The LNO’s Lights © Victoria Reay
Eastern Europe is always a good bet for budget travelers; since most countries have not jumped to the Euro yet, the exchange rates for US Dollars, British Pounds, and the Euro are pretty favorable. Even cooler is that many cities in Eastern Europe have taken on a too-cool-for-school ethos, making them somewhat like the East Village before all of the Bloomberg and Citigroup employees and NYU students took it over. While Prague is touted to high-heavens (with good reason), there are countries closer towards the Motherland that are just as fun (and have a few less tourists).
Riga is one of the best places to see the Old World and New Wave collide in a cultural sonic boom. While it’s starting to get discovered by people looking for the New Prague, you can still enjoy it like a local (and if you have very elfin features, you’ll fit right in). The capital of Latvia, Riga is definitely a hotspot for musicians. In fact, the country boasts more than 1.4 million folk songs and holds a national song festival every five years (this past year was festival number 126).
Catch some songs that aren’t Latvian at the National Opera Theatre, the cultural heart of Latvia and where Mikhail Baryshnikov cut his teeth as a ballerino (and future love interest to Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City). And though Mische’s now in a New York state of mind (though still occasionally dancing), there are still some fabulous dancers to be seen onstage in the Riga Ballet. The Latvian National Opera shares the house. While the Lat (national currency) is 1:2 on the US Dollar (that’s roughly 1:1 on the Pound and 1:1.5 on the Euro), the prices are still pretty low here. You can avoid the nosebleed section and still only part with $20.00 USD for a night of high culture.
National Opera Theatre
Aspazijas bulvaris 3
Box Office 10 am – 7 pm
2707 3777
www.opera.lv