The Baltic States are quickly becoming my favourite stomping ground. Here's my first visit to Latvia

Join me on a pre-Christmas jaunt to The Baltic with a first time look at the fascinating city of Riga in Latvia. I'm only just learning about this part of the world and it's quickly becoming a favourite. There is a lot of unfinished business in the region for sure, but join me on these first few steps into a magical city I'm so glad to have FINALLY discovered.

This was a flying visit to Latvia, but stay tuned for a bit of a disaster in part two where my train journey doesn't quite go to plan...

Filmed on 20th December 2022

THE GOPRO SAGA
A bit about the camera problems. I upgraded my GoPro, from an 8 to an 11, hoping to improve my content. Unfortunately on this, only my 2nd trip with the new camera, and for no reason at all (no settings changed) I got home to find a big chunk of my footage had no audio at all. A bit of research later and I see this is another GoPro problem, with some people losing more important footage than me. I really don't get how in 2023, GoPros can still be so damn unreliable. But I also don't get how difficult it is to find a decent alternative, and believe me, I've tried the competition as well. That being said, I still rate GoPro highly for the kind of discreet, easy filming that has shaped my channel to this point, and to be fair, they are replacing both the camera and the mediaMod. The only thing they can't seem to give me is any explanation why on earth this happened. And I know they know, but just aren't prepared to admit it! As I wait for a new GoPro11 to be delivered, I might be back to the comforts of my older edition for the next couple of videos, well, after part 2 of this Latvia trip anyway. I'll keep trying to improve my equipment and my skills, but boy would it be nice to have a camera I can rely on and trust. Right now, that's just not the case. If anyone out there can give me advice on which path to take, I'd be eternally grateful. It just feels annoying to invest hard-earned cash on a new camera, only for it to fail on its 2nd outing. And it sure made these edits a lot harder too! Thanks for reading my wee rant!!!

Hi, I’m Steve, a travel reviewer from Scotland. Join me on my adventures as I discover my own country, often visiting places for the first time, so hopefully it's as much of an eye-opener for you as it is for me! Don't expect expert opinion, just a very honest journey of discovery. Sometimes featuring my intrepid sidekick Alicja, sometimes featuring adventures beyond the borders of Scotland. Enjoy!

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[russell]

Steve, one of the large representative buildings you entered in Riga (House of the Black Heads, 1334) had something to do with the period of the town's history when it was a major trading city in the medieval Hanseatic League (13th to 17th century), which was organized and led by independent merchants and traders in Lübeck, Germany. You filmed a very large painting on a wall (at the 15 minute mark) in which Lübeck's old city is depicted. In fact, it was German colonists who originally established the trading and commercial connections with Riga in the 12th and 13th centuries. Due to the wealth of the city during the following four centuries (13th to 17th), many of the major buildings were inspired by northern German architecture, which you can certainly see in the city streets you walked down. Ironically, the House of the Black Heads (built originally for unmarried merchants and shipowners of the Hanseatic League) was virtually destroyed by German bombers during the Second World War. The Soviets demolished the ruins then in 1948. It was then completely rebuilt in the 1990s with public funding by the Latvians themselves. Cheers.

[grahamhorne]

I'm married to a Latvian and visit Latvia regularly. The Baltics are an undiscovered gem.

Addendum to your excellent video. The bus station (Autoosta) has buses that run all over the place for very cheap fares but more importantly upstairs there is a quite superb cafe and bar when you can get a full hot meal for a good price.

The beaches are pristine.

A bit off the beaten track is Jaunpils where there is a fabulous intact castle with a brilliant restaurant and rooming accommodation. Jaunpils Alus is a brilliant micro brewery with a bar.

Rural Latvia is a real gem for wild life lovers with endless acres of pristine silver birch forest that contains elk, wolf and deer.

I believe also (subject to your own research) that wild camping and wild swimming in Latvia is no problem if done responsibly.

Flight options Ryanair, and from London Air Baltic.

[rfw]

I lived in Riga for 3 years. Even though I am from the UK, I would love to live there again. Thanks for the tour of Riga.

[evijapakalnina]

Very interesting to see the city through your eyes! I am Latvian, and studied in Riga for 4 years. I never appreciated central market, in fact avoided at all costs. It just felt so soviet to me, and we're not fans of all soviet stuff. Plus it felt awful "busy" for a countryside girl like me.
The trains are pretty much like they were when I was a child in late 80's. They used to have wooden seating inside. That has changed a little. But they look just the same as those 30-40 years ago! Very old school. I do like them now. My husband also pointed out that they're lot more spacious than the trains in Scotland.
Why do they keep running in the snow? Not sure. They always have. I think it's because they are so much higher above the ground comparing to the modern European trains.
Ha! Funny! I tell people at home that Edinburgh Christmas market is great!!😆 Glad you enjoyed your stay!

[saintuk]

Riga is beautiful place, even better when you have a local as a tour guide. Was last there as a group of friends meeting from Sweden, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Scotland. The old town, the history, all the "invader" influence, and the diners are excellent - diner food is amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

[veeezis]

It's pretty surprising seeing you impressed at our ability to handle snow while we, locals, are complaining all the time that it should be better. It's all about perspective and context, I guess.

Wonderful video! Gonna look at where you took that train now.

[saritalevinthal]

Please don’t apologize Steve…I really appreciate the work that you do…I’m disabled and it’s a real treat to armchair travel with you…thank you

[grahamthetraveller]

I work with a Polish lad and he says everything runs as normal because there weather is completely reliable every year when it's Summer it's very warm but in the winter it snows a lot and is very cold so they can plan in advance and have all the infrastructure and everything runs smoothly

[PlanesTrainsEverything]

Another great video. When you showed that building (Academy of Sciences) and mentioned it looked like the one in Warsaw, you were right. These buildings were given to the people as a gift from the USSR - basically a way to keep them on side. I've only been to Riga once, and that was in 1994 - just three years after independence. It's changed a wee bit since then! Thanks for showing us around.

[nicolaanderson]

I visited Riga in November and absolutely loved it! Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories!

[wdh]

This is crazy....love your videos. I'm an American on vacation in France watching a Scottish Bloke in new year. Thanks for your content...it's the greatest. HNY to you and the Polish girl

[vittoriamosconi]

Thank you so so much for this video. I lived in Latvia in February-March 2022, my first experience abroad... I've seen Riga so much times ❤️ this truly warmed my heart especially the view from the top of St. Peter's church. I remember my first day in Riga I was sadly walking through these unknown streets, I decided to take the same elevator and the view was exactly the same with the same weather! Thank you for this one ❤️❤️ love from Italy

[projektiron]

I visit Latvia 3 times a year, due to luckily being married to a beautiful Latvian woman. I am SO glad people experience the country I have been luckily enough to explore and a culture I have adopted as my own. So my son can celebrate his British and Lativan heritage alike. I also noticed in your vid to Ludza, you eat the soljanka and the like. Try Skabenu Zupa next, with maize zupa for dessert.

Ala Pagrabs is great for traditonal beers, atmosphere and food too!


PRIEKA!

[exileinderby]

Really loving this trip so far and Riga old town looks amazing and the view from the church tower was out of this world. Looking forward to the next episode.

[greenstuffbuffer]

Tains in UK dosent run in snowy conditions because they use third rail as electrical conduction, but trains in Europe use overhead wires. Train you caught is diesel train developed in 70's

[peterrisbergs]

The biggest drawback to winter visits to Latvia is the short days. Sunrise 9AM sunset 4PM. I was there from Sept 15-Oct 19. The days were three hours shorter when I left than when I arrived.

[BruceFraserJr]

Visited Riga a few years ago. Loved the Old Town and the friendly people.

[pulchralutetia]

Great video. I went through the Baltic states in early June 2017. When I started in Vilnius it was 30C but by the time I got to Helsinki it was 7C (during the day)! Easy to forget how far north the Baltic states are. Vilnius, Riga and Talinn are very different places and all worth a visit. Riga is the biggest and feels more like a city than the other two. The Art Nouveau buildings on Alberta iela (Albert Street) and elsewhere in the city are fantastic.

[awatt]

Very interesting, thank you Steve. Also it is very heartening to see the support for Ukraine with flags in the market, in the streets and on the tramways! Happy New Year!

[no_soy_rubio]

I love Riga, I'd rate it higher than Tallinn, feels more authentic. Love all the bars that look so unassuming from outside and you go down some stairs and they're cavernous inside. If you're still there I'd recommend a restaurant called 'viduslaiku restorans Lasite' - a bit touristy but you can get an amazing medieval banquet - quail, deer and catfish were the options I took 😋