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	ISSUE 3 SNEAK PREVIEW WINTER 2006 WILD LUXURY
FEATURE ARTICLES Anton Edelmann - A winters feast. Baden Baden - Black forest chateau. Claire Sweeny - England's northern star. Men Only - For The Boys. Morocco - Africa's playground. Organic Luxury - Is it what we want? Scenic Spas - Spa Trek. South Africa - So safari, so spa.

Home > Magazine > Issue 2 - Sea Spas > Latvia

Latvia

The Paris of the Baltics

DENSE EMERALD PINE FORESTS COVER LATVIA. THIS IS A LAND WHERE WOLVES STILL ROAM FREE AND LEGENDS STEP OUT OF THE SHADOWS TO MEET YOU. RIGA WAS A MAJOR TRADE CROSSROADS ON THE ANCIENT AMBER ROUTE WHILE JURMALA IS A LEGACY OF RUSSIAN TSARIST HIGH SOCIETY WITH 25 MILES OF SPARKLING WHITE QUARTZ SAND, MINERAL SPRINGS AND HEALING MUD

Sandwiched between Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus, Latvia's past is chequered by conflict and conquest. But there is also a cultural heritage here that is as complex and layered as a pattern on a Persian carpet. Riga, the capital city, acted as a major crossroads on the ancient road trodden by enterprising traders in precious amber, which is given up by the sea in this region. Riga still separates western economy and the eastern markets and as such is a city of contrasts and cultural eccentricity. Jurmala, on the other hand, is a step back to nineteenth century gentility. This is a natural spa and still the most fashionable resort in the Baltic. Both places are situated on the Riga gulf and both bear the scars and decoration of Latvia's history, but for very different reasons.

As I ambled along Jurmala's empty beach with its soft quartz sand that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight, I could easily understand why wealthy tourists began flocking here over 200 years ago. Their footprint is still clearly visible along the miles of shorelined resorts in the shape of ornately carved wooden villas.

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ISSUE 3

FEATURE ARTICLES

Latvia

The Paris of the Baltics