Andrejsala in pictures

I have mentioned Andrejsala here already a few times. I am sure for some it sounds like a good place to hang out. I think some photos can help to get an idea what kind of staff is going on there. See something on Flickr.

Where to stay in Riga dirty cheap?

Yeah, prices has gone up. I remember years when it was 5 lats per night in a hotel. That’s over. This tip is for those ladies and gentlemen that don’t want four or five stars hotels and are on very tight budget. If we will find something new, we will add it here, but so far the places we can suggest are:

1) Hotel Saulīte It used to be a big shithole, but now they have done some renovation and at least photos on the site makes a big difference from what I remember 10 years ago. Still, it’s a place you can imagine near railway station, and indeed it is just in front of it. Area is a bit noisy with traffic, but it is definitely a option if you want a room with some kind of a service. If you can add some 20 lats for night, better try something else. Singles cost 20-50 lats (depends on room size and season), doubles from 50 to 65 lats.

2) Singalong It’s definitely a place to be if you are a young couple or single as it is located in the Latvian version of Chistiania. No, not so mad, still it’s a hostel run by artist’s and area is all surrounded by artist workshops, galleries and small music venues. It is near the port on island that is of course reachable by foot. Every room is decorated in its own style. Singles from 20 lats, doubles from 40 lats.

3) Central Hostel It’s not far from railway station, in the center on a more quite street. About 10 min walk to Old town. They have just a few rooms, but looks nice, free breakfast. They are also on hostelworld. Unbelievable cheap. Doubles from 24 lats.

4) Hotel Liene A proper hotel but in a dodgy area. It’s about 15-20 min walk to Old Riga, not that far. But if you are not afraid of some alcoholics in the area and want to see nice old wooden houses all around you, it’s a place to sleep. Doubles from 34 lats.

How to avoid idiots on weekend?

There are quite a lot of idiots in Old Riga on weekend, mainly British tourists and some local jerks. There are a lot of nice places just some blocks away that tourists don’t know about. That’s where educated people go, I mean, normal people with some taste in music and good behavior. You won’t find much tourists there too and it’s not dangerous either. We can suggest these places:

1) Andrejsala – if you are a young person, let’s say under 35 years old, it’s good to check this out. It’s just behind passengers port. It is a territory that used to belong to port but a couple of years ago it was given to artists so they settled down and created hostel, music venues, art galleries and artists workshops. You can check some events on www.andrejsala.lv but they usually have something every weekend. Music is alternative – from indie to industrial. If you are not afraid of some punks and dope smokers cos they are also around there, it’s place for you. People are friendly, no accidents reported. And if you are older, still check it out during the day – some galleries must be open (don’t be afraid to ask some passers-by) and it’s a nice view to the other side of the river.

2) Gauja. It’s a funny bar on Tērbatas street. If you walk away from center than once you pass Stabu street, Gauja is very close. The interior is made in old style, like 1970s, but not rough, and place is usually crowded with bohemians and artists. And it’s cheap alcohol. They very often play records of Latvian rock music from 1970s.

3) Teātra bārs. It’s a bar that is called Theater bar and is usually crowed with actors from the famous New Theater of Riga (Jaunais Rigas teatris). It’s located on Lāčplēša street, just opposite the theater which is on Lāčplēša nr. 25. In summer they also have a backyard of the theater turned into a restaurant. They serve also nice food at reasonable prices.

4) Istaba. It’s a small cafe, art store and gallery on Krišjāņa Barona street – the one where tram goes. Upstairs is a cafe where you can have drinks and sometimes they serve food too. Place is popular among young poets and writers. It’s very close to Teātra bārs.

There are also quite a few places around Antonijas street, Elisabetes street, so basically just get out of Old town and you will avoid all idiots.

Britons in Riga

Old Riga has changed since Ryanair opened its route from Stansted. Unfortunately, most of travelers from Britain are assholes, who want to get stoned and if they still can handle, to fuck some Latvian girls. The usual program for a British tourist is like this:

1) Get on flight to Riga and spend about 30 quid on alcohol on plane, so when you arrive you are “warmed up”.

2) Go straight to city center and search for some noisy club with cheap dance music. It is necessary to see some cute girls around, so you might try to hook them.

3) After about five pintes to get a bit more nasty and start to chat with local girls. It’s good also to act loud so everyone knows who’s the king here.

4) After about 15 pintes, when the clubs are closing and girls have said “fuck off”, you try to reach home.

5) On a way home that is probably your longest journey in your life, have a pee on Freedom Monument.

6) Pass out in hotel room or police station.

And yes, Freedom Monument is a very popular place to pee, quite a few people have been already arrested, but I assume that quite a few more were never court. Here’s some current news:

RIGA, July 11 (LETA) – This morning, the police detained another British citizen who was relieving himself at Latvia’s symbol of independence – Freedom Monument.

Aigars Berzins from the State Police’s Press and Public Relations Department told LETA that early morning at 4.20 a.m. police officers detained a drunken British citizen (born 1974), who was urinating on the Freedom Monument.

The detainee was taken to a police station, where alcohol tests showed his blood alcohol level at 1.

 Latvians always wonder why do Ryanair bring the worst tourists. Well, but what else to do in Riga? Do people abroad know anything about Riga? Nothing, there’s no ads in foreign newspapers. Besides architecture that is highly advertised there is nothing else that sells better than cheap booze and prostitution. Latvian government thinks that architecture and national folk songs is what can attract students, artists, CEO and other people from foreign countries. So it’s all country’s fail to launch a good marketing strategy and introduce people to other good things we have.

Fucking Riga

Riga is a capitol of Latvia. Founded more than 800 years ago by some German homosexual monk, it has been a tempting treasure to all conquerors (Swedes, Poles, Russians and even horseheads Lithuanians). For most of her life Riga has been very much under German’s control, that’s why there’s loads of Art Noveau houses and full of retired German tourists in the city.

A view towards monument of freedom that is a popular place to have a pee in the night. It’s the best way if you want to get famous in Latvia and it fine will be only 20 lats.

Riga is quite big, with population of about 800 000, and most of them live in suburbs, such as Purvciems or Ziepniekkalns, where you can find beautiful modern architecture.

Ziepniekkalns

If you don’t get hard watching architecture you might consider getting drunk or probably meeting local people. Bars that use to be famous by Latvians, such as Pulkvedis, now have become cheap dirty places to cash in on tourists. Nowadays you can mainly meet Riga’s scum there and some stupid chicks. Well, if you want to get drunk like monkey and are not up for philosophic conversations try Pulkvedis, La Rocca and Pepsi Forums where you can pass out on dancefloor listening to some crap top 20 chart music from late 1990s.
There is a place called Andrejsala, a kinda Latvian version of Christiania, that’s where you can listen to some weird music and see some shity art, and probably smoke a joint by the river. Andrejsala is good for all kind of freaks punks and heavy metal fans, they even have gigs for some noise music and sort of cacophonic music events such as “Skaņu mežs”. Where to eat? Well, there’s McDonalds, but it’s always busy, so you might try Pelmeni in Old town or Lido network. If you have a big and strong stomach try Lido, it’s kinda German food with some Latvian recipes too. It’s not typical to sell food on the streets, but you can find “kiosks” like this one and buy a fried chicken. Latvians eat it with hands, I don’t think they have plastic forks.

Fried chicken shop in Ziepniekkalns