Two great places off the beaten path: having a drink there can be cultural experience.

If it happens that you are craving for cultural experiences and would love to have a drink surrounded by those who eat and breathe culture, wear hats, beards and glasses, and read books there are some really great hipster-places in Riga. Yeah, I said hipster-places. I've also heard that Riga is hipster capital. At least this article tells it: Hipster Capital Riga

Well, whatever, I’m not here to find the definition of hipsterism. I’m here to share with you info about two pretty enjoyable places that are well known here as typical hipster-places. It means, you will have to get out of the Old Town. No worries, both of them are at the city center and really just some 10-15 min walk away from the Old Town.

Old furniture, heat from fireplaces, friendly locals, concerts, out-of-the-box performances and booze, oh, and usually no snobs there as well!!!  

KKC – Kaņepes Kultūras Centrs

This self-proclaimed culture center in old mansion has real charm. It’s just a 10 min walk away from the Old Town. No chic. And that’s the best thing about this place – the content and charm comes from people, performances and attitude. They have even movie evenings and the territory outside in front of the building is absolutely welcoming in summers, gathering people like a magnet.

Not just the bar and stage, but the building itself has stories around, in and out. It stands there from the beginning of XX century, it has hosted aristocracy and lived through bohemian times when students lived there and it has been school of music for children as well.

Address:  Skolas iela 15. It’s right on the corner between Skolas and  Lāčplēša streets. Look for a giant sculpture of a black lion outside on the wall, and fence that draws a boundary between the street and another world.

Who goes there? Well, definitely not bling-bling people looking for posh and luxury or willing to get something from you. You will meet there artists, students, writers, photographers, hipsters, philosophers and lovers of cultural values – those who are looking for something different and able to find more into less.

Check out their Facebook fan page to dig into pictures: KKC (Kaņepes Kultūras Centrs) Facebook Page

CHOMSKY

As you might have guessed – this place has been named after American philosopher Noam Chomsky. They are kind of rebels that dare to say out loud – we are not here to comply with authorities and political correctness.  This place is pretty small and you probably won’t even notice it if you were just walking by not looking for it. It’s in that part of city center where tourists don’t get so often. When nobody is looking for ordering drinks, a guy behind the bar pretty often is reading books. That’s already something that tells about this place. It is a really simple shed-like place - one more little piece of heaven that proves that simplicity has a lot in it. Old furniture that seems to have lived its life already, perfectly fits into this place where being who you are is valued a lot higher than pretending.  Oh, and this small place from times to times have concerts as well that might surprise you with really undomesticated music.

Address: Lāčplēša iela 68. Look for a portrait of Noam Chomsky next to the entrance.

Who goes there? Friends and lone wolves who want to have a beer in a shed-like place, those who want to spend time talking to people, those who can go out without make-up or their best clothes on, and that-kind of people who go to KKC as well.

I haven’t lied a word, that’s how it looks and feels there: Chomsky Facebook Page 

These both places are truly welcoming, so if you have a feeling that’s something for you, I’m sure you won’t regret going there! If these places seem for you suspicious and too strange, you probably don't have to waste your time going there. If fact, these are not just "some kind of places" to have a drink - these are experiences in space-time.

Summer Festival You Deserve

Your friend in Riga last months has been pretty lazy on this blog... Let me apologize for this silence. But of course I have excuses, everyone has excuses for everything - for not traveling, not eating healthy and even for not having fun. 

Summer in Latvia is in it's peak. The streets of Riga today are almost melting and beaches are crowded. Every weekend comes with festivals outside Riga, music and beer seems to rule the world. From folklore festivals to entertainment for mainstream lovers - whatever your heart is longing for. Folklore festival Baltica 2012 has already left the streets of Riga, one of the coolest Latvian festivals Positivus in Salacgrīva (with 25 000 visitors), Fonofest close to Cēsis and others are behind... But some festivals are still in front of us: my summer festival vote goes for LabaDaba - international music festival on August 3-5 (2012). Friendly and positive festival with the name that could be translated as "Good Nature". That's what the organizers say on their website about the festival: 

"LABADABA would like recall that the world is colorful, hospitable and free.

LABADABA – for people who make the world turn around!"

This festival has something to do with Nabaklab (located at the Old Town) and something to do with the only non-commercial radio station in Latvia - University of Latvia radio "Naba". Yap, these are the same hands and brains working also on this festival. No pop-music there. On the menu of this festival is reggae, etno-folk, rock, electro... - pretty interesting music to enjoy on five stages - Bear's stage (that's the main stage), Dog's stage (barn), Hedgehog's stage (world, reggae, folk), Raven's aerie (electro, Dj) and Chillout stage ”Green owl’s lair”. I guess for many visitors the most waited performers are Chinawoman from Canada, but this definitely is not the only interesting band you will meet there - Spiritual Seasons from Ukraine, Dub Syndicte from Jamaica, Bombillaz from Estonia, Clubroot from Great Britain, Skafandr from Russia, Adolescents from USA, Dr. Ring Ding from Germay and the list goes on. From the huge list of Latvian performers there are some you definitely have to see - Auļi, Iļģi and Dzelzs Vilks with their folk, post-folk and folk rock programs are truly amazing! 

Besides the music many other activities are waiting for you there - geocaching,  bathhouse (sauna), different creative workshops, getting henna tattoos, a tent for curious people, kindergarten, cosmic swing, mail art exposition, cinema house, different sports, discussions, yoga, theatre and the list goes on...

After a long period of non-stop work I think I deserve it and if you are in Latvia on that weekend, you have to check out their website now to make the right decision: LABADABA.lv

Don't Joke with it in Latvia!

In every country there are some prejudices and hot topics to talk about and be careful talking about. Here are some things which, depending on the local person you meet, in Latvia can be offensive and unpleasant to hear or talk about. 

Latvia vs. Lithuania

There is no problem between Latvians and Lithuanians, we are friendly neighbors with similar languages, history, architecture, traditions and problems, even the names of these countries sound similar in different languages like Lettland & Litauen, Lettonia & Lituania, but... The same as Germany & Austria with the same language or Slovakia & Slovenia with similar names, Latvia and Lithuania are two separate countries. If you are in Riga and tell that you are glad to be in the capital of Lithuania, the face in front of you might change from friendly smiling to truly disappointed. Although it is not a big deal, but it is happening pretty often that foreign people being in Latvia keeps calling it Lithuania. The capital of Latvia is Riga and the capital of Lithuania is Vilnius. As a small country fighting for its identity and recognition, we just want people, who are visiting us, to know where they are. 

Latvians vs. Russians

You probably know something about the history of Latvia, you see in the map that Russia is our big neighbor and have heard something about Russians in Latvia. What’s the problem? It’s the BIGGEST problem for a lot of people in Latvia now. Just 20 years have passed since we have got the independence from Russia and there is a huge percent of Russian speaking inhabitants in Latvia, referendum about accepting Russian as the second official language in Latvia, Soviet time memories that are still alive. You don’t know you are meeting Latvian or Russian and both sides are quite nationally minded. If you discuss this topic with Latvian you will get a version of stupid, cruel, rude, uneducated Russians. If you talk with Russian you might get a story about stupid, racist, heartless Latvians and that Latvia actually is Russian country not Latvian. We are just all the time incited against each other by politics and mass media. Don’t say that Latvians and Russians have no difference between them. In fact, there is no problem for Latvians and Russians to be good friends, but if you meet some especially nationalistic person with strict opinion about what is happening and how it should be, this conversation can become never-ending and pretty uncomfortable.

Sex-tourism

A lot of inhabitants of Riga would throw eggs or tomatoes on me just because I mentioned it here. Stay calm: I’m not promoting Riga as sex-tourism destination! Riga has sparkling nightlife, more girls than boys and open-minded girls what leads to what is called "sex-tourism" here. You might also face people considering that every male tourist in Riga is sex-tourist. The word ‘sex-tourism’ in Riga is not used meaning the same as in Amsterdam or Thailand – it’s not about prostitution. This 10 minutes Youtube video gives some explanations: 

Freedom Monument

If you are in Riga there is no way you could miss seeing Freedom Monument – it’s 42 m high monument separating the Old Town from the new city centre with the majestic opera house on one side and the Bastion hill on the other side. We are all extremely sensitive about any joke you make about it. Mass media also have told us that many times foreign people find this almost holy place for relieving natural needs behind the monument. You get a penalty for this. Just don’t do it even if the police doesn’t see you (what is pretty impossible there in any time of a day).  This monument is embodiment of Latvian strength, history and identity. Read about it here:  Monument, Freedom & Flowers

At the end I should say that Latvians have sense of humor and they love joking about themselves (of course - we can joke about ourselves but are sensitive when others are joking about us - as anyone else). The picture below shows the world through eyes of a Latvian. :) 

If you have other observations, questions or something to add to this post - feel free to comment here!

Where Locals Have Fun III

Time to get to know other places where locals are having fun, in other words - places for your evenings and nights in Riga. Previously I took you to "Pulkvedis", "Greenwood", "Nabaklab", "Leningrad" and "Shot Cafe".

If "Pulkvedis" is a place with 16 years experience in making people to dance, then here is one other place with huge experience  - "Cuba Cafe" - coctail bar in the heart of the Old Town, on the same street with other bars like Spot Cafe and Greenwood next to the Dome Square. "Cuba" cafe doesn't give you a huge dancing place, but still - their DJs will make you to move. Quite romantic place, often filled (or really crowded) with tourists and locals. Kind of a place for tequila and heating the dance floor. 

One of newest most interesting places in Riga Old Town is folk club "Ala" on Smilšu street, close to the Powder Tower (War Museum). This place takes people in the journey around the world: folk bands from around the world are performing here, and when there is no foreign artists, you will be invited to join joyfull Latvian folk dances. This place in the basement is really charming - the first and only traditional music bar in Latvia. Dancing evenings are great here: you can watch traditional Latvian dances and get into the dancing like Latvian. If you are in Riga, I hope you will get there in one of these dancing evenings. 

Where Locals Have Fun I
Where Locals Have Fun II

1 YEAR HAS PASSED!!! What the Next Year Will Bring?

Let me be honest – I didn’t believe that I’m able to do something for so long time, but - it’s birthday of this blog today! One whole year has passed since the first post!!!  I know it’s not so long time, but still – here we are. 

What makes me happy in doing this: there are people reading it, enjoying it and finding it useful. THANK YOU!

Here is a little help for planning your trip to Latvia  in 2012 – dates of some  events  you can enjoy if you are in Latvia: 

10.02 – 12.02 14th International Festival of Ice Sculptures in Jelgava

10.02 – 12.02 „Balttour” in Riga - the biggest travel tradeshow in the Baltics annually opening the new tourist season

23.04 – 30.04 International Baltic Ballet festival in Riga - from classical to avant-garde

19.05 – International Museum Night – everywhere in Latvia (and behind)

26.05 – „Go Blonde” festival in Riga Read about it here

02.06 – „Sigulda Jazz 2012” – smooth jazz, funk and big band outdoors in Sigulda

15.06 – 17.06 – Riga Opera Festival

16.06 – 22.06 waiting for the magical Midsummer’s night streets of Riga will be filled with before-solstice events with traditional dances, folklore and markets

23.06 – 24.06 – Midsummer’s night all around Latvia. (Have you seen the movie „Midsummer’s Madness”? This is where you can get some impression of what the Midsummer’s night in Latvia is) Read about Midsummer’s night here

06.07 – Music festival „Summer Sound Liepāja” – 4 stages right at the beach – rock, hip hop, ambient, electronic and pop music in Liepāja

06.07 – 10.07 International Folklore festival „Baltica” ir Riga, Ikšķile, Madona, Ērgļi

09.07 – 15.07 6th International sand sculpture festival „Summer Signs” in Jelgava

11.07 – 14.07 Ancient Music festival in churches at the Riga Old Town and the most impressive baroque palace in Latvia – Rundāle: back to medieval, renaissance and baroque music

13.07 - 14.07 “Positivus” festival – definitely the biggest rock and pop music festival in Latvia, one of the top 10 summer festivals in Europe

14.08 – 15.08 – Catholic festival in Aglona which brings together pilgrims of all confessions from all around the world. Read about it here

17.08 – 19.08 – Riga festival: Riga city birthday party everywhere around the city

08.09. – Contemporary Arts forum "White Night"   Read about it here

15.11 – 18.11 – “Beaming Riga” – festival of lights Pictures from Beaming Riga 2010, Pictures from Beaming Riga2011

01.12 – 15.01.2013 – Festival of Christmas trees Read about it here 

02.12 – 10.01.2013 – Christmas markets and events

Are you ready to kick your mind out of the comfort zone?

That's true - if in summer Riga is the capital of hot non-stop parties, in autumn the face of the city is different. All these parties are stilll here, and maybe even more, but in facial expressions the city is different. It's getting cold and dark. Days are short. Rain. That's a perfect place for autumns depression... Riga is using this dark, uncomfortable season to make you even more uncomfortable: modern arts are taking over the streets and buildings of Riga. You will be surprised, excited, upset and more. One of these events every autumn in Riga is SOUND FOREST - Adventurous Music and Film Festival.

‘Sound Forest’ (Skaņu Mežs) is music festival which plays not only with your ears, but mostly with mind. The first Sound Forest was organized in 2003 to show the latest activities in the world of music and this is also a provocation for new angles in music. The artists in Sound Forest are surprising, boring, shocking, incomprehensible... These are brave artists from all over the world - the future of music – the music for which we are probably not ready yet.  Sound Forest 2011 will be in Riga on 16^th – 17^th of September.

The organizers of the festival say, they are doing it to “knock the mind out of the comfortable and dull "reality" to remind you of an alternative”. Isn't that what we need to keep as moving? Aren't we too comfortable with our own complaining and our own brainwashed opinions? Aren't we too much into "realities" which we have  artificially built in our minds?

Other events every autumn in Riga which make you "to step out of the box":  Riga is going to take you away to the magical world of arts and dreams this autumn

Where locals have fun II (Shot Cafe & Leningrad)

Travelling around is a great thing to do, but when I came back home, Riga doesn’t allow me to get rested. If you came to Riga it’s sparkling life from morning to morning will take you in. My favorite question for toursits I meet here is, of course,  - why Riga? The nightlife is one of these reasons.Yes, also bars and clubs you can find here opened till 6 – 7 am. Check my previous post: Where locals have fun 

Two more places with great atmosphere I would like to add the the list of places to enjoy & have fun:

„Shot cafe” in the Old Town of Riga right next to the War Museum (Torņa street 4) – small, cosy bar with around 100 different shots and other drinks with reasonable prices. The place where during the day time you can get your lunch and during the night you can enjoy parties till morning, and if you get there at the happy hour you get 3 shots paying just for 2. That’s the place which has became the favorite place for a lot of Rigans and guests of Riga.

„Leningrad” – also in The Old Town (Kalēju street 54) – artsy place to meet with friends or young Latvian artists. DJ events, literary meetings and art events provide the necessary spice to keep you coming back time and again. You can come in and feel like home there, take a book from the book shelf, play some games or even piano. 

The Art in Stone: Mysterious Easter Island in Riga.

Pauls Jaunzems is Latvian sculptor who has made a lot of great works, he had participated at the exhibitions all over the world and his sculptures you can find not only here in different towns of Latvia, but also in Reykjavik (Iceland), Istanbul (Turkey), Scarborough, Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), Bramming (Denmark), Lithuania, South Corea, Finland & Egypt etc.

I wanna tell you about his workshop in Riga... It’s amazing place and not even Latvians/ Rigans know about this amazing place... Like a little Easter Island – near the river Buļļupe is located his workshop with great, really great stone masterpieces! Discovering this place is like discovering amazing secret! It’s beautiful, exciting and gives the feeling of sirreality....

Check his home-page to see some of his sculptures. And do not hesitate to contact him and visit his workshop when you are here! http://www.paulsjaunzems.lv/en/skulpturas

Worlds Largest Blonde Festival! No.1 Blonde Parade in Europe!

Talking about the economical crisis was quite depressing and it still is quite depressing. It’s not a secret that crisis hit Latvia quite hard, so in 2009 over 500 blonde women in Riga made a great step to bring some positive moments in our lives and made blond parade – hundreds of blond girls marching through Riga – music, style, smiles, fun! They bring into the city a lot of positive energy! They have made the tradition and already 3^rd year “Go Blonde” will take place in Riga! You are welcome to participate, you are welcome to watch: every year there are more and more blonde women participating, this year they are planning to be around 2000 blonde women from different countries!

The World's largest blonde festival!  ON MAY, 28^th! NEXT WEEKEND!

Check their web-site and the programme of the festival:

Save Money And Get New Experiences On Holidays!

Let’s say that you are keen traveller who: doesn’t need luxury, is fine with basic comfort and doesn’t need a high level of comfort, loves new obstacles and adventures, who loves to meet new people. Maybe you cannot afford expensive hotels? No matter what is the reason, but these are some options for low budget lodging. And I’m sure – some of these options can become a great experience! Creative travelers who are willing to consider alternatives to hotels could pay a fraction of that price —or nothing at all — by taking advantage of the following options. And it's not only about money - it's also about people :)

Of course the first place we can imagine if we don’t stay at a hotel is hostel. Though they're commonly known as "youth" hostels, this form of accommodation can be ideal for budget travelers of any age. Even if you're not up for the cheapest option — a bed in a shared dorm — you can often get a basic private room at a hostel for significantly less than the cost of a low-end hotel.

The next coming into my mind are homestays. I guess the most popular of them – CouchSurfing. Sleeping in someone's spare bedroom or on the living room couch is by far one of the cheapest ways to travel. Mostly it's free, and it's also a great way to meet locals. You can organize a homestay through long-established hospitality networks like Servas International, Hospitality Club or CouchSurfing.com.

You can try to find academic housing. When students go home for the summer, many colleges and universities open their dorms to visitors. Expect basic but very affordable accommodations (bathrooms may be down the hall, for example). University-Rooms.com is one to try — but it's worth calling a few local campuses directly to see if anything might be available during your trip. The local tourist board may also be able to help.

Take your tent and go camping! Sleeping under the stars can be a magical experience — and it's one of the cheapest options on the list, especially if you cook your own meals over a campfire instead of eating in restaurants every night.

Religious housing. Depending on where you're traveling, there may be affordable lodging offered by religious organizations — such as convents and monasteries in Italy (see MonasteryStays.com), or Christian or Jewish guesthouses in Jerusalem.

Farmstays. From rural B&B's to working ranches and cattle farms, this type of stay can cover a wide range of accommodations — and you don't necessarily have to be willing to milk a cow to take advantage of it. Farmstays are particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand. 

B&B's with shared bathrooms. And also bed & breakfasts can often save you money over hotel rooms, especially if you're willing to use a bathroom down the hall!

Volunteering – the best way to get to know another place

This is what I did. I left my country to do a voluntary work. Almostly one year I lived in another country. And I got my second home there.

Volunteering is lifestyle for a lot of people. Volunteering puts you into another community – probably even totally different from yours. You see more than just places for tourists. You meet local people and you work with them. Who benefits from it? Both sides.

There are different programmes of volunteering, you just have to find the one which best fits to you. You can choose the country, you can choose your activities, you can choose how long you will stay there. There are programmes you have to invest a lot of money, you have to invest some money or... you do not invest anything. I chosed the last one – European Voluntary Service (EVS) – well it’s only for Europe, for youngsters between age of 18 to 30. I wont tell you now, what is EVS. I’ll tell you the benefits you get from it, especially from long-term volunteering.

1)      You live in another country and get to know local people by working together with them.

2)      You meet people who can tell you amazing things you wont find about the country anywhere and they will show you amzing places, even these which are hidden from eyes of a tourist.

3)      You learn their traditions, model of different relationships etc.

4)      You get work/life experience you wont probably get in your home country.

5)      You are intresting for local people and they care about you because you care about them.

6)      You „go deep” because of beeing a tourist and a local at the same time.

7)      You help to someone.

8)      You make friends there.

9)       You get sooooooo much joy from small things!

10)  You make the world better place to live.

I love the experience
I got volunteering abroad.
I really advice to try it.
You will never forget it.
And you will defenitely
get to know the country.
I’m waiting you in Latvia.

For some inspiration: http://www.serveyourworld.com/articles/190/1/Volunteer-in-Latvia

Where Locals Have Fun

Just red an article on RigaNOW November issue - some words about places where to have fun and where locals go in Riga. I’ll name for you places mentioned there as a good choice for you and give more information about the places I love to go. Aslo some places better to stay away from.

„RigaNOW” gives you these places which are safe for you and where locals have fun: Push (Terbatas street 2), Mad House (Kalku 11), Coyote Fly (Palasta 3), Nobody Writes to the Colonel – Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta (Peldu 26) and Greenwood (Krāmu 3).

From the places mentioned here I advice you „Nobody Writes to the Colonel” („Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta” or just „Pulkvedis”). I go there to dance. Dance, dance and dance again. Usually it’s crowded. RigaNOW says: „a longstanding favorite for locals who just want a no-frills good time dancing and enjoying the varied and generally non-techno music.” Usually there is no entrance fee, nice people – locals and foreigners, quite cheap drinks and real party atmosphere.

To be honest, I’m quite surprised that Greenwood is in this list, but I also sometimes go there. It’s a nice place, usually not so crowded. RigaNOW says: „Laidback, safe and little artsy. It attracts non-attitude crowds for freestyle devil-may-care dancing and cheap drinks.” I don’t know about crowds, but people go there. Sometimes there are concerts, usually no entrance fee. Nice place.

Other places mentioned before you will have to check out without me, but I would like to add one more place: „Nabaklab” (which could be translated as belly-botton club). Nabaklab is quite new place with concerts and exhibitions, with vintage shop inside, interesting people and interesting parties there, different kinds of music and a lot more. It’s not only bar/club – this place is something more. Made by the Radio „Naba”: non-commercial radio of the University of Latvia. Usually there is entrance fee (around 2-4Ls), but drinks there are quite cheap and locals really go there to have fun.

One more safe and a lot of fun having bar in Riga Old Town is Cuba, right next to Greenwood. Usually totally crowded, but anyway people dance there, drink and have fun. But in summer the best place to enjoy your nights is beer garden in the centre of the Old Town called „No problem”. This place has really no problems: nice choice of beers, good prices and great atmosphere! There are really great concerts so it might be full and if you think that people will go away if it starts raining – you are wrong, they all will stay there and enjoy the music. In summer go there!

Bars and clubs named and shamed by Latvia’s tourist board in 2009 and you should better stay away from: Babylon (at Kalku 24), Bar Fly (Vāgnera 8), Mary (Audēju 13), Nobu Sushi (Grēcinieku 28), Doll House (Mārstaļu12) Mademoiselle Cigar Club (on Vaļņu Street).

Pictures:1) Nobody Writes to the Colonel, 2) Greenwood, 3) Nabaklab

Who is your friend and why?

Hello, dear traveller!

I guess you have an interest about travelling or my home country -  Latvia! Maybe even both of them. You are totally right – I love the Capital of Latvia - Riga and I’ll be happy if one day you will visit it. I could talk and talk about toursim, culture, entertainment, nice places and my Riga. Most of the time you can meet me there. But I also love the countryside and small towns of Latvia.

Tourism and travelling is something great and all these agencies are doing really good job! They will give you your tickets, they will offer to you interesting excursions with professional guides, and you will get the best hotel with great view through your window. Every agency will try to convince you that they have what you need, they will give you perfectly planned route which hundreds of tourists have checked before you. But if you want to feel the country, to taste it and understand you need simple local people: they will show you not only the most beautiful places, but they will help you to find what you want. You will get individual attitude and honest story about the place.

This blog is about travelling, tourism, Latvia, Riga. Here you will find travel tips, interesting places to visit in my country, events in Riga, possibilities, opportunities and just the things me and my friends have discovered about the world of travelling etc.   You are welcome to contact me if you are planning to visit Riga or any other place in Latvia, I would also be glad to know your opinion if you have been here before and if you allow me to do it, I can publish it here. If you have questions, I can try to find the answers. If wont be able to find the answer you need, my friends will come to help.

It doesn’ t matter you are coming alone, with a bunch of friends or with your family, I’ll be glad to meet you here. Mostly you can find me in Riga and if you want me to be your personal Riga city guide when you are here, I will accept from you some bakshees, tee money or call it however you want and it’s only your choice – how much. This is not a business. You are welcome to torture me with questions on which I probobly even don’t have answers right now, you are also welcome to inform me about your interests and I’ll help you to find what you are searching for. And again, if I will not be able to do it on my own, my friends will come to help. If we will need another guide for your tour in Riga – we are the team who can help you. If you are a friend of German language it also wont be a problem. Just let me know what are you searching for!

I can’t promise that I’ll be available anytime you want, I am not a professional guide, I don’t have a huge knowledge of history. But if you want to come to my country, feel free to contact me. Maybe I’ll be able to help you. I love the place where I am. I will be glad to know – you are coming to Latvia. Or just enjoy this blog! 

Best wishes,
Your Friend in Riga
friendinriga@gmail.com

(Just in case if you want to know who am I (you can also skip this part): I am young and Latvian. I have been studying culture management and it’s just an accident that I got involved into the toursim business. I have been projects manager, director of some festivals, manger of the hotel, manager of the tourism internet portal, I have been „Personal Travel Agent”. I have seen how different travel agencies are working. Well, I have also played different roles of animals for children birthdays and I don’t mind to cut invitations, decorations and other papers for hours and hours. I have been street musician and who knows what I’ll do tomorrow... And doing long term voluntary work abroad helped me to see my country and opportunites Latvia gives with other eyes. I love Latvia. I love Riga.)