Riga Ain't Rigourous

This latest update comes from upstairs at a strip club just down the road from the Australian consulate. Well, strictly speaking, I'm not actually there now (I'm in an Internet caf) but when I go home tonight to rest my weary head that's where I'll be laying down my weary head. Despite booking it at a reputable hostel booking site, Paradise Hostel also functions as a strip club/brothel.

When I left to night, I kid you not, there were three or four of the most bored looking hookers you've ever seen milling around in the reception area that doubles as the strip club dance floor. Lucky for us Riga is absolutely dead so there's not much of a crowd to be had. Tonight we're going to watch Harry Potter after going for a few drinks last night in zero atmosphere.

But Riga has been good to us. It is like a larger version of Tallinn. After receiving more bombing during the Second World War the people have vigorously rebuilt parts of the Old Town and restorations are ongoing. It's quite a nice place though. Cobblestone streets, Christmas markets, ancient cavernous churches. A popular local site is the black cat which sits perched atop a spire on a building opposite one of the guild houses.

Riga Skyline

Last night we went to see a performance of some Gregorian Chants and the fourth largest organ in Europe. It was wonderful, if a little tiresome by the end. You know there are only so many Gregorian chants a guy can take. There's also a fantastic museum documenting the occupation of the Baltics first by the Nazis and then by the Soviets. There are also some fascinating displays on the various resistance movements including a Baltic Freedom Cruise in 1985.

The Dome Cathedral

If this entry sounds a little laconic, well we're enjoying the relative warmth (it hit the heady heights of 3 degrees yesterday) and chilling the fuck out after two weeks of Russian lunacy.

paka and much love