Cleared for Departure

Category: Riga 2019

  • The End

    Our time together has come to an end.  As I write this, I am 1600 miles from home.  Currently we are over open water and approaching the coast of Newfoundland.

  • Last Names and Old Town

    Once upon a time, nobody much used last names.  Rich and powerful men had them, but the lower classes did not.  This changed at different points throughout history.

  • Art New Vogue

    I cannot call anyone in Latvia.  It is unclear why.  When I dial, my phone beeps three times and hangs up.  I am able to call other countries.  I logged online and chatted with tech support, a person named Anne.  She instructed me to use the code +34, which is the Riga city code, she…

  • A Brief History of Latvia

    It rained much of the day.  Not a heavy rain, more a persistent drip.  It was a challenging environment for photography. Riga did come to life today.  Many more cars and people filled her streets.  It certainly felt less like The Rapture.   Riga is home to roughly 600,000 residents, which makes it the most…

  • The Flowers of Dobele

    We cabbed back to the airport to rent a car and drove to Dobele, about an hour away from Riga. The town has an annual lilac festival, with concerts, music, flowers, and rides.  It reminded me of State Fairs back home, with less fried food.  It’s a big deal here, but not a large tourist…

  • Hello From Gatwick

    Hello From Gatwick

    As I soared over the ocean on an Airbus A340, its massive four engines churning cold air through them, the contrasts of my life and my Latvian great-grandmother juxtaposed in my Ambien drugged head.  

  • Hello, Again! Now Where?

    Hello everyone!  We meet again, and so soon after Costa Rica.  (BTW additional pics are up of Costa Rica, viewable on lancedarcy.com.)  It’s time once more to head out into the wide world.     In about a week mom and I depart for Riga, Latvia, transiting through London.  Originally, Brexit promised to create difficulty, as…