#1728 Riga, Latvia

Vecrīga (Latvian: Old Riga) is the historical center of Riga, Latvia, located on the east side of Daugava River. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's church.

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House of the Blackheads (Latvian: Melngalvju nams, German: Schwarzhäupterhaus) is a building situated in the old town of Riga, Latvia. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried merchants, shipowners, and foreigners in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornamentations. The sculptures were made by the workshop of August Volz.

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St. Peter's Church (Latvian: Svētā Pētera Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca) is a Lutheran church in Riga, the capital of Latvia, dedicated to Saint Peter. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.

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Property No #852

Date of Inscription on the List of UNESCO WHS: 1997

Aitäh, Katrina !

Sent on: April 23, 2019

Received on: April 25, 2019

#1237 Riga, Latvia

The national flag of Latvia was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. Shortly before regaining its independence, Latvia re-adopted on 27 February 1990 the same red-white-red flag.

Though officially adopted in 1923, the Latvian flag was in use as early as the 13th century. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their liberty. An alternative interpretation, according to one legend, is that a Latvian leader was wounded in battle, and the edges of the white sheet in which he was wrapped were stained by his blood. The white stripe may stand for the sheet that wrapped him. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the flag of Austria.

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Sent on: March 16, 2017

Received on: March 20, 2017

#1236 Riga, Latvia

For more info, see received card #605.

Property No #852

Date of Inscription on the List of UNESCO WHS: 1997

Sent on: March 16, 2017

Received on: March 20. 2017

#1089 Riga, Latvia

Date of Issue: May 9, 2016 | Europa CEPT 2016 'Think Green'

Thank you, Margarita !

Sent on: May 16, 2016

Received on: May 18, 2016

#936 Strenči, Latvia

Latvia (Latvian: Latvija [ˈlatvija]), officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika), is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus, as well as a maritime border to the west with Sweden. Latvia has 2,070,371 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km² (24,938 sq mi). The country has a temperate seasonal climate.
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About some facts written on the postcard:

Walter Zapp (Latvian: Valters Caps; 4 September [O.S. 22 August] 1905 – 17 July 2003) was a Baltic German inventor. His greatest creation was the Minox subminiature camera.

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Gunnar Birkerts (Latvian: Gunārs Birkerts, born January 17, 1925 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian-American architect who, for most of his career, was based in the metropolitan area of Detroit, Michigan. Some of his designs include the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, The Corning Fire Station, in Corning, New York, Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. His latest project is the National Library of Latvia in 2014 in Riga, Latvia, the National Library called the Castle of Light whose architectural form references and draw inspiration from Latvian folklore.
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According to popular legend the Semigallian king Nameisis made a ring called the "namejs" so he could be identified by his family. But his enemies got hold of this information and sought the ring to kill the king (during a war) to have victories. The villagers also created these rings in order to protect the King. And for this reason Namejs is a popular ring for Latvians. In 1287 the Semigallian castle was destroyed by the Livonian Order of knights. In 1335 the wooden castle Hof zum Berg Kalnamuiža was built by the Order of Livonia near to the site of the former Semigallian fortifications, destroyed by the Lithuanian forces in 1445.
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Venta Rapid (Latvian: Ventas rumba) is a rapid on the Venta River in Kuldīga, Latvia. It is the widest rapid in Europe - 249 metres (817 ft) and up to 270 metres (886 ft) during spring floods. Its height is 1.80 - 2.20 metres (5.9–7.2 ft) and it changes depending on the water level in the river. It also features the widest waterfall in Europe. It is 110 metres wide, but only two metres high. Fishing weirs were carved into the stone. They were used to catch salmon and sturgeon. The fish that didn't make the jump up the river were swept by the current back into the canals where they were caught in hanging baskets.
Wikipedia.org

The national flag of Latvia was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. After regaining its independence, Latvia re-adopted on 27 February 1990 the same red-white-red flag.

Though officially adopted in 1922, the Latvian flag was in use as early as the 13th century. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their liberty. An alternative interpretation, according to one legend, is that a Latvian leader was wounded in battle, and the edges of the white sheet in which he was wrapped were stained by his blood. The white stripe may stand for the sheet that wrapped him. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the flag of Austria.
Wikipedia.org

The Riga Radio and TV Tower (Latvian: Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis) in Riga, Latvia is the tallest structure in the Baltic states. It was built between 1979 and 1989 with funding from the central government of the Soviet Union. Its highest point reaches 368 metres (1,207 ft), which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe (after the Ostankino Tower at 540 metres (1,770 ft) and the Kiev TV Tower at 385 metres (1,263 ft)) and the 15th tallest self-supporting tower in the world.
Wikipedia.org

Sent on: July 23, 2015
Received on: July 27, 2015

#605 Riga, Latvia

Vecrīga (Latvian: Old Riga) is the historical center of Riga, Latvia, located on the east side of Daugava River. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's church.

Vecrīga is the original area of Riga and consists of the historic city limits before the city was greatly expanded in the late 19th century. In the old days, Vecrīga was protected by a surrounding wall except the side adjacent to the Daugava river bank. When the wall was torn down, the waters from Daugava filled the space creating Riga City Canal.

In the 1980s Vecrīga's streets were closed to traffic and only area residents and local delivery vehicles are allowed within Vecrīga's limits with special permits. Vecrīga is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as "Historic Centre of Riga".

Wikipedia.org

Property No #852

Date of Inscription on the List of UNESCO WHS: 1997

Date of Issue: April 11, 2014 | Europa 2014 'National Music Instruments'

The kokle (or kuōkle) is a Latvian plucked string musical instrument (chordophone), of the zither family. It is similar in construction and origin to the Lithuanian kanklės, Russian gusli, Estonian kannel and Finnish kantele.

Posteurop.org

Thank you, Svetlana !

Sent on: May 17, 2014

Received on: May 22, 2014

#596 Riga, Latvia

The hoopoe /ˈhuːpuː/ (Upupa epops) is a colorful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Saint Helena Hoopoe, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes elevated to a full species. Like the Latin name upupa, the English name is an onomatopoeic form which imitates the cry of the bird.

Wikipedia.org

Thank you, Svetlana !

Sent on: May 16, 2014

Received on: May 21, 2014

#595 Riga, Latvia

The Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe and the only member of the genus Lymnocryptes. Features such as its sternum make it quite distinct from other snipes or woodcocks.

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Thank you, Svetlana !

Sent on: May 16, 2014

Received on: May 21, 2014

#312 Riga, Latvia

The national flag of Latvia was used by independent Latvia from 1918 until the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Its use was suppressed during Soviet rule. After regaining its independence, Latvia re-adopted on 27 February 1990 the same red-white-red flag.

Though officially adopted in 1922, the Latvian flag was in use as early as the 13th century. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their liberty. An alternative interpretation, according to one legend, is that a Latvian leader was wounded in battle, and the edge of the white sheet in which he was wrapped were stained by his blood. The white stripe may stand for the sheet that wrapped him. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the flag of Austria.

Wikipedia.org

Date of Issue: 2013

Date of Issue: 2008 - Wild Blueberry

Thank you, Victoria !

Sent on: August 27, 2013

Received on: August 29, 2013

#6 Riga, Latvia | LV-22633

Liepāja (Liepaya) (pronounced [liepaːja]; German: Libau), is a city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port.

Liepāja is known throughout Latvia as "The city where the wind is born", possibly because of the constant sea breeze. A song of the same name (Latvian: Pilsētā, kurā piedzimst vējš) was composed by Imants Kalniņš and has become the anthem of the city. The reputation of Liepāja as the windiest city in Latvia has been further endorsed as the biggest wind power plant in Latvia (33 Enercon wind turbines) was constructed nearby.

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Date of Issue: January 7, 2006 | Europa 2006 "50 Years Europa CEPT"

Latvian: Labdien, Janne ! (Good day, Janne !)

Thank you, Sanita (Sanita_Barley) !

Received on: November 15, 2010

Travel time: 3 days 

Distance:  220 km