Riga – another try

So here’s another try  at the capital of Latvia! Jackie and I went touring while she was visiting Finland in April, and we just had such a blast! Latvian friends, be proud: I’ve finally got it: Riga is great! It was such an amazing experience, all the craze and the booze ; nice buildings, squares and gardens; the cool sympathetic and open people, just excellent! I’m definitely going back this summer. Anyway, I’m writing here to share the photos with Jackie and to let everyone know that she is now a married woman The tourist recommendations for those who plan to go there:

• Stay at a hostel – it’s way more fun than hotels etc. “Old town” or “Riga Hostel” are gold – I’d recommend getting a private room since I’m not much of a fan of sleeping beside unknown people…
• Go out! This is an absolute must! Don’t ask tour guides where to go – ask from your reception clerk where he/she’d go out. A couple of nice bars are: the Old Town hostel bar, the Old Russian Lady’s House bar, the French bar (always overcrowded coz of the cheapest beer price in the history of mankind). If you like clubs and cheap superficial clubbing girls you’re in for “Essential”.
• Careful with the drinking + credit card mix: there’s always a prostitute around waiting ’til your too drunk to ensnare you and suck up your limits.

Entre 13 e 19 de Abril a Jackie esteve aqui de visita, fazia anos que não nos encontrávamos — e resolvemos ir visitar Riga. Eu não estava muito interessado em visitar a cidade porque na outra vez que fui lá estava muito frio e nem deu pra curtir o lugar. Mas tenho que admitir, desta vez valeu a pena mesmo. Não só pela companhia, mas a cidade parece que mudou de cara! Foi sensacional, os prédios e as pracas (cadê meu C com cedilha!?) e os jardins… bacana mesmo! Além disso a noite em Riga é uma loucura: saímos assim que chegamos e fomos caminhando até acharmos um bar “razoável”, mas não imaginávamos que os locais seriam tão simpáticos. Entre as conversas mais loucas que se pode imaginar, inventei um coquetel, achei notas de real no bar, e a Jackie “se casou” com um tipo alcólico-anônimo meio-russo-meio-letão; conhecemos ingleses, russos, finlandeses, macedônios, turcos, franceses… parecia que todo mundo estava no clima da simpatia! Show de bola!

Orthodox church

City skyline at night - (C) Elisah007

The bar mix blurr - (C) Elisah007

Fanni and inconvenient

City tour guide - Jeeses, Jesus, no matter!

Just (not) married (yet)

At the wedding, groom's nervous...

infalible Hairdressing techniques...

Bridesmaid