Famous Latvians will serve as tour guides for guests of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA). The tour guides will be the popular chefs Mr. Māris Jansons and Mr. Mārtiņš Sirmais; Mr. Ojārs Kalniņš, Director of the Latvian Institute; Mr. Ojars Spārītis, Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia; and art historian Ms. Astrīda Rogule.

Accompanied by these popular personalities, NATO PA guests will discover a Riga that is different from the one seen by ordinary tourists. Guests may choose one of four tours: Old Town Riga and Art Nouveau, Art and Style, A Touch of History, and Latvian Market Traditions.

Professor Spārītis will be the guide for guests who choose to see the ancient heart of Riga and its Art Nouveau pearls. They will have a chance to visit the famous historical and architectural sites of Old Town Riga: churches, the House of Blackheads, the Small Guild, as well as the Art Nouveau Museum and Art Nouveau buildings on Alberta Street.

Art historian Ms. Astrīda Rogule will be the guide for the Art and Style tour; she will introduce the guests to Latvia’s art world. She will show visitors Latvia’s art treasures in the Latvian National Museum of Art, which is one of the most striking buildings in the Historicism style. Guests will also visit the Latvian National Opera, which creates Latvian “export” products such as opera and ballet performances. The guests will also visit the Putti Art Gallery, where they will have a chance to admire and purchase adornments crafted by Latvian artists.

Guided by Mr. Kalniņš, NATO PA guests who choose A Touch of History tour will visit sites that are significant in our capital’s history: the Riga Castle, the Saeima building, the Museum of the Occupation, and the Freedom Monument.

Latvian market traditions will be revealed by Mr. Jansons and Mr. Sirmais, famous chefs and food gurus. Guided by these celebrity chefs, guests will visit the Riga Central Market, have an opportunity to taste Latvian countryside delicacies, as well as take part in a special master class in cooking and participate in making bacon rolls, layered rye-bread dessert, and bread drink (kvass).

These tours for spouses of NATO PA members and other accompanying persons will take place on 29 and 30 May as part of the NATO PA Riga Session.

The NATO PA 2010 Spring Session in Riga will take place from 28 May to 1 June. For more information about the NATO PA and its Riga Session, please visit the website of the NATO PA 2010 Spring Session at www.natopariga.lv and the official website of the NATO PA at www.nato-pa.int.

Saeima Press Service
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