. >> in gdansk, you have the artist court. we have the house of the black hats.e are friends, you could say. we are partners, and we exchange, so there is a deeper connection than just commonalities in architecture or around planning or a fondness for brick facades. it is also rooted in catholicism and protestantism, and it is rooted in the traditions of university ucation in gdansk and the baltic. there's always annual creative exchange. >> it is perfect timing for a visit. riga is celebrating the 730th anniversary of its membership in the hanseatic league. it is as though we have stepped into a time machine. >> it is a major festival, but i do not really feel like i am living in hanseatic times. that is all history. i am and each citizen. >> the waterway is now mainly a tourist attraction, but the historic ties are stronger than ever. this statute of the bremen town musicians is a gift from another hanseatic city. the common currency is not yet a reality. poland and latvia still have theirs, but a common heritage is another matter in thealtic cities that still