Riga's Occupation Museum
Fifteen years ago today, Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union. Latvia--that sweet Baltic nation sandwiched between Estonia and Lithuania--and Latvia's recent past is bound up with being occupied, whether by Soviet or German forces. Capital city Riga features the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 1940-1991 and once you get beyond the cumbersome title and realise just how real people were affected by this tumultous history, you'll find it hard to get out of this strange grey box of a building.
The goals of the museum sound pretty heavy, aiming as it is to "remind the world of wrongdoings" and "remember those who perished and suffered". And, we admit, it's no cheerful walk in the park. But seeing the Soviet-planted listening devices found in buildings around Riga and getting an impression of life in prisoners' camps is memorable if nothing else. On top of that, it costs you nothing to get in (but they accept donations if you're suitably impressed). We were.
[Image via adetrich/Flickr]
Related stories:
Latvia Haunted by Soviet Past [Radio Free Europe]
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