And further on to Riga - Latvia to Party on!!
Trip Start
Jul 05, 2005
1
6
19
Trip End
Jul 26, 2005
Riga,
Latvia
Thursday, July 7, 2005
Arriving in Riga airport, Things went fine and I took the bus to the center with some french. I bought a city map at the airport store not really knowing about the currency so I found later that it was ahemm high price.
I waited at the station as I was suppose to meet with my Hospitality Club host. But for some obvious reason, learned later (hospital care), I never got in touch with her. So I walked to the center and just sat and relax on a bench of the Blackhead square enjoying the sun before James arrived (also HC member). He tried to manage something for me but finally I finished at an hostel on Elisabetes iela since the backpacker inn was full for the night. I didnt do much until I met Karl and learned about the London Bombing..
Blackhead House - Riga
. That was rather a shock and plenty of us were standing at the TV of the hostel looking for news while others were mostly critics about it. Karl was a funny Liverpool accent guy obviously always tipsy guy who manage to get attack at the street corner of the hostel. He then ask me if I'd go out and we finished the night at the Backpackers Inn hostel bar having drinks paid by Karl and talking with drunk finish and also with Anna and her friend (finish). Trying out a finish traditionnal drunk sauna night later in the night... and finally hook-up with Anna for the rest of the night though I was horribly tired since I hadnt sleep much the last days. She was rather disappointed that back at my hostel I was in a dorm... and probably even more that I felt asleep quite immediately ...
Anyway!
The result lots of alcohol and little sleep.
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July 8
The next day I moved at the same time than Karl to the backpackers inn and met James again there who came to have a look
Cats Family
. We all three went for breakfast at John Lemon Pub. It has been a relaxing day in town and lying in the park and at a tea house. From the hostel I got in touch with a local member from HC and we went few people to have a drink at the terrass square before we all left on our side. Later on I met Anna again but not much happen nor talk. We manage to talk a little and in the evening I brought her to her bus has she was leaving to Estonia that night. I went out with James at John Lemon and we bump into Alfredo (HC member) - Jenny and friend and some other whom I join to finish the night in some bar. Obviously bed hasn't been usefull that day neither.James was drunk and finally left on his side... seems he hardly made it home that night... lost in Riga :D
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July 9
I hang around in town and visit the museum and the riverside before I bump again into James and we stayed around the music festival next to the Dom. The day went by; some lunch at a nice cafeteria where I obviously took something as a soup but werent obviously a soup... anyway it was alright ; and later on the evening I manage to get someone (french Johan) to go visit the cemetery
Daugava River
. After that I went out with Alfredo and some other in town for lunch pizza and later with some redneck americans for drinks in some bars - short sleep. The american guys, we rather all dislike them... So we left with James, Johan, Alfredo on our side...-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 10th
Alfredo left that morning and I hang with James in town and the Art Nouveau district. Later we bump into David and had a lunch at the English pub where I made everyone wonder about my weakerthans shirt. In the evening I went out with Sarah and some other people from the hostel (and mostly Commonwealth) at the terrass square and I got a little more sleep than the previous day... a little. It was another great sunny and warm day though
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July 11
It has been a quiet day in town with James and another british
Grafitti
. I got some food and later in the afternoon took the bus to the airport where I left back to Skavsta. It was sad to leave has I had some of the greatest days of the year, and met with lots of new friend like James. I kept a strong contact with him and he was all fun the whole time. Its also funny how we manage to finally always be together or bumped into each other. I also remember David saying... eh your second half isnt there? :D
On the plane there was 2 swedes from Uppsala whom help me when we arrived, took the bus to Stockholm and finally had a lunch with them at stockholm central station before they left to catch their train. Finally I never manage to meet them though once in Uppsala. I checked in at the youth hostel and immediately got in touch with Maria from HC and I went out with them for quite the whole night.
