Look up!

A week ago, Nava visited, and that gave us a chance to tour the city with her and see it through some new eyes.  Immediately, Nava was drawn to the amazing Jugendstil (Art Nouveau or Art Deco) architecture we'd admired for many weeks.  When walking in the city, we often whisper to each other "up right" or "up left" to call attention to a building.  More than once, I've stumbled on the sidewalk while admiring a particular beauty.  Nava and Patricia seem to be much better at keeping their footing, but like me, their eyes are drawn to the colors, designs, and statuary typical of Jugendstil buildings.  Not sure what I mean?  Here is Nava during our walk in front of 3 pretty fantastic examples

Nava in front of Alberta iela 12b, which is the Rīgas Jūgendstila Centrs

Nava at Elizabetes iela 2

Nava again at Elizabetes iela 33

Rīga has more Jugendstil buildings than any other city in Europe.  There are over 700 buildings still standing.  Many are restored, beautiful active buildings with businesses and apartments.  Near our flat, we've also seen some that are in terrible disrepair.  There is a section of the city that every tourist walks through to see the Jugendstil, and while Alberta iela is pretty impressive, Jugendstil buildings are everywhere. These buildings are such a striking part of the cityscape.  You can't miss them, and it's hard not to stop and stare.  My phone is full of photos.  As a result, this blog post will be more visual and less writing, and maybe, just maybe, you'll get a feel for some of what we see just walking about.

Having Nava with us was a perfect excuse to go to the Rīgas Jūgendstila Centrs where we learned about the style and the architects, and we saw images from the insides of some of the buildings.  Check out the museum building staircase for a sense of how Jugendstil translates into an interior.

Staircase at Alberta iela/Rīas Jūgendstila Centrs

The museum had one interactive exhibit where I earned my most impressive academic credentials of all, and I got to use the varying elements of Jugendstil style to design my own building.

Diploma in hand, I'm ready to take on the city

My Jugendstil creation

I've noticed that a favorite Jugendstil element on buildings is faces that stare down at you from doorways or arches on the building facades.  Here are two examples that keep watch over us on our runs on our street.

Stabu iela 63

Stabu iela 58A

How about this fancy entryway complete with the staring face.

Meistaru iela 10b, the entrance to the cat building (see below).

The tops of buildings can also have some pretty outstanding elements. Can you spot the lion, the dog, and the cat on these buildings?

On Alberta iela, the street of Jugenstil	The famous black cat of Rīga
The dog barks back at the cat in Vecrīga.	Lovely Jugendstil facade, see the dog on top?

 OK, time for a photo dump.  I promise this is only about half of what I've got on my phone.  Enjoy!

Aleksandra Čaka iela 31, this one really deserves a close-up with all its design elements.

How about a balcony that looks like a sleigh:

Gertrūdes iela 10

Who holds up your house?  These two have been here since the early 1900s doing their job.

Elizabetes iela 22

Some buildings even carry messages.  I hope your Latin is up to snuff because apparently, Labor Omnia Vincit!

Aleksandra Čaka iela 49

Look way up high at these elements.

Iron workers at Hospitālu iela 5

Brīvības iela 129

I can't stop, just a few more, really...two from Alberta iela

Alberta iela 4

Alberta iela 2

and Ausekļa iela

Ausekļa iela 4

and some color

In the old city at Kalēju iela 23

these two are striking side-by-side on Blaumaņa iela

Blaumaņa iela 36

Blaumaņa iela 34

I'll end this blog with an animal stare-down, a little color, and a blue sky day on the streets of Rīga.

Kaļķu iela 14