Dark History

Our Latvian host told us that 'This river is now beginning to be clear of it's Soviet pollution'. Its in the middle of a national park. A truly stunning place. Once the Germans ruled here then in 1945 the Russians retook it and proceeded to sieze all the farms. Our hosts family , like many, resisted. and one day a truck arrived and took everyone away. Shipped to Siberia they were lost forever. Our hosts Great grand mother and most of her family were one such Family. But his grandmother and mother were on a school trip and escaped being deported. However the farm was taken and many Russians lived there destroying centuries of land. When the soviets left the family, like many, the family went through eight years of legal stuff to get their land back. Followed by years of work to clear and repair the damage.. In my life I've seen some stunning places but this was astonishing. The work they've done, the patience and resolve . Its a lesson.
If you go to Riga its fascinating but get out into the country....