Day 19 (25 June): Latvia
I boarded a 4:30 am train to the airport in Berlin in order to make my flight to Riga, Latvia (the biggest Baltic city in a fomer Soviet state. By the time I got to Riga I needed a nap and since it was stormy in Riga I took one.
Fortunately, by the time I woke up the weather improved and I could take more of a look around. I wandered the huge market there housed in old airline Hangars near the Daugava River. I also took a lift to the top of a church tower to get views of the city. After walking around the scenic old town a little, I head out for food and a night on the town with a couple of Australians and Welsh people sharing the dorm room with me in the hostel.
Economic observations:
1) Latvia is still really cheap. At the market, I bought 4 pairs of good new socks for less than 1 USD. I also bought fruit and breakfast pastries for the next couple of days for less than 1 USD.
2) Cheap flights from England and Germany and cheap alcohol make Riga a popular destination for British 'Stag' and 'Hen' parties (e.g. bachelor and bachelorette parties.) Unfortunately, these seem to be unavoidable, since they´re really loud and not too respectful groups of people. I guess Latvians welcome it because it brings in money if nothing else.
3) Casinos. There seem to be empty casinos all over Riga and in a lot of other Eastern European cities (actually all of the other ones I've been too.) Its strange because no one ever seems to be in them. How do they make money? Are they a front for something else?
4) The Australians and Welsh people I met pointed out to me that Americans seem much more work and goal oriented than people from their countries. They were telling me about how a lot of people back home (and themselves) will just quit their jobs and travel for several months with virtually no consequences when they go back. I might be wrong, but this seems like it would be unacceptable in the US and travelling would not be an acceptable use of time unless you have something lined up before you leave. I wonder why? Is it good or bad?
Fortunately, by the time I woke up the weather improved and I could take more of a look around. I wandered the huge market there housed in old airline Hangars near the Daugava River. I also took a lift to the top of a church tower to get views of the city. After walking around the scenic old town a little, I head out for food and a night on the town with a couple of Australians and Welsh people sharing the dorm room with me in the hostel.
Economic observations:
1) Latvia is still really cheap. At the market, I bought 4 pairs of good new socks for less than 1 USD. I also bought fruit and breakfast pastries for the next couple of days for less than 1 USD.
2) Cheap flights from England and Germany and cheap alcohol make Riga a popular destination for British 'Stag' and 'Hen' parties (e.g. bachelor and bachelorette parties.) Unfortunately, these seem to be unavoidable, since they´re really loud and not too respectful groups of people. I guess Latvians welcome it because it brings in money if nothing else.
3) Casinos. There seem to be empty casinos all over Riga and in a lot of other Eastern European cities (actually all of the other ones I've been too.) Its strange because no one ever seems to be in them. How do they make money? Are they a front for something else?
4) The Australians and Welsh people I met pointed out to me that Americans seem much more work and goal oriented than people from their countries. They were telling me about how a lot of people back home (and themselves) will just quit their jobs and travel for several months with virtually no consequences when they go back. I might be wrong, but this seems like it would be unacceptable in the US and travelling would not be an acceptable use of time unless you have something lined up before you leave. I wonder why? Is it good or bad?
posted by Traveling Brian at 2:13 PM
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