Latvia is tucked between Estonia and Lithuania,  
these three countries are known as the Baltic states.

In order to reach Riga our ship had to sail down the Daugava River,
dominated by lowlands and small sandy beaches.
We docked at a small lumber yard and shuttle bused into town.

Estonia's charming capital city is one of the most well preserved 
medieval towns in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As our cruise ship prepared to dock, 
we were greeted with a spectacular view of the fortified city!
Grey stone towers, red tiled roofs, and Russian onion domes  pierced the sky.
I had not expected such a dramatic skyline for this small, little-known port city.