The beautiful port city of Riga, praised as the pearl of the Baltic Sea, January 2024【107】
2024/1/1 Vilnius → Riga
Woke up at 9 am and had the leftover sweets and protein from the previous day for breakfast.
Checked out of the hotel and headed to the Vilnius bus terminal.
After about four stops along the way, arrived in Riga in around 5 hours.
Walked to the hotel and checked in.
Ate the Santa-shaped chocolate received from the Vilnius hotel at checkout, then began exploring the Old Town.
Wandered around and eventually arrived at the Christmas market.
It was about minus 5 degrees Celsius, and I was cold, so I stopped at Burger King for a quick bite to warm up.
Bought water and protein at the supermarket, went back to the hotel for a workout, then returned to the Christmas market.
Bought blood sausage and some mystery skewered meat from a store cooking meat in a large frying pan.
Ate at a nearby table (a tree stump), but the hot meat cooled down quickly due to the cold.
The Christmas market closed at 8 pm.
After eating, I saw the Freedom Monument and then went back to the hotel to sleep.
2024/1/2 Riga
A cold wave hit, and Riga was minus 14 degrees on this day.
Touring while heading to a cafe in the morning.
The statue of the Bremen Town Musicians
The Freedom Monument
The Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Walked about 20 minutes from the hotel to a cafe named Miit.
Omelette and Americano.
The New Town has buildings of various styles and colors, full of sights to see.
The KGB Building
Walked to the Old Town.
The Swedish Gate
Riga Cathedral
Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
The Three Brothers
It was so cold that I took a break at a cafe.
I had prepared for the cold, but my face was so cold it hurt.
Bought a ticket at St. Peter's Church and headed to the tower.
It was even colder with the wind, but the view was spectacular.
It truly lives up to its nickname as the "Pearl of the Baltic."
After descending from the tower, I walked back to the hotel, passing by the Cat House.
Warmed up in the hotel and then did a workout in the gym.
Heading to the old town of Riga for dinner.
St. Peter's Church
House of the Blackheads
Dinner at a Latvian restaurant/dining hall called LIDO.
You pick your favorite items, pay at the end, and then head to a table.
Enjoyed a mysterious drink – pouring hot water into a glass filled with a large amount of small citrus fruits and oranges, which you prepare yourself.
Main course of meat with cheese on top and pilaf.
All for about 10 euros.
After dinner, bought Laima chocolate and a mysterious protein bar at a supermarket.
The protein bar was so-so.
