Majori Jurmala

... deck until I couldnt really feel my body anymore. I was kinda curious about the live entertainment so I headed to the stage to check it out. People were getting wasted, some dude was teetering on the stairs and then just hacked right there. The boat also started rocking which definitely didnt help. Anyway I stood near the exit for a peek. I wasnt about to party.. I was wearing my norm long johns, jeans, and hoody.. I looked like a total bum. After ...

... and Transnistria probably, but not here). I then headed over to the Freedom monument, guarded by two fierce looking Latvians. This country has had to fight hard for its freedom..the Soviets and Germans both committed attrocities here (I came across a house where the owner had been killed for protecting some Jews there-they ended up getting exterminated anyway unfórtunately). However they finally got their independence and very few lives ...

... to try another one !!! Jew boy prices rule !!! Lucy found the flights, £40 return, and we were on our way. Next step, lessons in Russian. Da, Nyet, Spacebo. Enoughs enough, lets get going !!! Arrival We grabbed a bus and headed into the old city and straight away there was failure. I tried my Russian and the reply was in Latvian followed by English. Yes, my Russian had failed me, nothing to be expected really !!! Along the way ...

I arrived in Riga at the bus station at about 10pm. I got out of the bus and something hit me...it was COLD. I hadn't felt that sort of cold since last year. Fortunately the busport was close to the place where I was supposed to meet my host. I was in Riga because there were cheap flights from Riga to Germany and I was on my way to Belgium. I remembered the way there from last year, which wasn't too far (maybe 300m) or so. I got into the bar and looked around and saw ...

... boom as well well as an influx of Russian mafia money. There is a real risk in this part of town of colliding with a fellow tourist who like oneself is transfixed by the sculptural adornments on these buildings and not looking where they are walking. Intermingled with these building are also examples of the shorter two story wooden buildings that they replaced, these too are now protected by UNESCO status. With the weather so good I ...

... is a city that has many memories of the past, and a new generation that is trying to forget them. The economy is booming, with the Latvian currency almost being on par with the British pound, so it's not cheap but definitely worth a visit. Although we found Riga a safe and welcoming city, we didn't go out partying at night. If you are going to then there are many words of warning. There is a large semi underground mob scene in Riga, which is partly ...

... on, break at the corners and imagine what would happen if the little sled came off the track. Rosa went with me and kept complaining she wanted to go faster. I thought it was fast enough! We took a chair lift back up. I had to convince Jo to take the chairlift down so we could go canoeing in the river. She was dubious as it was fairly high. A very muscular, good looking Latvian chap offered to driver her down on his four wheeler bike, but she refused! Mum wouldn't have ...

My first day in Latvia, and I can actually say it was what I had expected it to be. It's honestly not a very aesthetically pleasing city that's for sure. We left the hostel this morning and made our way down to the huge central market to have a browse. The Old Town here is really quite small and I am not sure where the attraction comes from. I have been to much nicer old town centers all over Europe. There were some nice buildings that reminded me of Poland and ...

... also the city feeling more of that "Old Soviet Union" than other Baltic cities. In Vilnius and Tallinns, taking bus is more like "honor system" (German style I guess):you punch and cancel your tickets when getting on a bus or tram. There may be an inspector but usually you don't run into one. In Riga, there is actually a 'conductor' on almost each bus. They comes to ask for your fare right after you get on the bus. Well, it's good way to offer more job ...

... club/bar 2min from the hostel but we left soon after because we were quite tired and we had to get up early anyways. But we all turned out to be hungry so we went to a pizza place that was open 11pm - 7am...haha! Oh, Riga.. Back at the hostel Rob found out that he had lost his passport that day and having our flight the next day did not help. So bright and early the next morning him and I went to the Canadian embassy, the police station (I swear, something you see in ...