Olin viimasel paaril nädalal tundnud kerget rahutust hinges, mis tihtipeale endas just väikest reisipalavikku endas kannab. Sedasi tuli antud väike põige Lätimaa pealinna just õigel ajal. Ja kui varasemalt ei ole Riia mulle just kuigivõrd palju sümpatiseerinud, jättis see mulle sel korral kuidagi eriti hea tunde maha. Eks kellegi teisega koos on kohti, mida varem tundide kaupa üksinda olen väisanud, palju vahvam uuesti avastada. Eriti, kui see keegi on samasugune reisisell ning seikleja hing nagu sa ise (Wero ❤).
For some time, I have had this weird sense of restlessness in me, hinting me to do something about the ever growing travel fever inside. Therefore, my small getaway to the capital of Latvia came just in time. Even though Riga never really grew on me like some other cities, it somehow made me change my mind and warm up to it this time around. I suppose for a change it is much more fun to explore places you have been to before for so many times alone with someone. Especially if this someone has a traveller soul and heart for adventures just like yourself (Wero ❤).
Ja muidugi ei saa ka mainimata jätta suurepärast ilma, millega meid õnnistati. Päike siras soojalt taevas ning võrreldes kodulinna lumeuputusega oli Riias justkui kevad kohale jõudnud. Sedasi oli päikeseloojang Daugava sillerdava vee ning mitmete sildade vahel kõndides üks viimase aja ilusamaid vaatepilte, mida näinud olin.
Of course the beautiful weather we were blessed with was an important indicator for all this to take place. The sun was shining warm and high. And compared my hometown, where true winter remains to reign the premises, it felt like fresh spring had hit Riga, that lies just a couple of hundred kilometres south. In that sense, walking the Daugava promenade with its many bridges and lambent water was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen for a while.
Ehk võib öelda, et Riia üllatas mind sel korral palju ning ilmselt lähen järgmisel korral sinna palju meelsamini tagasi. Naljakal kombel suutsin aga just sealsamas leida väikseid osi - maju või tänavanurki-, mis mulle nii meeletult palju Krakowit meenutasid. Kuigi igatsus viimase suhtes kasvas tänavaid mööda käies vmitmeid kordi suuremaks, kui ta juba praegu on, on hea teada, et väikest leevendust ei tule just kaugelt enam otsida.
So I suppose I can say that Riga did surprise me this time around and I will probably return much more gladly than I have before. Funnily enough, when walking the streets and looking at the streetcorners and houses, I somehow managed to find small bits and pieces of things reminding me so much of Krakow. Even though the longing to go back to that city grew a ton, it is comforting to know that some kind of a cure for that lies not that far away.
Öö veetsime Weronikaga kesklinnas asuvas Riga Hostelis. Peavarju same vaid tühise viieka eest, mis tähendas muidugi toa jagamist veel kaheksa võõra inimesega ja magamist narivoodis. Weronika on taolistes asjades juba vana kala ise, kuid minul oli taolisel viisil magamine täitsa uus kuid vahva kogemus omaette. Kuid hostel ise oli ääretult hubane, puhas ja personal väga lahke ning sõbralik. Ja asukoha üle ei saanud kohe üldse nuriseda - rongijaam oli viimasest üle tee ja vanalinn pisikese jalutuskäigu kaugusel. Ja McDonald's vaid kolm korrust allpool. Nurisemiseks polnud põhjust. :D
We spent the night in Riga Hostel located in the very heart of the city. The accommodation cost us only five euros a night, which on the other hand meant sharing the room with eight other strangers and sleeping in a bunk bed. For Weronika, this was no news, but for sure it was a new and fun experience for me! The hostel itself was very cosy, clean and the staff extremely kind and friendly. And we could not complain about the location - the train station is just across the road and the old town a small walk away. Plus McDonald's just happens to be only three floors downstairs - we basically lived in the good old Macca land! So no reason to grouch at all. :D
