Getting all Christmassy in Riga

The bus journey to Riga was a long but cheap one (€3!!) and finding the apartment was nice and simple. We don't get to meet our host this time and we are given instructions on how to get the key. "Go to the 5th floor, locate the safe, enter the secret code, go back to the 1st floor..." it's like a quest! The building looks like it should have been demolished years ago and we're a bit worried about the apartment but it was surprisingly modern so we needn't have worried. We had a long journey and its -6 outside so we decide to chill out for the night.

The next day James opens the front door and nearly floors our elderly neighbour who is washing potatoes in the corridor. She talks to us in Latvian then laughs and shakes her head when she realises we are English (we get that reaction a lot). Making our way to the town we realise that Riga loves Christmas. There are 3 Christmas markets and a Christmas tree hunt where you have to find over 60 artistic trees dotted all around. James stands on the plaque where the first ever Christmas tree stood, even though Tallinn proved that they had the first Christmas tree it didn't stop Riga from claiming the record. We use the tree map to explore the city, it's very pretty. There are lots of monuments but I'm too busy tree hunting to find out what they are.

Riga town Hall.

The 'first' Christmas tree.

Pretty Christmas shops.

Tetris tree!

Skiing trees.

Pretty in pink.

Arriving at the first Christmas market we buy a mulled wine to warm us up and look at the stalls, we're loving this festive atmosphere. The second market has sheep and rabbits to feed and a wooden carousel that a man pushing by hand (doesn't that mean it's just a roundabout?) We go on a hunt for more trees which takes us through some pretty parks with giant snowmen statues. Back to the Christmas market where there is live music being played. The singer is really good but after a while my feet start to freeze so we head home.

Christmas markets!

The roundabout carousel.

Mulled wine anyone?

New friends!

It's time for more tree hunting! We visit the 3rd Christmas market which is small but has a rabbit village in the middle. The rabbits have there own houses, restaurants and hotels, heehee! Walking through the town we are advised by an American couple to go to a restaurant that they have just been to. While looking at the menu outside a huge chunk of snow falls off the roof and lands on us, I'm lucky as it all rolls off me but James ended up with snow down all 3 layers of clothing, brrrr! It was funny to watch him shake it out. We've heard that the central market is impressive so that's our next stop. The market is huge! 3 Zeppelin hangers full as well as stalls outside, we should have got here earlier. Food time and a cheap hotel restaurant catches our eye. We wish it didn't. You know you're in for a high class meal when your french fries are actually crinkle cut chips and the sauce of your stroganoff is a tin of tomato soup!

Rabbit village.

Ice sculpture and Tree of love.

Music box tree.

Envelope tree - can I send him home?

VIP Tree.

Ballerina trees.

Today we go for a history lesson at the Occupation of Latvia museum which is very sad, they've been through a lot. It seems like every time they thought they would be free, an invasion came along the next day. Going back to the Christmas market for present shopping we discover a new attraction that wasn't there last time, a cat house. It was a dolls house with furniture big enough to fit a cat on, weird! Unfortunately we don't see any cats making tea in the kitchen though. We've read that a folk place is really good for food so we go there and have super cheap Latvian food, awesome! Unfortunately the folk band are taking their time to start playing and we have an early bus to catch. Bye Riga, you do Christmas the best!