Visiting the “Castle of Light” during the darkest month of the year: An adventure to the National Library of Latvia

You may splinter us,
you may break us
We’ll reach the horizon,
where the sun rises!

- from Broken Pines by Rainis

by Jaclyn Tilks

It is November in Riga and the cold and greyness that surrounds us is oppressive.  The transition from fall to winter is bleak here.  Not only is the light leaving us earlier in the evening, but the sun is also beginning to wake up later and later each morning.  Many visitors plan to come for Jāņi, the Summer Solstice, in order to experience the midnight sun, but Latvia also has a lot to offer in the colder months.  In addition to its beautiful parks a...