Grocery Stores Offer Glimpse of Culture

Grocery stores could be the secret to saving big bucks while traveling. I discovered this while in Latvia and Sweden, but this realization should be nothing new! In Latvia, where G is a native, we knew exactly what we wanted and were able to save a lot of money when comparing our meals to restaurant prices. The grocery store is a great place to interact with locals as well. Just observing the layout of the store, what people have in their carts, and how they shop can be entertaining and informative. For instance, in Latvia, the aisles were winding and permitted basically only one route throughout the store. The store also provided a glimpse into "real" Latvian food, and showed what most of the people ate.
Sweden was a tad different. The grocery store we went to in Stockholm was located underneath, that's right-underneath, a department store downtown. I felt like I was entering a secret lair, the store was concealed so well from the street. In Stockholm, the grocery store was much larger and fashioned after the grocery stores in the U.S. Here we did a grab-n-go; we grabbed food we weren't sure about and we went. We did ask a local her opinion on lingonberry jam, and she did not hesitate to point us to the most popular brand. Here also we bought Paskmust, a children's drink that in my opinion was disgusting. But hey, you've got to try everything once...

Soaking Up Riga

My fascination with Riga is endless. I went to a Russian Orthodox church and observed the elderly women wrapped in scarves, lighting candles and kissing icons. The scrumptious pastries are a definite plus. I especially liked touring St. Peter's Church; it's history is fascinating. What really drew my attention was the elevator trip up the steeple. From the top, you can see nearly the entire city of Riga. Kudos to the elderly woman manning the elevator. She was able to give a thorough recitation of St. Peter's history in the 3 minute elevator ride!

The City That Never Sleeps

Who said NYC held dibs on that title? Riga definitely fits the bill. B, G, and I spent a night on the town, and I was definitly NOT sleeping. We had an eclectic experience; I felt as though I was globetrotting my way through the night instead of bar-hopping in Riga. First stop-the Rose Room. Small bar, great atmosphere, romantic place for a date. Mesmorizing jazz music flowed from the fingers of the bassist and pianist on their small stage, while the three of us sipped some Piebalga-a lite Latvian beer.
Next stop-Leningrad, the total opposite of the Rose Room. Leningrad is a bar modeled off of a Soviet house. All of the furniture and decor is from the Soviet occupation; bookshelves lined the walls, filled with Soviet literature. The atmosphere can only be described as bustling-with people and ideas. Conversations were just as important as the drinking in this bar. A live DJ kept the tracks fresh, though not overpowering.
After Leningrad, we ducked into what the locals call the "French Bar." According to G, it is because a Frenchman runs the place. Unmarked from the outside, you walk down a dark staircase to an underground room, only about 10 feet by 14 feet. This bar is extremely popular with visitors to Riga, as the attendance shows. The French Bar is packed, with its own United Nations of sorts. I heard perhaps 7 languages in the course of our 45 minutes there.

Our last stop of the night was the Cuban Bar. The decor and atmosphere (red lights) is decidedly Cuban and the drinks decidedly strong. A live DJ mixed music. Great company and great variety made our night a success!

Caribbean Cruise-to Stockholm?

Yes, it's true; you can take a Caribbean cruise in the Baltic Sea. The cruise is offered through Tallink (http://www.tallink.com/) and is an overnight trip from Riga to Stockholm. The cruise ship itself is not top of the line or impressive in any way. It is, however, a fun alternative to flying. The theme on the ship was Caribbean nights, complete with leis and salsa lessons. At times it was a tad gaudy, but overall it was fun. I would recommend the cruise, if only to experience navigating the archipelago of Stockholm. Make sure to rise early and catch the sunrise. The view is gorgeous!

Who Needs Sleep?

Who needs sleep when there's a whole world to explore? My friend B and I flew from Detroit to Latvia with a few layovers, and made it safely to Riga. After fourteen hours of anticipation, we were disappointed by the aiport's surroundings. Never fear; the airport is outside of Riga. Our friend G picked us up, and our adrenaline kept us going. Tea and coffee are staples in this bustling city, and we also stopped at a scrumptious pancake cafe. Walking around Old Riga was like turning back the pages of time. The Swedish Gates, the House of Blackheads, and St. Peters Lutheran Church are just a few of the many sights to see. The Art-Nouveau architecture is breathtaking; every doorknob, every streetlamp was unique. The cobblestone streets require some navigating, but they complete the atmosphere of Old Riga. We went to a Mideval restaurant, Rozengrais, for dinner in Old Riga- a true gem. We were each given a package when we were seated and we promptly opened them. It was bread! We drank kvass for the first time (a drink that is nonalcoholic but tastes like beer) and I had steamed pumpkin. We wrapped up the night by going to a concert at Dirty Deals Cafe, run by G's cousin, K. It's an eclectic bar/venue for theater and music. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4r6zSUU1DE
We wrapped up the night by going to bed; after 40 hours of adventure, we thought we were due for some shut eye...