There are many layers to Riga, Latvia………There is the economic layer, with the bright and shiny new buildings across the river from the Medieval Village, where the cobblestones and ramparts can still be seen. There is the old moat, now filled with water, dividing a beautiful, tranquil park into left bank and right, in the middle of the city.  There are the statues and the monuments to remind everyone of Latvia’s strength. There are the historic buildings from the 1200’s  to Art Nouveau and Modern. There is the laughter and the gaiety of young people everywhere. Riga is thriving and exuberant! So, today let’s look at some of Riga’s doors to get an idea and feel for our latest stop! From this first photo you can see the reconstruction and the melding of designs to get the look we see now. There have been three distinct periods of building for this church from its beginning in the 1200’s. More on that in future posts!

A good restaurant should always have a door that makes you want to go in!

Many doors lead to a courtyard…….

Updated buildings have been converted to shops and restaurants inside the courtyards………….

Riga’s Hot Dog Café has parking for Harley’s only!  Ha Ha! This street, like many, are pedestrian only……

Don’t forget to look through the gates to get your door!

Walking around, what you see, is building after building like this!

I got part of the door, but I liked the streetlight even better! And, is that a cat looking down? Riga has a thing for cats………..more on that to come……..

I could go back to Riga and spend a good deal more time…….and if I did, I would make my reservation at the Sherlock Art Hotel…. I was captivated by it. The location, in the heart of Old Riga, was in the thick of the activities…..

I had to find out more about this boutique hotel………..

During the restoration of the building, which was built in 1898, a wooden box was discovered under the floor of one of the rooms. It contained drawings, brushes and a letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle dated November 10, 1901. Only a fragment of the paper was readable due to decay, but the message read, Mr Zarinsh, thank you! The bookplate with Sherlock turned out wonderful— exactly what I need! A sketch of the bookplate with the initials of ACD was also in the box. The letter was addressed to Richard Zarins, the most popular Latvian graphic artist and painter of the time. It is believed that Mr Zarins may have lived at one time in this house. Mr Zarins was the director of Latvia’s government printing house. During his career, he designed many book illustrations and engravings. He also designed many stamps for the Russian Empire (He designed the first Soviet stamp issued in 1918.) and also stamps for the Soviet Union, Belarus and Latvia.  In addition, he designed the Latvian coat of arms, several bank notes, and coins.

Such a mystery! Who put the box under the floor? How did it survive all the wars and turmoil? How did it survive WWII when all the buildings were bombed? The way of the world of Sherlock Holmes has a new mystery! Finding that box led to the idea of a Sherlock Hotel…………

The Sherlock Hotel has seventeen rooms and each is decorated, very tastefully, with Victorian artifacts and all rooms are named after one of the characters or high profile cases in the Sherlock Holmes’ books. Since 2011, there has been a celebration of the birthday of Sherlock Holmes with a parade through the neighborhood.  The film, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson,” was shot here, bringing more attention to the hotel. The Sherlock Hotel is considered the Riga headquarters of 221B Baker Street. I would definitely stay here ! Who knew that so many people would be interested in Sherlock Holmes here?  I bet fans of Sherlock would love this place!

A look past the gate……….

Isn’t this just a fairy tale setting? Tucked in between the ancient buildings was a large area for restaurants/garden/park. I had to get a photo of the flowers on the wall…….and the planters that spilled over with flowers and vines!

Looking at the garden-park from this view, I snuck in a door.  I knew I’d get one in there somehow!

Mixing it all together again……. new and old………green seems to be the color for a door at number 10………

I could spend all day inside this door……..bakeries are my thing……..and I liked that lightbulb arrangement too.

The Lido Beer House is on the opposite side of the Sherlock Hotel. The beer barrels caught my eye until I saw the women statues/pillars…… Another bar in the neighborhood was  called, This Place Doesn’t Need A Name!

5/7. I like that address!  Another peachy colored building with its green door……….

I have seen posters in the US of this cat and never realized it was the Riga Cat, and what it stood for….. This shop offered many versions of the Riga Cat…..

As we walked deeper and deeper into the city we came to the oldest defensive walls and there were some great doors to be found here.

Very chic settings were found in the newer sections of the town.

and more Art Nouveau……..

It would take a good long walk to see all the architecture that Riga offers and I have a lot more doors and tidbits to share, so watch for more to be posted next week….

Look here to see what others are doing for Norm’s Doors!

It’s easy to do Norm’s Doors. Photograph some doors and post them to Thursday Doors on Thursday!

PS All photos were taken on our IPhones …….we are traveling lighter!