Baltics - 14 June 2012 (1)

Riga to Bauska

Bauska Castle - New Part

I was up at 05.45 and we were off in our coach at 08.00.  Aija’s husband came to wave her off.

River Mūsa

As we drove through Riga, Aija explained that this was the 71^st anniversary of more than 15,400 deportations of Latvian people, mostly to Siberia, and, therefore, a national day of mourning.  Her father was a journalist and so was deported.  Her parents had been warned that this would be likely to happen and her mother had divorced her father.  If they had not divorced, her mother and the baby Aija would also have been deported, which would have led to Aija’s almost certain death.

Bauska Castle - Old Part

Fortunately, Aija’s father survived as he was a musician.  He founded a brass band, comprising himself and other deportees, which became successful as it was popular with the local residents in Siberia.

Bauska Castle - Old Part

His sister was a lawyer and she was also deported.  She too survived and wrote several books – the first being published when she was 86.  She didn’t survive to complete her seventh book, but the publisher had enough information to get it finished.  Aija circulated a copy round the bus.

We passed a hydro-electric station on the River Daugava.  The road went over the dam and a huge reservoir lay behind.  The reservoir looked very impressive, with very blue water because it was a lovely day again.

River Mēmele

Bauska Castle - Old Part

Aija gave us more information on Latvia as we passed severe Russian apartment blocks in otherwise pretty villages.  She said that houses larger than 100 square metres had been confiscated during occupation.  Since 1991 private houses had been built, with small gardens and vegetable patches.

The countryside was lovely and I saw a couple of storks and some poppy fields.

Bauska Castle - New Part

We made good time and so were able to take a bonus stop in Bauska and visit the castle there.  The castle stands between the Rivers Mūsa and Mēmele, which gave it a very defensible situation.  Noisy crows and jackdaws called from the trees as we approached.  The coach had stopped on the side of the new castle, built in the 17^th century and the ruins of the old castle lay behind.  I got wet feet walking on the dew-covered grass, but it was worth it.