Nara
(pop 369,000)
Kansai
Japan
The Daibutsu beckons the pilgrim to Nara.
Daibutsu or Great Buddha sits quietly in the Todai-ji Temple, his right hand raised in the position of protection, reassurance and blessing,
The Buddha is surrounded by respectful throngs of travelers, tour groups and children who converge on Nara – a large city about thirty minutes by train from Kyoto.
Tartu
Estonia
August 20, 2014
Jewish Cemetery, Roosi Street, Tartu
Herr Schapiro buried his young daughter here (1898-1922) and then his wife Hinde Simon (1923).
The Bakst Family is here. Slomo (1872-1940). Liuba (1868-1949). Boris (1901-1941).
Kune Lea Kaplan (1876-1926)
Aisik Grinson (1847-1924)
Ernestine Flachs (1868-1910)
Aron Liebermann (1879-1925)
Samuel Blum (1860-1913)
A.J. Sois (1886-1913)
Abram Pasternak (1864-1928) was buried here by his wife.
Segulda
Latvia
August 26, 2014
Cool. Rain.
“Latvia” is printed on a sign of deep blue with a circle of gold stars. It is the only indication that I driven across the boundary of the sovereign nation of Estonia and into the sovereign nation of Latvia, both members of the European Union.
Barriers? Uniforms? Questions? Paperwork? None of the above.
No anger. No fear. No fences between good neighbors.
How civil. How civilized.
Unfortunately, unlike the “Union,” the weather is not cooperating.
For two days, I must forcibly eject myself from the comfort of the Villa Alberta to see the local castles.
Salaspils
Latvia
August 25, 2014
Dear Family and Friends
“Is it a mitzvah to recite the Kaddish?”
Here’s why I ask:
Twenty kilometers southeast of Riga, off the main highway, at the end of a narrow road, I park my car in an empty lot.
A dense forest of tall silent trees lines both sides of a broad gravel walkway. Except for an elderly couple off in the woods gathering mushrooms, I am alone as I make my way down the long path to the distant monument.
An enormous recumbent slab of grey stone marks the dramatic entrance. It appears to have fallen on its side to an angular position. The black inscription reads, “AIZ SIEM VARTIEM VAID ZEME.” I walk under the slab and enter the site.
Ventspils
Latvia
August 29, 2014
Dear Friends,
Leonardo serves me a breakfast that could feed a small army.
A pitcher of both orange juice and tomato juice, eggs, chicken, smoked fish, assorted cheeses, salad, fresh fruit, bread, butter, jam, pastry and Bodum French Press coffee.
My “apartment” is twice the size and much more elegant than my flat in Bangkok. The kitchen and bathroom have every gadget needed for a lengthy stay.
The grounds of the Villa are seductive.
Why leave?
Riga
Latvia
August 31, 2014
Dear Friends,
“What is your favorite city?”
I am frequently asked this question and like other travelers, I am tempted to answer, “My favorite city is the city where I am now!”
Of course that is an unsatisfactory answer, even when it might be true.
At the moment I am in Riga, the capital of Latvia. And if I were to give an honest answer, it would be: “If I make a list of my ten favorite cities, Riga would be on the list, perhaps even in the top five.”
