Stalin's birthday cake

Fridays are "fun days" in homeschooling.  We do math and writing, but this day is mostly used for crafts, art projects, science experiments, lunch with dad at the embassy, and field trips.  Jamie T. and her daughter Nik wanted to do something together and have lunch, so we ventured to "Stalin's Birthday Cake."  Today it's the Latvian Academy of Sciences, but it was initially built to be the Kolkholz Worker's Building.  Kolkholz' were collective farms in the Soviet Era, so this building was built to serve as a hotel for the collective farm workers that came to Riga.

It of course is decorated with communist symbols of hammers and sickles on the exterior. It began construction in 1951 and ended in 1961.  The architecture style is what became known as Stalinist architecture, and there are 7 skyscrapers like this built in other countries that were occupied by the Soviet Union like Poland and Ukraine.  It is said that the building was going to be presented to Stalin on his birthday, but he died in 1953, years before it was completed, so it's called "Stalin's Birthday Cake."

Since the girls and I recently finished studying Russia as part of our Eastern Hemisphere curriculum for history, it was the perfect field trip.  There is evidence all over Latvia of the Soviet Union, which we have discussed, but Stalin's birthday cake was something we hadn't seen yet.  You have to wait months sometimes to have a clear blue sky to appreciate the view from the 17th floor, and on this Friday we had the perfect sky and weather.  Having just learned about the beginnings of communism in Russia and things like collective farms, the girls were able to appreciate the building, when it was built, and its history.  Savannah has decided that she actually wants to meet Stalin on the other side after she dies so she can give him a piece of her mind.  ;)

 Fun to have such a wide open view of the National library, Central market in the old zeppelin hangers, the Daugava river, and the t.v. tower in the distance.

 We love Riga's bridges and church steeples!

 The outdoor market next to Central market.

 The main train station in Riga.

 A close up of the Soviet Union era architecture.  I think Jamie said this was part of the "Russian quarter" of the city.

The "Riga Ghetto," where Jews were kept by the Nazis during WWII.  Jamie pointed this out to me, so the girls and I went to visit it after we had lunch (more below).

 Jamie was kind enough to take some pics for us.

It was very bright with the sun facing the girls in this pic, so I got a kick out of Rhea's pirate face. ;)

And Nik, our 4 year year old friend.  She doesn't look happy here, but I think that was just because she was told to stay away from the railings while mom was taking a picture for us.  She's adorable and the girls love playing with her!

 Inside stairs going down to the elevator.

 We enjoyed a little walk from Stalin's birthday cake to central market where we had lunch at their new food court.  We passed one of the many Russian Orthodox churches in Riga.

 Trying to catch pics of some babushkas. :)

 Closer to the zeppelin hangers, vendors sell flowers, fruits and veggies, etc.  Flowers are very popular here because every day there is someone having their "name day," and Latvians give flowers as a gift.

 Inside the food court, we found a table and ate our yummy chicken and noodles, and Rhea entertained Nik with stickers/filters on my phone.

I captured a few more pics as we left Central market.  This is a popular place for every kind of food, but right here, Latvians are showing their love of bread, especially rye bread.

 Notice the fresh strawberries on Savannah's mouth.  We had to buy them!  Two kilos (4.5 lbs) for 5 euros.  They were yummy too!
 Fabrics and clothes

 We saw this little corner "house" area for what looked like a family of cats.

Entrance to Riga Ghetto.  The Riga Ghetto is where the Nazis relocated Latvian Jews to live on October 25, 1941, and they evicted the non-Jewish inhabitants of the area.  Later, German Jews were transported to Riga by train to live there as well, but their stay was short lived as most Latvians and German Jews were all killed.  Most Latvians Jews (25,000) were killed on November 30 and December 8, 1941 in the Rumbala massacre.  Only 2 days, and so many killed.

One of the train cars used to transport Jews into Riga.

 Inside the train car.
 Pictures of Jewish teachers and other professionals, families, etc. with information about them.
 Inside the "housing" area that now remembers those Jews that died.

It was a somber place, but we actually were approached by a BYU professor and his wife and inlaws that heard my girls speaking English.  They wanted to know where we were from.  I didn't get a picture of them, but we enjoyed a nice visit together as we answered questions about church and things in Riga.  We discovered that Judge Jay Bybee and his wife Diana are common friends of ours.  It was fun to talk with other Americans from back home, specifically Utah.  Truly a small world!We had a wonderful day with Jamie and Nik exploring parts of Riga on this beautiful, clear, not-so-cold day.  We're getting excited for spring!