Our Baltic Bonanza: The Latvian Leg!

“Latvia has some of the world’s worst drivers. It’s not that they can’t steer or press the break pedal, although for some reason Latvians can’t master the art of parallel parking, it’s more likely a reckless streak that allows grown men and women to act like children behind the wheel. Passing on blind curves is shockingly common, red lights are ignored by most BMWs and pedestrians on crosswalks tend to become targets for wannabe F1 drivers in tricked out Mercedes jeeps. If, like many locals, you enjoy operating an automobile while intoxicated, you should bear in mind that all perpetrators, including foreigners, face a mandatory ten-day jail sentence and a 500Ls fine.”

Riga in your pocket

You can imagine how excited we were to be driving in Latvia after reading this quote! Unfortunately they lived up to their reputation and we awarded them 'The worst drivers' in the Baltic award!

Our first stop in Latvia was Riga for three nights. We did another 'free'( pay what you can afford) walking tour' with Tours in Riga. Tom was our gorgeous and extremely entertaining guide showing us around the old town.

We loved our walking tour with Tom so much that we also did his evening kayaking tour on the colourful canal.

“A century ago, Riga, just as other European cities, was swept away by a style of architecture and living inspired by longing for creative freedom and daring opulence: art nouveau. By learning from nature, delighting in bunches of flowers, ornamentation, sinuous and undulating lines, relishing in antique beauty, fantasising about sphinxes, gryphons and Cerberuses, art nouveau rendered Riga more lavish, mysterious and seductive. Raise your eyes upwards and discover Europe’s most beautiful art nouveau buildings for yourself!”

www.latvia.travel

In Latvia, it's a tradition to fasten a lock to a bridge on your wedding day and throw the key in the water to symbolise an unbreakable marriage.

The couple were obviously looking for a 'get out' clause.

' When construction was completed in 1930, Riga’s Central Market was one of the largest and most modern marketplaces on the European continent. Seventy years later, four of the five pavilions, which were used as zeppelin hangars during WWI, still serve their original function as meat, fish, produce and dairy markets.'

Riga in your pocket

Nick and his sweet tooth did not know which way to look in the bakery section.

He settled on a doughnut to start!

We stayed at Central Hostel in Riga. One of our highlights was going to an ice hockey match to see the local team Dinamoriga play. No cameras were allowed in. Nick almost lost his head when the puck went flying by.

We left Riga and headed for the coast.

Just another bright sunny day at the beach!

We had one of the most bizarre but amazing experiences of our lives in the Latvian countryside at a Perts. Lonely Planet explains it much better than we can!

“Cast modesty aside and indulge in Latvia's most Latvian tradition, the pirts. A pirts is Latvia's version of the sauna, and while somewhat similar to the Finnish sauna, there are many elements that set this sweaty experience apart. A traditional pirts is run by a sauna master, who cares for her attendees while performing choreographed branch beatings that feel almost shamanistic in nature. Yes, you read correctly – while lying down in your birthday suit, the sauna master swishes branches in the air to raise the humidity then lightly beats a variety of wildflowers and branches over your back while you rest. Pirts also tends to be much hotter and more humid than they Finnish counterparts – a branch beating session usually lasts around 15 minutes before one exits the sauna to jump in a nearby body of water (lake, pond or sea). The aroma of the pirts is also very important – sauna masters take great care to create a mélange of herbs and spices to accent the air. In general, an afternoon at the pirts involves multiple sweat sessions interspersed with leaps into cold water – beer, herbal tea and snacks are a must.”

Lonely Planet

So, we had done our research, reading not only in the Lonely Planet but also in a few other places that the traditional way is to do the whole thing naked. Picture our horror when we were asked to change into our swimming costumes, with our response being, “We don't have any and thought we'd do it naked!”

After we got over this intial bump in the road, we experienced everything mentioned in the Lonely Planet plus, in Nick's case beer being poured on his back whilst listening to 'Cotton-Eyed Joe.' I had a grapefruit rubbed into my skin and then honey massaged in. I was also tapped with pine needles to the sound of Ricky Martin's 'Living La Vida Loca.'

The sauna house