

The Duke's bedroom, sleep as theater.

Palace style details.

Sociable chairs.

More details, flora texture and patterns o' plenty.

Russian power through painting and sculpture.

Remnants Of May 9 Victory Day In Riga, Latvia

Latvia has a large Russian minority population and it still comes out to commemorate Victory Day, May 9, the day the Russians defeated the Nazis in WWII. Of course, like Lithuania, Estonia and other Eastern Europe countries, it also marks the beginning of Soviet occupation that lasted 45+ years. It's a touchy subject.

Riga has a Victory Park, dominated by Soviet Socialist sculptures. A natural place for remembrance.

Solemn details, a sea of flowers, images of lost family members, military hardware.

Flowers in front of the other sculpture.