But who are the tourists in Riga?

The small group of twenty people is ready, let's go to the first bar - the Kiwi - a few steps from the hotel. The travellers mix and the famous question can be heard non-stop: "and you, where do you come from?" While chatting, I lead my little investigation, some tourists are surprised, others come to me asking "are you a journalist?" Overall, they are surprised by my questions and in general their first motivation is not taking time to discover a place and meeting locals. It is rather for culture, history, or parties.

First, I meet with Giacomo from Italy. He comes specially for the Baltic Beach Festival in Leipaja starting next weekend. For one week with friends, he is looking for a non so turistic country and discovers Riga for 3 days. With him at the time, Jorge, a Spanish from Valladolid. His goal: one night - one European capital. Big challenge that comes to an end: Russia, Norway, Sweden and Finland are still mising to his travels. He travels alone: "Spaniards do not like traveling and we speak English so badly that it becomes a disadvantage." Enjoying from day to day, he finds that Riga is a beautiful city, restored for tourists and is a bit disappointed by the growing sex tourism. His journey lasts five days, the other Baltic capitals are the next stop. We left each other on a happy Carpe diem!


Then I approach a group of young Belgians from Liege. On holidays for five days, they chose Riga for the cheap flights with Ryanair. The purpose of these students or young workers: having a good time with friends, enjoying the good atmosphere of the hotel and discovering a city with some fascinating architecture. Carole tells me the most, we feel it is the leader of this trip: "Riga has grown significantly the last ten years, the aesthetics of the buildings reflects a true story and not just the Soviet era. I had no specific expectations, I prefer to enjoy a city as it is rather than the image I have in my imagination. " Give a new look at Eastern Europe to her friends is the target. "Not everything is gray and squared, it(s rather the contrary!" Successful betting.

Emiel, from the Netherlands, tells me the same about his journey: away for two weeks with his girlfriend to explore the Baltic countries, they spend five days in Latvia, mostly in Riga. These two backpackers are convinced that the Baltic countries are a good gateway to Eastern Europe and less impressive than Russia. Cheap, easy to access, with an authentic and different history for each country, they are still a bit disappointed to see Riga so organized for tourists. Looking for more adventure? They were seeking something more, perhaps less fashionable. But in any case they regret their journey.


Then come the long-term travelers. This is the case of France, who left Melbourne, Australia for nine months traveling around the world. "I finished my studies, I wanted to take some time, it's now or never" she said smiling. After three months of travels and five countries visited, she stops in Riga with two friends, coming back from Russia and on the way to Poland. Why Riga and notTallinn or Vilnius? "Riga seemed more attractive, with an interesting history and architecture. In two days, she has seen most of the city and is satisfied with her meetings. "When you travel alone, you meet more people, and it's great being in Riga, I felt like a fairy tale!"

Then, I meet Nathaniel, a young French who leads a journey to Shanghai. He has thirteen days to go before taking the Trans-Siberian from Moscow. He managed a marathon trip in Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Looking for adventure and discoveries as well with cultures then with travelers, Riga is a his favorite place of the Baltic States. "Compared to Vilnius, it has a good atmosphere. In Poland, the Stalinist architecture is still very present. In Riga, the city has its charm between art nouveau buildings and churches. Life is cheap and meetings are nice! "

I then discuss with Owen (Shanghai, China) that spends a year in Europe. He visited all the capitals of Eastern Europe. Arriving yesterday in Riga, he spends three days here. For now on, he loves the river, but says sincerely that he went to too many places, so he can't tell the difference, they all look the same. Perhaps, time would be the key to remains?

I finished the evening with two Scots, after the third bar, I give up, beer is too abundant to carry out a discussion!
Andy and Ross, from Glasgow, Scotland, discovering the joys of the Baltic States with Ryanair. Two weeks of holidays, cheap flights, a click on the Internet, they pass through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia before flying back to Finland - "in the middle of nowhere" as Ross said. For them, Riga is a nice city, they particularly appreciate it's less hot in Riga than in Vilnus. The only regret in their low cost getaway: too many English people coming for cheap beer, bachelors parties and pretty Baltic girls with sun-tanned legs and wearing mini-skirts. Andy closes the discussion with a very inspired sentence: "I am a web developer, Ross an architect and we are here to conquer the world!"