Reval Hotel Elizabete Riga

... explain
anything, all the flavors were different but they weren't all that
mindblowing. For me anyways... apparently Thorstein thought the salmon
was quite tasty.

The Norwegians and I parted ways as they were
flying back to Oslo today. I wandered. The first place that I like to
go in a new place is the market- Riga's is right next to the train
station in what look like huge hangers. It blew me away. I couldn't
believe where I was... I thought the Latvia ...

The day was great with beautiful weather and I really enjoyed the various walks I took during the day. Today was a mixture of the very ancient and the new. I started with an exploration of the newer parts of Riga (okay, not so new but 19th-20th century) with a visit to the Central Market. It is the largest in Europe and is housed in a complex of old Zeppelin Hangars right on the edge of the ...

... out to be in the Hotel Riga, which is also the biggest casino in town... and very expensive, but was easily the best sushi I have ever had. (it was in fact the only sushi I have had). Apparently the chefs had been employed directly from Japan , and were some of the highest paid chefs in town. We wandered around looking for a pub for another half hour or so and decided "screw it", headed back to the hostel and got our things ready for te next days trip to Tallin. Riga is ...

... that doesn't even exist in a dictionary. That term should yet be invented. Unlike Lithuania whose capital lies deep inland, Rīga is located almost right at the Baltic Sea, at the Gulf of Rīga. There is this Daugava river which flows right by the historical city core, and then only about 10 kilometres downstream meets the Baltic sea and creates the Gulf. So this was the place where I arrived some time around one. Once out of the bus terminal and in the street, I found ...

... man now. The next two days were blessed with miserable weather, but that didn't stop the Tinx from seeing everything they had to offer, beautiful Baroque and Gothic cathedrals, nice people, good beer and just a sociable small town where an Indian is a novelty like you wouldn't believe. I'm not going to impose the details on you, since there are better things to write about from when I made my way to Riga. Morning of the 7th, I woke up at the crack of dawn packed my wordly belonging ...

... importantly, I suspected it was a Russian mafia run affair..now donät get me wrong...got nothing against the Russian mafia..but they run these pubs and rip off English tourists, refusing to let them leave until they pay thousands of pounds... 4) I wasnöt born yesterday Basically, I think he was from the Russian mafia... I went into the pub and had a chat with a few people, then Guna arrived and we went to her apartment in the Rigan ...

... way downtown, with a pack which could have contained anything. It was a very bizarre feeling, and I saw a sniper on a building I went by and thought, if I make one false move. I am sure you will see parts of Riga on CBC News BBC CNN tonight and tomorrow / youll be able to see what I am seeing now. Customs at the Port took a long time, standing outside in the cold Atlantic air, sure cooler than in the downtown area. Anyway, there is no check ...

... too much! Again, we got in (for a discounted price as we lived next door I think!) and had 3 more drinks of our choice! Si was with a couple of chicks and I was just with the 1, but she was a right blonde fittie! (pics attached!) She then did a dance around a pole and I realised this was obviously for me - she then moved towards me an gave me the lap dance of my life! She ended up sitting on my lap with her juggers in my face with a lovely G-Banger on for about half an ...

... couldn't work out whether to see the English, Russian or Latvian version! The film was in English but with subtitles in both languages as there is a large Russian community still here. I tried to watch the subtitles to work out a few words and for the giggle factor but soon got into the film. As I walked back I was surprised how light it is, it doesn't get dark until ten. I've not got used to that yet especially as it was so light for my run at 06:00.

... Latvia, which we sped through in a couple of days. First, a day in Riga checking out the sights of the capital. Changing of the guard, museums, art noveau buildings and fast food dumplings washed down with cheap local beer. Also spent our first night at a proper hostel (sic. hotel with sitting room filled with talkative, slightly insane antipodeans) which was fun but does somewhat sell the benefits of the baltic homestay, even if the landlady really doesn't want you there ...