I reserved my first day in Riga to explore the Old Town, which is the best way to get familiar with this beautiful city. My hotel, the Wellton Oasis Hotel & Spa, was located right at the south end of the Old Town, which made it very convenient to explore all the main historical attractions.

My first stop was the sculpture of the Bremen Town Musicians. The statue is inspired by a tale written by the Brother's Grim, which tells the story of a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster who are no longer considered useful by their owners and decide to become musicians.

The statue, a gift from Bremen to Riga, its sister city, was made in 1990 and it is a symbol of liberty. Apparently, touching the animals' nose and beak brings good luck.