DAY ONE

day one went wonderfully! so, so many highs and just a couple lows that are really more like hilarious happenings that will be some of those infamous 'funny stories'!

we we were literally starving for breakfast! got in too late wednesday night to go get food anywhere so went to bed hungry... ! then, lets just say I had an interesting thing happen while getting ready which seriously sucked every ounce of energy I had in me left!  by the time we got down to the lobby and walked into the very lovely dining area in our hotel which was clad with a very, very generous european breakfast spread, plus seeing all the brothers and sisters... yes you guessed it, I did a happy dance and then basically cried a little!  coffee was so ridiculously good!  for that matter, it all was so ridiculously good! some things a bit interesting but still good!

best part about the morning was connecting with familiar faces! we connected with greg and joyce, an elder and pioneer couple from our hall in seattle that are dear, dear friends {queue first round of fighting back tears}.  then we connected with some of nicholas' family that is here as well! 

coffee vs. individual nutella packets... which is the winner... ???

off and headed out for our art nouveau tour!

the roses here look fake, and for that matter all the gardens are immaculate!

some of the many, many inspiring pieces of architecture we passed just getting to the tour of the inspiring architecture!

was taking nicholas' photo in front of this doorway when two sisters walked up and introduced themselves, then they took a photo of both of us!

after our awesome art nouveau tour one of the sisters that was a tour guide graciously upon our request not only made a recommendation on where to go for good latvian beer, but led us there too!  she was so sweet and we all had lunch together in the middle old town riga where there were all sorts of goodies from cool buildings to live music to art lining side walls, I of course b-lined it for the art walls where I immediately bought two watercolor renditions of the old town and in black white to boot!  I can't wait to put them in the house when back home.

charming. that's really all that can be said!

um, more charm!

there is so much more to share including experiences from our 'gathering' tonight! alas, they may have to wait till I finish the photos I took on the nikon just so the visuals will match the marvelous memories!

tomorrow is first day of convention and I'm laying here dropping the phone as I fall asleep typing this! 

good night from riga!