GreaterGo

Elīna Garanča, the Latvian mezzo-soprano, is acclaimed as a "first-rate star" by The New York Times, possessing a velvety voice and a dramatic essence.

Exploring niche countries has always been my first choice when travelling abroad. The mysterious and unknown feeling of "niche" is very appealing to me. This time, I braved a 16-hour flight to Riga, the capital of Latvia, with my best friend, which is the most populous, the largest and the oldest architectural city among the three small countries in the Baltic Sea.

Latvia, in addition to the sophisticated structures, has many ravishing mountains and waters.

Medieval Gothic-style structure attracts eyeballs with its highly ornamented characteristics. The style has even inspired different art forms, including music, paintings and fashion. The prominently fancy feature of Gothic architecture had constantly been recreated by architects who contributed to the emergence of the Neo-Gothic. The derived style is more elaborate. Sigulda Castle is a classic example of the Neo-Gothic building.

In the Middle Ages, religion could be said to be the focus of people's lives. Priests were with high status and the Church was so powerful that it could oppose to the royal family. In Riga, a medieval city, there are three major cathedrals, namely Riga Cathedral of the Evangelical Lutheran, St. James's Cathedral of the Roman Catholic and the Nativity Cathedral of Orthodox. Among them, the Protestant Riga Cathedral is the most historical and has been guarding Riga since the Middle Ages. 

A typical vacation is enjoying the sun and beach during the day; shopping in commercial streets, drinking in a bar and having fun in music with friends at night.