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Day 43 - Tuesday 18 July

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Our cabin may have been tiny but the beds were comfortable and the buffet breakfast was passable. There was mass queuing to get off the ship but once out of the terminal building we easily caught a taxi to our Radisson Blu hotel just in time to miss a downpour.  At the hotel we initially thought our clothes and luggage stank of cigarette smoke from the ferry. While smoking was banned in cabins and other inside areas of the ship, we could smell smoke everywhere. It now seems not to be our gear causing the smell but someone smoking in this non smoking hotel! When we contacted management about it they at least came to our room and agreed there is a smell of cigarettes smoke, and said they would investigate. The European Choir Games are taking place in Riga and we can hear a choir performing in the park across the road. This is a new hotel with air conditioning but there is a narrow floor to ceiling window that can be opened to let in fresh air, and  which also allows us to hear the choir....
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Ahuriri and Hastings

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The historic village of Ahuriri is 5 minutes from Napier. It was the original port before the earthquake. These days it is home to the commercial fishing fleet and recreational boats. Restaurants and bars have taken over some of the old warehouses. My favorite art deco building is the National Tobacco Company building at Ahuriri. We walked around the nearby town of Hastings, which also boasts numerous art deco and Spanish mission style buildings. These grasses by the point grow in interesting swirly patterns.
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Day 48 - Sunday 23 July

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On our last full day in Latvia we caught a train from Riga to Sigulda which is a resort town in a national park. Hiking is a favourite activity with many trails through the park. There are also some extreme sports venues such as bungee jumping and a luge run. A cable car crosses the river. I avoid these but went for a look to see the nearby scenery. I was astounded to see two people hanging from the cable in slings that allowed them to lay face down to see the view below as the cable moved them across the river. I thought it would be scary to cross the river in the gondola - but to hang from a sling is positively insane! This area has been in records since the 12th century. Some famous people have passed through such as Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great. There are castle remains but a lot of restoration work was being done so we didn't go inside.
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