Category Archives: Food

The Russian does Riga

Posted on September 6, 2014 by BerLinda

Wednesday saw the arrival of my new best friend, Anna. Long-time readers will know that Anna and I have been following each other’s blogs for a while now and have become friends through lengthy comment and email chains – mainly bonding over … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Riga, Travel | Tagged beer, Berga Bazars, Black Balzams, Black Magic Cafe, Cadets de Gascogne, Cathedrals, Cocktails, Flowers, Flying Frog Cafe, Food, LIDO, Mushrooms, Parks, Photos, Russia, Short break in Riga, Skyline Bar, Sunshine, Walking tour | 152 Comments

And people say my area is dodgy…

Posted on August 13, 2014 by BerLinda

Another weekend, another “district” challenge. On Saturday afternoon, I walked to the back of Central Station, which is where the crème de la crème of Riga society is known to hang out. I think the pecking order is decided by … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Expat, Fashion, Food, Humor, Humour, Moving to Riga, Riga, Travel | Tagged districts of Riga, dodgy bars, Drunks, Hangovers, homeless, Kundzinsala, Latvian people, Milgravis, Sarkandaugava, Trams, trolley buses, where not to live | 96 Comments

You’ll miss me when I’m gone

Posted on August 3, 2014 by BerLinda

Well, my dear Latvians, our time together is almost at an end. Try to hold back the tears. While I know that you’ll miss me desperately, fear not, there are several other foreigners out there writing blogs on Riga/Latvia too. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Food, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Riga | 182 Comments

I left my arse in Liepāja

Posted on July 22, 2014 by BerLinda

Last Saturday was my friend Guna’s birthday. You can imagine my excitement when it was announced that we would celebrate it by having a girls’ weekend in Liepāja. Lazy day on the beach + biking to the restaurant for dinner, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Humour, Janis, Latvia, Latvian people, Travel | Tagged beer, Bikes, birthdays, Boulangerie, Fontaine Palace, Latvian men, Libava, Liepaja, Road trip, Rock music, Wine | 101 Comments

A few days in Daugavpils (Part two)

Posted on May 6, 2014 by BerLinda

Of Daugavpils, my (admittedly out of date) Lonely Planet had this to say: It’s hard to smile when the grey sky matches the grey of crumbling Soviet block housing… a city with as many prisons as churches… Rigans will snicker when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Food, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Travel | Tagged cake, Churches, Crisps, Customer Service, Daugavpils, Food, Markets, Museum, Park, Sightseeing, Trams, Wine | 113 Comments

Are you being served?

Posted on April 24, 2014 by BerLinda

Just for a change, I think I’ll start this post on a positive note. I have had some great service in Latvia. However, (yep, here it comes), the problem is that service levels here are so woefully inconsistent. When out … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Expat, Food, Humor, Humour, Latvian people, Rudeness | Tagged Bars, beer, Customer Service, Food, manners, Muffins & More, Politeness, restaurants, Riga, Smiling, Stockpot, Wine | 138 Comments

On the hunt for hipsters

Posted on April 15, 2014 by BerLinda

In a recent survey by skyscanner.net, Miera iela, Riga, topped the list of the most hipster neighbourhoods in the world. Miera iela (or Peace Street) beat off competition from Williamsburg in New York, Kreuzberg in Berlin and Mission District in San Francisco. Here’s how … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Humour, Riga, Travel | Tagged cake, Dad Cafe, expat, humor, Humour, Laima factory and museum, Latvia, Latvian buildings, Latvian health and safety, Miera iela, Most hipster neighbourhood, skyscanner.net, tea, travel, trees, weather | 149 Comments

A little jaunt to Germany (Part 1)

Posted on February 25, 2014 by BerLinda

With some birthday money burning a hole in my bank account, I decided it was time for a mini-break. And, as any country that takes its sausages (almost) as seriously as I do is just fine by me, Germany was … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Humour, Travel | Tagged beer, Bremen, Bremen nightlife, German people, Germany, humor, Humour, Paddy's Bar, sausages, The Bremen Town Musicians, Wine | 65 Comments

It’s Valentine’s Day. God help us all.

Posted on February 14, 2014 by BerLinda

I’m not normally one for Valentine’s Day. Mainly because I’ve rarely had a man in my life on this particular day. I now realise that this was actually a good thing – I didn’t have to worry about what to … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Humour, Latvian men, Love and Relationships, Poetry | Tagged Good Latvian men, humor, Humour, Men in the kitchen, poetry, Romance, Valentine's Day, Yummy Janis | 97 Comments

Linda in Wonderland?

Posted on February 12, 2014 by BerLinda

Question: What’s more entertaining than a bunch of drunk, toothless, cross-eyed Russians playing football with an empty bottle? Answer: The 16th Annual Ice Sculpture Festival in Jelgava, that’s what! Or at least that’s what I hoped on Saturday afternoon as … Continue reading →