21 Apr 2024
I'll start off by saying I went solo but for the price I should have dragged along some other friends. Even so, it was still very worth it compared to something cheaper like a chartered tour bus. Pretty certain I got an experience a bus tour won't give you.
We'll start right at the beginning. Martins shows up at the hotel lobby with my name on a sign, like a driver at the airport. Already a great first impression. Mind you, the trip to the missle base is a 2-hour drive so having a personable driver for a lengthy road trip helps pass the time quickly.
Then we get to the missle base. There is no set path, but Martins knows all the places to stop and look around. Even better is that he knows Russian and was able to translate the signs for certain places like the guard house or rest area. The whole place has a gravity to it, even as time has taken its toll on the buildings, like you can still feel the energy of being constantly ready for war.
Next is the secret bunker. We drive back towards Riga for around an hour. Martins gets me to their guided tour right on time. Actually a little early so I get taught a local Latvian billard type game using wooden discs. The tour was interesting, and it definitely captures the look and feel of 80s Soviet culture. The grey meat dumplings at the end really emphasized the dour mood of being constantly watched by the KGB.
Lastly was the war museum. An interesting collection of German and Soviet equipment. Apparently not everyone gets to climb on the vehicles, so being allowed to climb up on the tank for an epic photo shoot definitely ended the day on an excellent note.
I can't recommend this excursion enough. Especially for those with any interest in the world wars or the Cold War.