'Are you Finnish?' 'No I've just started!'

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Someone genuinely asked me that yesterday! But then someone said I had an English face so it cancelled out the compliment?

Today I have got 1 tram, 1 bus, 1 ferry and 1 coach and am now in RIGA!!!

The ferry was pretty uneventful but even now I feel like I am swaying a little bit. The bus was jokes until we had to change because something happened (I know really know what but there seemed to be some petrol on the ground...) so we were 'upgraded' to a business coach which had blatent problemos with the gears - I had an exciting trip to the toilet and got battered around cos it kept stalling. (Which made me think, when the driver is on the other side are the gears the other way or the same?!).

The hostel is v nice and it's bastarding hot outside. I went to the train station as they have loads of shops, got some money changed and then ate an amazing meal (150 words in and I mention food). The guidebook had suggested a Pelmeni place (Russian meatballs) and they charge you based on the weight of the food. I had a whole bowl with some salad and a coke and it came to just over £2.50. I tend not to go back to places I have eaten at before but for this I think I will make an exception! Also (as the guidebook warned) there were some drunks in there (nice ones) and I sat near 2. He was off his face slurring around then all of a sudden his false teeth flew across the floor! I had to try not to rofl everywhere.

Also I forgot to mention, I had been wondering why I haven't seen darkness for over a week - in Tallinn the sun sets at about 11 and is light for a while after that. Then a lady I was speaking to yest said that Finland has 'white nights' when the sun just stays up like a dirty little stop out all night! (I doesn't reach that far down Finland though). Cool init.

Tomorrow there will be thunderstorms apparently so I am going to base what I do on what the weather is like. I have already been to Riga 5 years ago and already reckonise some places (notibly the central market which is like a normal food market but on speed). Great excites. I am now getting ready for bed (been up since 5am!) and also trying really hard not to get harrassed by the man in the dorm who has mentioned no less than 7 times already we should go for drinks (he looks like omid djalili).

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