Last Night In Riga

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Today we planned to spend the day in Riga and then go for a meal in the evening.

We woke and headed to the central market to get some food for today and the trip tomorrow. We did the usual wandering around not really deciding on anything, then finally picked several cakes, some smoked cheese and bread.

After crossing the world's busiest road ever we settled down to eat our picnic at the waters edge. Then we set off in a bid to find Riga’s spectacular castle, expecting it to dominate the skyline. It was barely an interesting building and we walked passed it without being sure if it was the correct building. It housed the museum of art or something like that, so we skipped that building and headed for the powder tower; a tower with 9 Russian cannon balls still stuck in the walls. Though we only saw two.

We just wandered around the city for a bit and nipped to Rimi to buy water and some pink foam. The foam was just weird at first, but after a while it started to burn our mouths. At one point I was certain that we'd eaten something meant for washing up.

Back at the hostel we changed quickly and then headed to the backpackers pub for a drink. There we sat and contemplated the destination of our travels after Xmas. Japan seems to be a strong contender at the moment.

The traditional restaurant we'd booked was awful. We were expecting something like Olde Hansa in Tallinn, but it was dull, expensive and disappointing. Rob did however get to eat rainbow trout which he did enjoy.

We went back to the hostel and picked up Ally, the girl in the bed next to ours. We then went back to the backpackers pub where we met Anne a girl from Birmingham and Steve who was an Aussie. After quite a few drinks there, we headed to the John Lemon bar to continue there. We ended up going through into the back room where a couple from Finland that we'd met earlier were sitting. It was a fantastic night and we got to meet lots of new people. Anne had just been in Japan for eighteen months, so was trying her best to persuade us to go.

We arrived back at the hostel around five in the morning. Great night and a great way to say goodbye to Riga.

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Photos

Pondering over the war museum
She's not actually reading anything as its all in Latvian

Oh look... another one
Note the 'walk thru' an express hatch

John Lemmon Bar
Anne; Steph; Ali

Comments

[Nina]

Why?
Why my dears whould you eat something that does indeed sound like it should be used to wash up? You crazy people all this traveling freedome has gone to your head tut tut no more bizzarely coloured food for you two!