Flying back to London to work on a few nagging technical hardware problems. Riga International Airport [location].

I have just returned to Riga on the last flight British Airways will operate on the London Gatwick – Riga route (BA2872). To quote the BA press office “Flights from London Gatwick to [...] Riga in Lativa will be suspended from March 25, 2007.” [117/LG/06]. There is no given reason.

BA’s suggestion for my return to London is via Helsinki on Finnair codeshares…

The morning was spent on Zaķusala (a long island in the middle of the river Daugava; “Hares’ Island”) [location].

The Tower’s shadow reaches about 1.5km; to Salu tilts

This included a visit to, and up, Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis (Riga Radio and TV Tower).The tallest structure in the Baltic countries. It was built between 1979 and 1986. Its highest point reaches 368.5 m (1209 ft), which makes it the second tallest tower in Europe and eleventh in the world. The tower is said to be able to withstand even extreme wind, at speeds of up to 44 m/s (98 mph), without any noticeable vibration amplitude. There are two Otis elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in south-west pillar; They travel inside the curved pillars while maintaining a constant level. The third pillar contains stairs.

Coffee was had at Latvijas televīzija centre (Latvian Television Centre) at the north end of island.

Apart from these two large structures, the island remains empty. There are plans afoot to change that and create a huge set of buildings offering all kinds of entertainment. There will be a beach for sun bathing. There are feral wolf-dogs loose on the island. Two barked at, and followed, me.

[image photographed from billboard on the island]

Lunch was had in the worker’s canteen of Riga Town Council [location].

Lunch was had in the worker’s canteen of Latvia’s Ministry of Agriculture [location].

View from accommodation (sunset). The frozen river with railway bridge in foreground [location], The second tallest European structure – Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis (Riga Radio and TV Tower) – in far background [location]. The temperature inside is sweltering, despite the maximum daytime temperature today only reaching minus ten degrees Celsius. Spent the day becoming reacquainted with the city. Luggage finally arrives 28 hours after me; at last I have a hat to wear.

Flight BA2872 LGW-RIX; my luggage failed to arrive on the same flight; no explanation. After arriving in Riga spent the remaining hours of daylight hunting for underwear and toiletries [location: LGW; location: RIX] [Gatwick Airport website] [Riga Airport website]