Once upon a-not-so-long-ago time, the mighty Russian Empire swallowed up Latvia, one of the many small countries of East Europe. Latvia is only just emerging from the shadow of big brother, the erstwhile USSR and tasting independence with the collapse of communism. The country is a beautiful one, with scenic vistas, dense forests and sunny beaches and a long history - of repression, foreign dominance, misrule and exploitation.

The country became a republic in 1994 and things have begun to change; today, life is more relaxed and free in Latvia. There are cafés; bars, crowded cinema halls, museums and palaces, finally open to the public. Shops are full of local produce, and the government is trying its best to replace the old economic system with a new, more dynamic and free-market economy. Most importantly, tourism is recognised as an important sector of this new economy.