OBs from various corners of the globe visited Latvia over the weekend to join DVP, Juris Kabakovs (95-97), at a reunion in the beautiful city of Riga.
Juris had arranged a full programme for the weekend starting with a BBQ at his family home, hosted by his wife, Solvita, and children, Kristians, Ketrina and Mia. Under a beautiful pagoda marquee, the company were treated to a delicious lunch, followed by a wonderful cake in honour of the Reunion. In the middle of the afternoon, his Excellency, the British Ambassador, Mr Paul Brummell CMG, arrived to join the celebrations and meet the Old Bedfordians.
This was followed by a trip to the beach at Jurmala in the evening, a vast beach of white quartz sand, stretching nearly 25 km and just a short distance from Riga. Here the OBs dipped their toes in the Baltic, although sadly all had forgotten their swimsuits!
On Sunday, the OBs were treated to a guided tour of Old Riga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th Century wooden Architecture. We learned about the history of Riga and the checkered past of their relationship with Germany, Sweden and Russia, before their final independence in 1991. Guests then visited the Freedom Monument, Opera House, Cat House, Dome Cathedral, and the House of the Blackheads.
Lunch was enjoyed at a restaurant serving Authentic Baltic cuisine. ‘Milda’ is situated in the heart of Riga and serves such delicacies as Grey Peas, Black Pudding, Potato Dumplings and rye bread pudding – all delicious!
A short walk afterwards brought the party back to the gardens near the Opera House, where Juris had arranged a boat trip on the Riga Canal and Daugava River, a perfect way to see the old town and castle from a different angle. The party then retired to a café and sat in the sunshine for a final drink all together, before retreating under the umbrellas to experience a true Baltic storm, as the weather changed dramatically from beautiful blue skies to a magnificent thunderstorm!
A wonderful weekend and enjoyed by all. A very big thank you to Juris, Solvita and their children for arranging such a varied and interesting trip, and for being such marvellous hosts.
OBs on the trip included George Straubs (60-69), Graham Folkes (65-69), Fraser Millard (67-75) Aris Fragoyannis (92-97) Tyrone Byrne (08-13) and partners.