communications

Internet

Apart from internet caffes, some regular caffes and gas stations offer wifi. Internet can be accessed in public libraries, a most of them have wifi as well. Every decent hotel should have some connection as well. Internet can be accessed over cellphone networks as well (GPRS, 3G) but beware of costs.

Phone

Cellphones are really popular (over 100% penetration rate, 99% of network coverage), so finding a public payphone can be a challange. Best chances in bigger cities, I would try post offices first.
GSM standard is the most popular one (operated by LMT, Tele2 (homepage in latvian and russian only) and Bite and Amigo), but there is also a CDMA network (www.triatel.lv). See websites for information on prepaid SIM cards (all networks should have them) as well as rates for making overseas calls and using the cards abroad (at leas LMT has the option to use the prepaid card abroad).

Dangers in Latvia

Latvia is an almost not dangerous country, we don't have rattlesnakes, scorpions, earthquakes, mountains. However, there are some dangers one should be aware of while traveling there.

Thieves

In Riga pickpocketing is a general issue: a full trolleybus or a bus, a busy street, you have to take care. Keep your wallet in front pocket of your pants, watch your bags.

Urban trash

A specific subset of humans can be classified as urban trash - they have strong understanding of their home neighborhood and tend to dislike everyone from outside. Avoid them, don't be aggressive, just move away. Police in Riga is close to worthless.

Drunkards

Drinking raises ones self esteem and what was once not possible, now is. One of the highest rates of deaths on roads in Europe are in Latvia. Friday and Saturday nights are probably worse than others. If you are on a bicycle - ride defensively.

Dogs

Dogs are weakly trained compared to civilized ones from Western countries. Most of them on leash, but still way too uncontrolled: "My doggy never bites." Not so many wild dogs, although on the country side some may running on their own. If on bicycle, lifting your feet high is an option. If off bicycle, keep it between you and the barking party. Don't panic, don't run away.

Snakes

One poisonous (European adder) and 2 (or one?) not poisonous (natrix natrix, the other one is probably a lizard without legs).

Ticks

Ticks have been around for a while, but sometimes around 1950's soviets decided to introduce some animals from Siberia for furs. Turned out some of them had ticks that were carrying tick-borne encephalitis. Some others carry Lyme disease. You can get vaccinated against encephalitis, or you can use extensive dosages of insect repellents. No vaccine against Lyme disease.

More ticks are available in deciduous tree forests, in the bushes, less or almost none in pine forests.

If bitten by tick, don't panic: find an emergency room, remove the tiny thing and send it for analysis. Every year some 180 persons get the encephalitis in Latvia, way more get bitten.

Trash

I have lived in Seattle now for 3 years and one thing is extremely pleasant here - dog owners collect after their dogs. Usually not the case in Latvia. Besides that - usual tourist destinations which are not taken care of regularly as well as road sides - are full of junk. Just be careful and don't add some of yours. We are getting better (think US of 50ies with burning rivers, Latvia is WAY cleaner), but it will take some time.

Bears

There are some (20 or so) brown bears in northern and north-eastern regions. There haven't been any reported attacks on humans. If you encounter one, retreat slowly, especially if you see cubs (big angry mama is never far away). There are no other bear regulations like in USA.

Local transportation

This post deals with public transportation across country. 

Roads

All major roads are one lane each direction, authobahn/highway style roads are an exception. Traffic density is generally low except in rush hours around Riga. Weekends/public holidays increase the traffic flow to/from Riga (friday/sunday evening respectively). General speed limit is 90 km/h (55 mph) outside towns, 50 km/h (30 mph) in towns. Max blood alcohol level is 0.05% (more severe restrictions for young drivers).

Small population density means that outside Riga you mostly travel across fields and through forests. Roads don't have fences along the sides, so take some caution against wildlife, especially at twilight/night. The same caution during twilight/darkness should be taken at cyclists and pedestrians without proper lightning/reflector equipment. You shouldn't expect high standards of road maintenance too - most of the roads are somewhat bumpy, with occasional pitholes. This does NOT mean that you need a SUV to drive in Latvia, just keep your eyes on the road and take some precaution.

Many smaller roads have gravel surface (buy a Jāņasēta map, it shows road surface - available at gas stations, kiosks and Jāņasēta map shop in Riga). This again does NOT mean that you need a SUV for driving on them (some small roads get very muddy in spring, then AWD comes in handy). Driving culture is gradually improving, but still it is not up to standards of Germany,  Sweden or USA. Roads are not particularly well marked, so have a map-literate codriver or GPS navigation device is recommended, especially in Riga.

Hitch hiking is allowed everywhere. Usually you don't do that in cities, although gas stations can be a sweet spot for finding your driver. Of course, there is a set of crazy people around there you do not want to meet. 

Trains 

Train schedule can be found in homepage of Latvian railway. Main passenger hub is Riga, with frequent services to Tukums, Jelgava, Daugavpils, Rezekne, Valga. Around weekends there are trains to Gulbene, Ventspils and Liepaja as well. Trains are quite cheap but don't offer any luxury as well (e.g. bathrooms only on long distance trains, not on the electric trains going to Aizkraukle, Jelgava and Tukums). Tickets can be obtained in railway stations and on the train as well (on stops without functioning station, board the train and wait for the salesperson to appear; on other stops you have to pay extra for buying the ticket on train). Cash only; personnel speaks Latvian and Russian, have no idea what percentage speaks English (your experience welcome!). Trains are crowded during rush hours and weekend (Friday/Sunday) traffic, as well as public holidays.

Buses 

Bus is the most widespread means of public transportation in Latvia. Buses connectiong Riga to major towns run quite often, rural areas are less well serviced. Bus station homepage offers schedule as well as online ticket sales. Tickets can be obtained in bus stations as well as on board. Again, cash only, English language skills of sales personnel under question. Quality of coaches vary. Similarly as with trains, buses can be crowded and don't expect a toilet or other on-board services. On longer routes they will stop for such reasons. Buses don't move fast.

General info

1188.lv offers public transportation schedules. Google maps give a somewhat decent map of Latvia.

TODO

Public transportation in Riga/other towns will be touched in another post. We should link to that post once it becomes available. 

Transportation to/from Latvia

This is kept short because I feel this is a well covered topic elsewhere.

A number of airlines fly to Riga international airport. There is a daily ferry connection from Riga to Stockholm, operated by Tallink. Another international ferry joins Luebeck, Germany, and Liepaja. Bus companies Eurolines, Ecolines (shabby), Hansabuss (luxury) have routes to Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus (list is not complete). There is a good chance that you can get on the bus without booking the ticket ahead, but don't bet on it. There is a very slow train connecting (with changing trains in Valga) Riga and Tallinn, check out Latvian railway and Estonian railway. There is an overnight sleeper train to Moscow and St.Petersburg, Russia, as well as some other destinations (check Latvian railway). You can come by car (or hitchhiking) as well, more on roads and traffic in post about local transportation.

Latvia has joined Schengen treaty, it means there is no passport control for persons travelling to/from EU. There is no lines on Lithuanian and Estonian border as well. The hell is beaking loose on Russian and Belarus border, expect LONG (like 12 hours or so) lines. More info in general information post.

How we want to differ from other websites on tourism in Latvia?

We are voluntary, thus not restricted to say only pleasant things (as official websites). We want this blog to be useful to foreigners instead of just writing something to mark it as done and get money. We want to improve by interacting with our readers. Being Latvians and having expat experience helps us to stand in your shoes.

Orienteering

Being an orienteer in Seattle, I know how bad it feels that all you have around you is around 52 maps, most of them sprint like park maps. If you are in somewhat the same boat, a tour to Latvia will be awesome for you.

Here's why: there were 57 new maps in 2005 alone, there are weekday races on all weekdays except Fridays! Orienteering in Latvia was the most popular sport of the year in 2005, which was achieved by well co-ordinated voting, although it is not far from truth - every week more than 10 races happen and quite often the biggest gather more than 500 participants.

Time measurements mechanism - usually sport ident or emit are used. However, they can be rented on spot. Price - the races cost less than 10 USD per race, but the first time participating price can be added - usually it includes a number for use through the season. 

Links

Orienteering federation page in English - it has not been updated for a while, but there is some truth in it, say, the links to the club pages.  

Weekday races

This is a short list of weekday races to make sure you can O' almost every day. 

Magnēts is the biggest one with races happening near Riga, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Meridiāns provides some more challenging maps, but is farther - near Cēsis, happens on Tuesdays. 

Zig-zag happens on Mondays in North Kurzeme, but I have never been  there.  

Upcoming big races

Race calendar for big races - pay attention to Kāpa 3 day, it is a WRE. 

TODO

There are some static courses, they could be good for people who want to do more. Have to find them. 

Mike check, mike check.

What is this?

The goal of this blog is to promote tourism to Latvia: we will consider it success if at least one person this year chooses to go there because of this blog and sends us back some feedback. 

We will advise routes, warn about potential issues, answer to questions. 

For now - we want to generate content. At some point we will try to commercialize this. 

Who are we?

A bunch of expats thinking about returning in a few years.

How to use this page?

Ask questions. Advise. Interact.

TODO list

These are subjects we need to write about:

• National Parks in general
• Dangerous Latvia - ticks, encephalitis, adders,
• History of Latvia
• Castles 
• Churches in Latvia
• Rivers
• River Gauja
• River Salaca
• Renting canoes/kayaks
• Adventure racing in Latvia
• Baltic Sea
• World war one heritage
• River Daugava.
• Lakes in Latvia
• Skiing
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Sauna
• Bobsleigh in Sigulda
• Campings and hotels
• General information
• Food
• Cycling
• Bird-watching

Status

• Transportation - in some state. 
• Getting to Latvia - very short
• Orienteering - something
• General information - nothing to show
• GNP-nothing to show