Category Archives: Riga

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

Like Latvia, or else…

Posted on August 31, 2014 by BerLinda

Latvians have this quirky little habit of overselling everything that is Latvian. Everything from the crumbling charms of Kalnciema Kvartals, to the ramshackle one-horse town that is Pavilosta, has been described to me as “stunning”. Actually, it’s probably advisable not … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Humour, Latvia, Riga, Travel | Tagged Cats, David Brent, If you like Latvia Latvia likes you, Places of Interest, Rundale Palace, tourism | 154 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

It drives me crazy

Posted on July 26, 2014 by BerLinda

Walking around Riga can sometimes feel a bit like being an extra in ‘Night of the Living Dead’. Nobody seems to be aware of their surroundings or any of the other people around them – sometimes I wonder how anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Riga, Travel | Tagged Driving in Latvia, Latvian drivers abroad, Road fatalities in Europe, Road fatalities in Latvia, Walking in Riga | 137 Comments

How do you solve a problem like a Latvian?

Posted on July 18, 2014 by BerLinda

In my (almost) four years here in Latvia, I feel like I’ve got to the bottom of a lot of riddles concerning this land and its people. However, there are some things that still mystify me, even after all this time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian people, Riga, Rudeness | Tagged Body odour, Cafes, Cats, clothes, Customer Service, Driving on Latvian roads, Drunks, Man bags, Old people, Parenting, public transport, Shoes, supermarkets, TEFL, Vodka | 177 Comments

Finally, it’s the positive post…

Posted on May 28, 2014 by BerLinda

“Just wondering why didn’t I realise earlier that you are some dirty scumbag from Ireland. That is the only excuse to that cynical and dishonorable generalisation of latvian mammas especially on Mother’s day.My suggestion is put on your beloved Penney’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian women, Riga | Tagged Banking services, Blogging, internet access, Latvia, Negative comments, pajamas, Penneys, shopping, transport | 163 Comments

Look like a Latvian

Posted on May 25, 2014 by BerLinda

As a woman walking around the streets of Riga, there are a couple of ‘looks’ you get acquainted with very quickly. As the men here are usually too afraid to look up for fear of accidentally making eye contact with (gasp) … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian women, Riga, Rudeness | Tagged beer, Blogging, Finding a man, Funny Fox, Latvian language, Latvian looks, Latvian-Girl-Death-Stare, Riga Old Town, Snails in Riga, Women vs other women | 171 Comments

Bill Bailey vs The Latvians

Posted on May 22, 2014 by BerLinda

I’ve always liked men who can make me laugh, and last night it was the turn of Bill Bailey to give it a try. And boy, did he succeed. The man is seriously funny – a mixture of stand-up, song, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Riga | Tagged Abba, Audience participation, Bill Bailey, Celebrities, Comedy, Eurovision, Kongresu Nams, Liene Candy, Qualmpeddler, Rammstein, Reality TV, Stand-up, Vagina, Waterloo, winter | 101 Comments

How to spot a foreigner in Riga

Posted on May 14, 2014 by BerLinda

Taking into account the fact that the vast majority of Latvians are white (apart from when they’re solarium orange), and the vast majority of foreigners living here are white, you’d think that everyone would blend in together nicely. Not so. Foreigners … Continue reading →