Latvia blog …
Latvian storks
So, for this Latvia blog, first off Latvia is to storks as Norway is to reindeer! We did not know this – it was a very pleasant surprise – they are literally everywhere. One pair even dive bombed our car (almost) at one point getting to their roadside nest. And the size of those nests surprised us too – massive!! Anyway, we love storks, so here are some pictures.
Latvian big skies
Secondly, Latvia, Like Estonia is a land of big skies, due to it being so flat.
Latvian forests
Thirdly, there’s also lots of woodlands and managed forests to drive through or explore.
Latvian mannerisms
Now, to the elephant in the room … wow, Latvians are just not chilled at all!!!
They’re so massively different from Estonians [and from Lithuanians we found out later]! Who knew that peoples from places so similar on paper could be so different?
I mean really, the people are like chalk and cheese! Anyone who’s read the blog on Estonia [and on Lithuania] will know just how chilled the place is, and how relaxed it makes you feel to be there. Well Latvia is like: ‘100 miles an hour, need to get everything done immediately, and yes you are in my way, so please shift over immediately! It’s vitally important that I get to where I need to be, like yesterday if possible!’ Just like the opposite of chilled – it’s bizarre!
Honestly, Latvian drivers must be the most impatient drivers in Europe! They love to race up behind you – even though you’re at the speed limit – then hover 30cm behind you, before racing off again – despite there being too little space to do so – putting everyone else in mortal peril! The only time they slow down is when there’s a speed camera – before launching off again at the earliest opportunity! Goodness knows what important events they all have to get to!
The thing about this driving behaviour though, is that there’s hardly anyone on the roads to begin with – so it’s not like there’s loads of people getting in the way all the time. Imagine what they’d be like in a country as congested with cars as the UK?!!
And another thing about this kind of driving is that surprisingly we haven’t got enticed into driving quickly, not even once!
We found the best thing to do was relax, and let them get on with it! They’re soon gone. They’re like the opposite of Norweigans!
And then there’s the attitude! Not generally chilled like their neighbours – it’s almost like they’re all on edge, waiting for something to happen, or like there’s an underlying level of angst that they all live under? Perhaps it’s historic in some way; after all Latvia only gained independence in 1991. Or perhaps there’s something going on that I’m unaware of – it has to be said that I don’t follow the news much since I started this epic adventure!?
One example was the guy who parked next to me – we both returned to our cars at the same time, so I smiled and politely gestured to him to go first. He looked at me like he was angry. He probably didn’t realise that our car is RHD, however, just bizarre behaviour! Another example of this was a woman whom I’d asked for help from over the phone, as I was outside her campsite. After just a few minutes she started getting agitated and put the phone down on me! No obvious reason – perhaps she had more important things to do?!
Thinking about it, I guess that they’re a lot like lots of people back in the UK – there are certainly people that drive like crazy people over there! Maybe it’s just that I was in the chill zone from Estonia, and this is in fact the norm?!!
Also, look at Riga; one in three Latvians live there! Maybe that says something about the economic state of the rest of the country? There does certainly appear to be a massive disparity between the haves and have-nots in Latvia. Many in the countryside still live in dilapidated low rise tower blocks that look like they needed doing up back in the old Soviet era! Whereas others are driving supercars. Again though, is that any different from the UK? Perhaps I’ve just got used to Scandinavian equality levels?
But then Latvia does come across as the poor cousin of Estonia [and of Lithuania] – an example of this is the subways under roads. In Estonia they light up in different colours as you walk through them. In Latvia they’re all really dark and broody places, covered in poorly defined graffiti – several of which were displaying the different sentiments towards Ukraine [one in four Latvians are ethnically Russian]. Another example we found out later was how poor the roads are in Latvia compared to Lithuania – literally as soon as you pass over the border, the potholes stop and the roads are smooth!
Latvian beaches
We found all of this to be very surprising, as the country is very similar geographically to Estonia, and the beaches are certainly fantastic and look chilled! We particularly liked Jūrmala and the little spot just down from Salacgrīva by the way … really nice places with great sand and coast!
Anyway, because of the general strangeness of Latvians, we decided to stay a couple of days in the countryside with a friendly guy who’s currently renovating a massive old house. We spoke at length with him about all things Latvian, and having got to know him a lot more than just in passing, it became apparent that obviously all Latvians are not the same, and that there is a common sense of purpose amongst us all. Most of us just want to get on, some more quickly than others!!
Kuldiga
Kuldiga is an historic town where they’ve tried to maintain the antiquity. Unfortunately, to us it seemed a bit run down – maybe that was the point? There is a nice set of river rapids nearby though.
Ventspils
Ventspils is one of the major cities of Latvia. In the centre there’s an old Livonian Order castle. There’s also the loudest banging noise coming from the loading of coal onto huge liners. We’re reliably informed that this coal is probably bound for the UK.
Liepaja
Liepaja is a university city and appeared to be under major development. They were upgrading the tram lines by the looks of it. The city had a feel of late 1970s Britain about it. There’s a decent market there.
