Adventure’s with Luke

I was preparing a havdallah set before a Chanukah concert, when a man approached me and asked me a question in Russian.  Unfortunately I did not understand his question, so I apologized and told him I speak english.  He responded with a simple, “Okay.”  Stunned, I quickly inquired about his citizenship.  This man, Luke, is an American that lives in Florida.  We spoke for a bit and we learned that we have a lot in common.  He was raised about 30 minutes from where I grew up.  We both are graduates of the University of Michigan.  And we even discovered our birthdays (excluding the years) are 2 days apart.  We found more similarities as we spent more time together.  I know…how incredible.  If he had never approached me with a question, I would have never known that a fellow Michigander and fellow wolverine was sitting just a few feet from me.

At the community’s Chanukah young adult program, Luke invited me to go on a day trip with him.  I met him the next day around 7 am and our adventure began.  We got on a bus that was en route to Bauska, Latvia.  Unfortunately and unknowingly we got off the bus, one stop to early.  It was not until Luke asked a local shop owner what city we were in till we discovered our mistake.  However, we were at the bus station and just waited till the next bus came.  After an argument with one bus driver, a confused, but willing bus driver drove us to Bauska.  We arrived and just missed the bus that would take us to our first destination, the Rundale Palace.  The construction of the palace was finished in 1740 and was the summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland.  To prevent anymore time loss, we found a taxi and went straight to Pilsrundale (Palace Rundale).  We got out, paid the cab fair and walked down a long dirt road.  Then in front of us…was Rundale Palace.  A large, yet beautiful, palace that seemingly was in the middle of nowhere.  The palace was not open to the public for half an hour (I guess we did not have to worry about missing the bus) so we walked around in the garden behind the palace.  The symmetrical garden was full of trees and shrubberies.  A large fountain marked the middle of the garden and a few other structure were scattered about, including a pagoda.  We were told to come back during the spring when the flowers were in bloom (very pretty).  We toured the palace and there was never a moment when my jaw wasn’t dropped.  There was so much so see.  Each room was alluring and ornate.  My pictures pale in comparison to the beauty of this over 200 year old palace.  Consider taking this virtual tour.   

Picture Description:

Top Row, Left: Entry into Rundale Palace.  The red bricked structures on the sides are rounded stables.

Top Row, Right: Gates and courtyard of Rundale Palace.  The ground stonework was placed in three large concentric circles.  The edge of the courtyard switches from a circle pattern to alternating triangles.

Second Row, Left: The Duke of Courland’s Bedroom

Second Row, Middle: Portraits of family, dignitaries and other important figures hang all over the Palace.

Second Row, Right: The large blue and white porcelain object is an oven made from Holland tiles.

Third Row, Left: The gilded hall served Duke Ernst Johann Biron and his guests.  The marble, mirrors, and emblematic garland give the room its ornate and extravagant look. The ceiling painting portrays some greco-roman mythological characters.  Including Heracles and Saturn. 

Third Row, Right: German occupation of the palace during World War I converted parts of the palace into a hospital and commandant’s office.  The presence of the German soldiers can still be seen today through etchings - pictures, initials, and signature - on the marble walls.  

Bottom Row, Left: View of the garden from the second storey of the palace.

Bottom Row, Middle: I have been able to determine that this is Rembrandt’s Simeon and Anna in the Temple.  From what I have read, the real painting is in the Hamburger Kunsthalle collection.  Therefore I believe this is a print.  However, the painting was once in Latvia and owned by the Duke of Courland.  

Bottom Row, Right: Luke and I had some fun taking a picture in parallel mirrors.