adiml 26.5.2013
Hey :) Long time no see.
I post from the same place as my last post in July'12, from the capital of Latvia, Riga.
I went to a rap festival 'Ritms un plūsma' the day before where so much awesomeness happened, I slept very little after it and was hangoverish, but as you will soon see, I managed to walk around city at least. Because I only could stay for the weekend, I had to fly back to Finland in the evening.
I'm 24, originally Finnish, translator and right now also tourist advisor in Turku, Finland, graduating soonish in my studies in languages/translation (Swedish & German). Those are only the languages I happened to choose at uni - I speak 11 languages, during this trip mainly Latvian, Russian.... I speak a rather lousy English nowadays, because I mostly speak completely other set of languages in life and my work.
(I will post this to ADIML as soon as I will have cut down on the number of pics... Stupid adiml, I wanna show them all!
A bit of a weird order the pics will have. Here, I have thrown clothing on, to go to breakfast (brokastis in Latvian language). I was feeling ill. I didn't drink more than 2 drinks last night, but that already made be feel ill now, and I want food ASAP.
Down at the brokastis room.
I speak to my mum on the phone, but some Russian older man says, don't make noise. Aha?
As I slept only 3 hours, I feel like, now it's time to try to get more sleep (but it turns out to be difficult). At least I tried!
showertime
I'm in a hurry to pack my bags (but I only have handluggage this time) as I need to leave the room...
This backpack, I got yesterday from Gorõ Lana's members as a gift for me. (They are a band from Estonia, but Russian speaking... I recommend.) I told them on FB, I came to see them all the way from Finland, because I missed their Finland gigs. They thought it was zdorovo = fierce, so we agreed on how they would identify me, and they invited me to come and be with them last night after their performance! It still feels incredible... Well, lots more about yesterday also feel incredible. I also got to very personal contact with many others whose music I love. With one, on a one-to-one conversation on a square with drinks almost until morning.
I leave my room at 12.00. exactly.
Nearby, I remember from before that there is a bookshop. I look at history section.
I check also Latvian language studying books... But decide not to take any, I have one already, and the only one I would really like now, is a new one made especially for Finns, of course that is not here.
I get going.
Riga is full of under soil passages. SOmetimes colourful.
I'm not decided yet, which transport means to take. I know the destination I want to go to. But I reflect a while on, how to go there. I go through the bus station.
Timetables
At the station, I check a snacks shop... I really like "rasols", one of those mayonnaisy salads in the picture, but I decide to leave it for later.
Sandwich in Latvian is sendvičs by the way.
I took one bus. Sometimes, it's a bit annoying with babushkas, like this one here kept on insisting she will register my e-talons (ticket), as if I hadn't been able to do it myself... But at least, she could help me, when I asked, if I was on the right bus, as I wanted to go somewhere around Tallinnas iela / A. Čaka.
I walk to try to catch the right bus instead.
E-talons (changes design every time I am in Riga)
Pass by pasta centrs (=post office). "Pasta" is genitive for "pasts"!
Soo, I got off and started walking.
Basically, I want to see one big graffiti of an artist called Kiwie. I am not sure, if it is still there, but I hope. I have written down the street.
Cat!
I spend some time with the cat<3
Finding the graffiti doesn't turn out to happen even if I walk all the street 2 times
Mysterious... Remonts (?) going on.
It's been long since I ate, and I start getting annoyed by walking and not finding the graffiti... I think, I give up. Maybe it had been removed...
Estonia is being advertised. "Inspiration is right here near". It is also evident that Estonians make use of the digitalisation of the country in advertisement.
Gone so "far" from centre, that I can see a Soviet era street sign. Probably one letter in Russian has been drawn over with intention to make it seem a certain way!
I read some flyers at the entrance of a "skeitparks"
Some signs of hockey world cup are still seen. I sometimes watch hockey games, but the most I can say is, this player has a sexy face. Oh so typical (I dig the guys here).
Didn't walk until the end, as my feet are hurting. Too much jumping on heels yesterday.
Hm, this brings to my mind, one American who is living in Russia as a sudent told me "are you sure you want to move to Baltics? Post soviet people don't approve of subcultural people, different styles..." My answer is: "post soviet people my ass, what do you think you can talk to me about Baltics if you talk about your experiences in Russia?" Subcultures are alive and well here!
I get off at Brīvības iela.
Guards at Milda's feet. ("For fatherland and freedom".)
Milda herself
Then I go to a restaurant and order a good plovs :) With fish, beans, kartupeļi, and of course mayo.
Continue my exploring more.. I get tempted to go on the otger side of Daugava river, to see if the library has been completed yet, or how it is doing.
I go there by tram.
No... It will be opened next year. But, since I saw it last time, a lot of progress has been made.
I took the tram again.. And walk underneath the Occupations' museum (Nazi and Soviet occupations)
Me, with a coffee I got.
Old town.
Bike parking.
Ah! handmade decoration with traditional Latvian patterns!
sat down at a chocolate café to read some brochures
Went to get something to drink at a kiosk. In Finland, there are no sunflower seeds sld in kiosks!
See this plate for some soviet era historian... An interesting curiosity is, Latvians don't of course have afther's names, but they were oblidged to have such in Soviet occupation time.
I go to my fave lovely park <3 My feet are hurting too much to explore more by foot now.
She once again
I got a current affairs mag at the kiosk to read, and some drink.. And I get shoes off! heaven.
Read, for instance about upcoming local elections, so Riga's municipal politics. I will not tell my opinion about this guy nw...
Want to make a light installation that will be used at Positivus festival? I plan on not going to Positivus this year btw, I am not a big fan of the bans they have this year.
These young people run past me screamin in Latvian how "Love! Love will cure everything!" And I have a chat with them.
They were great people. Friendly, asked me which of the 4 languages they knew I preferred to speak, and explained what they meant with their action:)
They also photoed me.
Loads of skaters
Go to music shop for curiosity's sake.
Why is this great Estonian band in "Latvian music" section?
I moved on... I saw a magazine about castles of Northern Europe. This one is near my home. It is funny how they write it, i Finnish Hämeenlinna.
Around here, at the square, I chatted until laaate yesterday with one of my fave rappers (I told him I love his new album and then we just started haning out the rest of the night), and it was phenomenally wonderful and still can't believe it happened.. We talked everything about the local scene... And even more topics.
The time came that I had to take my luggage. It makes me sad. I can't wait I can choose where to live when I graduate.. As I don't like Finland, and especially not Turku.
Great shop!
I get nearer to 13. janvara iela where I will catch the airport bus.
Waiting
Full bus. Finns also come. I talk a bit with them. They ask me, what some words hey have been seeing around mean.
Soviet era monument from the window...eh.
Arrived at the aiport. I hate to go.
I do check in at an automat.
I'm way early (simply because my feet hurt to go anywhere in the city anymore), I buy mags and papers to read!)
Looking..It is sunny!
I read the Baltic Times (and secretly listen to some Estonian youngsters nearby)
I get so sad. I have social life here, I feel inspired here, and I hate to go back, like ugh. At "home" I only feel out of place all the time and I really don't like how Finland (nowadays) is. I can move in half a year. I am not sure yet if to Estonia or Latvia, will see.
Brush teeth, because I just had my fave chocolate by Laima "Serenāde"
I finally found this!
Get tea.
I start going downstairs for my flight.
Time passed pretty well.
In retrospect, I must say, I am angry at myself I didn't replace my broken smartphone yet, because as soon as I came home, I saw a message that this same guy I was out with yesterday would have wanted to meet me at 16.00. And indeed, that would have been suitable!!!
walk to plane
we're 35 mins late. It comes accross to me that this is probably a school flight. It's likely. the distance is small, and we fly only 40 minutes. Unfortunately, culturally that feels way more distat to me.
I ask for some "rieksti" = peanuts and I get this ahahha! (easy word to remember, one of my fave LV rap groups is literally called Riekstu armija = "Peanut army")
I was super worries because we missed the last bus to the centre! But no problem... Italians (Puglia) who have visited my office happened to be on the same flights! We share a taxi! What a coincidencde!
I can tell the driver in Finnish where to go, so I took the front seat. Then we just spariamo cazzate.
Major dislike for being back.
Have to stay here for studies' sake until December, I try not to get discouraged, and stay inspired, even if this place doesn't inspire me, because people are so gloomy, alcoholism centered, etc.
I realise I didn't clean before I left!
Then I was too tired to photograph more, but I: went on the computer to speak with the same guy who I met that one nigt. Uploaded photos, thought back to the performances, feeling happy and sad at once.
Thanks.
I post from the same place as my last post in July'12, from the capital of Latvia, Riga.
I went to a rap festival 'Ritms un plūsma' the day before where so much awesomeness happened, I slept very little after it and was hangoverish, but as you will soon see, I managed to walk around city at least. Because I only could stay for the weekend, I had to fly back to Finland in the evening.
I'm 24, originally Finnish, translator and right now also tourist advisor in Turku, Finland, graduating soonish in my studies in languages/translation (Swedish & German). Those are only the languages I happened to choose at uni - I speak 11 languages, during this trip mainly Latvian, Russian.... I speak a rather lousy English nowadays, because I mostly speak completely other set of languages in life and my work.
(I will post this to ADIML as soon as I will have cut down on the number of pics... Stupid adiml, I wanna show them all!
A bit of a weird order the pics will have. Here, I have thrown clothing on, to go to breakfast (brokastis in Latvian language). I was feeling ill. I didn't drink more than 2 drinks last night, but that already made be feel ill now, and I want food ASAP.
Down at the brokastis room.
I speak to my mum on the phone, but some Russian older man says, don't make noise. Aha?
As I slept only 3 hours, I feel like, now it's time to try to get more sleep (but it turns out to be difficult). At least I tried!
showertime
I'm in a hurry to pack my bags (but I only have handluggage this time) as I need to leave the room...
This backpack, I got yesterday from Gorõ Lana's members as a gift for me. (They are a band from Estonia, but Russian speaking... I recommend.) I told them on FB, I came to see them all the way from Finland, because I missed their Finland gigs. They thought it was zdorovo = fierce, so we agreed on how they would identify me, and they invited me to come and be with them last night after their performance! It still feels incredible... Well, lots more about yesterday also feel incredible. I also got to very personal contact with many others whose music I love. With one, on a one-to-one conversation on a square with drinks almost until morning.
I leave my room at 12.00. exactly.
Nearby, I remember from before that there is a bookshop. I look at history section.
I check also Latvian language studying books... But decide not to take any, I have one already, and the only one I would really like now, is a new one made especially for Finns, of course that is not here.
I get going.
Riga is full of under soil passages. SOmetimes colourful.
I'm not decided yet, which transport means to take. I know the destination I want to go to. But I reflect a while on, how to go there. I go through the bus station.
Timetables
At the station, I check a snacks shop... I really like "rasols", one of those mayonnaisy salads in the picture, but I decide to leave it for later.
Sandwich in Latvian is sendvičs by the way.
I took one bus. Sometimes, it's a bit annoying with babushkas, like this one here kept on insisting she will register my e-talons (ticket), as if I hadn't been able to do it myself... But at least, she could help me, when I asked, if I was on the right bus, as I wanted to go somewhere around Tallinnas iela / A. Čaka.
I walk to try to catch the right bus instead.
E-talons (changes design every time I am in Riga)
Pass by pasta centrs (=post office). "Pasta" is genitive for "pasts"!
Soo, I got off and started walking.
Basically, I want to see one big graffiti of an artist called Kiwie. I am not sure, if it is still there, but I hope. I have written down the street.
Cat!
I spend some time with the cat<3
Finding the graffiti doesn't turn out to happen even if I walk all the street 2 times
Mysterious... Remonts (?) going on.
It's been long since I ate, and I start getting annoyed by walking and not finding the graffiti... I think, I give up. Maybe it had been removed...
Estonia is being advertised. "Inspiration is right here near". It is also evident that Estonians make use of the digitalisation of the country in advertisement.
Gone so "far" from centre, that I can see a Soviet era street sign. Probably one letter in Russian has been drawn over with intention to make it seem a certain way!
I read some flyers at the entrance of a "skeitparks"
Some signs of hockey world cup are still seen. I sometimes watch hockey games, but the most I can say is, this player has a sexy face. Oh so typical (I dig the guys here).
Didn't walk until the end, as my feet are hurting. Too much jumping on heels yesterday.
Hm, this brings to my mind, one American who is living in Russia as a sudent told me "are you sure you want to move to Baltics? Post soviet people don't approve of subcultural people, different styles..." My answer is: "post soviet people my ass, what do you think you can talk to me about Baltics if you talk about your experiences in Russia?" Subcultures are alive and well here!
I get off at Brīvības iela.
Guards at Milda's feet. ("For fatherland and freedom".)
Milda herself
Then I go to a restaurant and order a good plovs :) With fish, beans, kartupeļi, and of course mayo.
Continue my exploring more.. I get tempted to go on the otger side of Daugava river, to see if the library has been completed yet, or how it is doing.
I go there by tram.
No... It will be opened next year. But, since I saw it last time, a lot of progress has been made.
I took the tram again.. And walk underneath the Occupations' museum (Nazi and Soviet occupations)
Me, with a coffee I got.
Old town.
Bike parking.
Ah! handmade decoration with traditional Latvian patterns!
sat down at a chocolate café to read some brochures
Went to get something to drink at a kiosk. In Finland, there are no sunflower seeds sld in kiosks!
See this plate for some soviet era historian... An interesting curiosity is, Latvians don't of course have afther's names, but they were oblidged to have such in Soviet occupation time.
I go to my fave lovely park <3 My feet are hurting too much to explore more by foot now.
She once again
I got a current affairs mag at the kiosk to read, and some drink.. And I get shoes off! heaven.
Read, for instance about upcoming local elections, so Riga's municipal politics. I will not tell my opinion about this guy nw...
Want to make a light installation that will be used at Positivus festival? I plan on not going to Positivus this year btw, I am not a big fan of the bans they have this year.
These young people run past me screamin in Latvian how "Love! Love will cure everything!" And I have a chat with them.
They were great people. Friendly, asked me which of the 4 languages they knew I preferred to speak, and explained what they meant with their action:)
They also photoed me.
Loads of skaters
Go to music shop for curiosity's sake.
Why is this great Estonian band in "Latvian music" section?
I moved on... I saw a magazine about castles of Northern Europe. This one is near my home. It is funny how they write it, i Finnish Hämeenlinna.
Around here, at the square, I chatted until laaate yesterday with one of my fave rappers (I told him I love his new album and then we just started haning out the rest of the night), and it was phenomenally wonderful and still can't believe it happened.. We talked everything about the local scene... And even more topics.
The time came that I had to take my luggage. It makes me sad. I can't wait I can choose where to live when I graduate.. As I don't like Finland, and especially not Turku.
Great shop!
I get nearer to 13. janvara iela where I will catch the airport bus.
Waiting
Full bus. Finns also come. I talk a bit with them. They ask me, what some words hey have been seeing around mean.
Soviet era monument from the window...eh.
Arrived at the aiport. I hate to go.
I do check in at an automat.
I'm way early (simply because my feet hurt to go anywhere in the city anymore), I buy mags and papers to read!)
Looking..It is sunny!
I read the Baltic Times (and secretly listen to some Estonian youngsters nearby)
I get so sad. I have social life here, I feel inspired here, and I hate to go back, like ugh. At "home" I only feel out of place all the time and I really don't like how Finland (nowadays) is. I can move in half a year. I am not sure yet if to Estonia or Latvia, will see.
Brush teeth, because I just had my fave chocolate by Laima "Serenāde"
I finally found this!
Get tea.
I start going downstairs for my flight.
Time passed pretty well.
In retrospect, I must say, I am angry at myself I didn't replace my broken smartphone yet, because as soon as I came home, I saw a message that this same guy I was out with yesterday would have wanted to meet me at 16.00. And indeed, that would have been suitable!!!
walk to plane
we're 35 mins late. It comes accross to me that this is probably a school flight. It's likely. the distance is small, and we fly only 40 minutes. Unfortunately, culturally that feels way more distat to me.
I ask for some "rieksti" = peanuts and I get this ahahha! (easy word to remember, one of my fave LV rap groups is literally called Riekstu armija = "Peanut army")
I was super worries because we missed the last bus to the centre! But no problem... Italians (Puglia) who have visited my office happened to be on the same flights! We share a taxi! What a coincidencde!
I can tell the driver in Finnish where to go, so I took the front seat. Then we just spariamo cazzate.
Major dislike for being back.
Have to stay here for studies' sake until December, I try not to get discouraged, and stay inspired, even if this place doesn't inspire me, because people are so gloomy, alcoholism centered, etc.
I realise I didn't clean before I left!
Then I was too tired to photograph more, but I: went on the computer to speak with the same guy who I met that one nigt. Uploaded photos, thought back to the performances, feeling happy and sad at once.
Thanks.