Dinner and a concert

Friday evening the Gublers, Sister Humphrey and I went to dinner--at McDonalds in Olde Towne Riga. I had planned to go someplace else, but got away late from the office.

The McDonalds is very much larger than at home (and no play area for kids). It was packed, mostly with teenagers. We had to wait in line to order but the young girl understood and spoke enough English for us to do so.

I don't know that I will go to McDonalds again--it never has been my favorite place and Friday's dinner didn't change my mind. On our way to the concert, we passed the Cat House (if you look closely at the very top of the roof, you will see a large sculpted cat. There are more on other peaks. It's not a "cat house" of the same kind as in the States, but it is called the Cat House because of the cats on the roof and other locations on the building.

We then walked to the large Guilde Hall. I didn't get a picture of it, but the one that looks like a castle above, is the small Guilde Hall. The large one is to the right, kind of behind the small one.

The large Guilde Hall was perhaps a Church at some point--at least the beautiful windows inside reminded me of a church. The hall was beautiful and the seats unique. Very straight backs, but cushioned backs and seats. The were comfortable--not too deep or tall for my short legs, and lots of room for those who might have longer legs.

We were in the 2nd row on one side. The concert lasted one hour and was called Karls Orfs Carmina Burana. There was a full orchestra, a large choir and a male and a female soloists. All were very good. The conductor was fun to watch--very animated and almost like he was pulling the music out of the instruments and choir. The concert hall probably holds a few hundred people and it was packed. I would have taken pictures but it wasn't allowed. We had to walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to the hall. There didn't seem to be an elevator anywhere.

The concert was, of course, in Latvian, but the music transcended the language barrier. It was a very enjoyable concert.

Before arriving at McDonalds, we passed a bridge where couples leave padlocks with their names engraved (or scratched) on them. I guess they leave the padlocks on this bridge but on some of the other bridges, they remove them.

The other picture is in Olde Towne next to the small Guilde Hall. They look like store fronts on a movie set, but they are real. Very picturesque.

White Lions, Chocolate Lions and Peanut Lions

Have any of you heard of Nestle's candy bars? I was introduced to the White Lion when we went to Tallin in February. I hadn't seen any of the "Lions" here but have since found all 3. Of course, the white ones are the only ones I'm interested in and, of course, they are the most scarce. But they are made by Nestle's so I'm hoping they are available back home in another year.

The view from my apartment building

Below is a little flower garden that someone has planted, with bulbs and other perennials. It's been wonderful to see things coming to life. I think there are some peonies and I'm very excited to see them. This is right outside of the door to our building.

In the center is the view across the road as we exit the building. It's a very nice playground and, in this Spring weather, there are lots of kids taking advantage of it. Beyond it is a new last year, skateboarding place.

Well, the pictures have jumped around on me again, but I trust you can figure out what I'm describing. There are 160 apartments in our building (and half a dozen other buildings) and people just park their cars wherever they find a place, including right outside our door. I'm actually surprised how many have cars, and pretty new/nice ones, given the apartments in which they live.

We can always recognize our door--it's the one with the orange square painted on it. Otherwise, we would have to count the doors to know which one is ours.

Next time I need to share pictures of the road--and the potholes. It can't be good for the cars.

Eleven weeks since my last haircut

I'm not sure how much you can tell from this picture. If nothing else, you can get a sense of how very short the haircut was.

I am letting it just grow out. Sister Gubler has trimmed the neckline a couple of times. It's completely straight, but I have enough hair that it isn't laying flat. I'm not sure what the final style will be. Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

The Riga Imanta Church--and Pussy willows

This is where I attend Church each Sunday. It's the only Church-owned meetinghouse in Riga.

L-R is Sister Humphrey, Sister Gubler and Elder Gubler, entering the Church for a baptism.

The story of the pussy willow is this: Last Sunday "Grandma" Senkans (I had trouble with names when I first came. We had a Velma, a Velta and a Velga. So, the mother/grandmother in the Senkans family because "Grandma Senkans" to me, even though she's a few years younger than I am.) Anyway she came with a couple of branches of pussy willows and was "switching" the legs of each person (as we gathered outside waiting for someone to bring a key). We learned that on Easter morning (she was a week early), the first one awake in the home, takes a branch of pussy willows and goes throughout the house, "hitting" each person with the branch to awaken them. The first one so awakened, joins in as they go the 2nd one, and so on, until every one is awakened. That brings good health for the year. (There are a lot of superstititions here in the Baltics.) If you swing in a swing in the Spring, the mosquitoes won't bother you that year. I need to find a swing!

Lieldiena in Riga

I've learned that Easter is called Lieldiena, which simply means "big day." From all I can discern, it's not really a religious holiday. Although, one man told the elders it was a day to go to church. The grocery ads are much like in the US, lots of ham, Easter eggs and candies.

I'm so thankful for the knowledge of my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice. I'm thankful to know that He was resurrected and that each of us will be, also. I'm thankful to know of His creations, so observable this time of year, with things coming to life where it was so dead.

Having witnessed two baptisms this weekend, one in Latvian and one in Russian, makes me so grateful that others are turning their hearts to the Savior and desiring to follow Him.

I pray that each of you will have a joyous and blessed Easter.

Spring has arrived!!

I really had begun to question whether Spring came to Riga, but this week--on April 1 (and it wasn't an April Fools' Day joke). The sun shown all day long, and has done so each day since. It's warm enough that I have quit wearing my boots and today went on our errands without scarf or gloves. It feels so great!!!

And yesterday I saw my first flower. A little tiny, tiny tulip or lily of the valley type of flower. The people who take care of the grounds around the apartment, and around other buildings, use stick brooms to sweep and to rake the dirt. They also pick up all the alcohol bottles thrown on the ground, as well as any other trash. And the grass is coming up in some places. I'm told they only mow the lawns a couple of times a year. The grass is more a wild grass like you see in a forest area.

A couple came to the office on Wednesday from Moscow. American missionaries serving in Russia have to leave the country every 3 months for visa purposes. They don't all come to Riga, but we've had a few. This couple said Moscow is so dreary, with very tall apartment buildings everywhere and not so many trees as we have. They also talked about the lack of food, at least varieties of food. Sister Gubler took her to Rimi's and she loaded up on soup packets and other things she can't get there. She said she's fixed spaghetti 26 different ways. We decided Riga isn't so dreary and that we are blessed to have the variety of food that we do have.