Vhy es loo,d,zoo var-at-t'u pag-loud-it usu pak-ah-lynn-you

Now you all can get by in Latvia. You'll be amazed at how far that simple phrase will get you.

Anyways, we have arrived here in Riga, capital of Latvia, and I'm loving it so far. I didn't really know what to expect of this ex-soviet country, but it's really great. Some thing are typically soviet, such as the big block buildings, but others just look so great. The old town is amazing to walk through. Amazing architecture, and the colours are just great. It would look so tacky anywhere else, with all the bright colours, but this city can somehow pull it off, giving it a very cheerful vibe.

Another great thing is just how late it stays light out here. It's 11:30pm right now, and it's not even completely dark yet. We were walking around this evening, and it felt like it should have been about 7ish, but in reality, it was about 9:30. I love it.

It's also so much cheaper here. Although the Lat (Latvian currency) is worth about the same as the pound, everything is so much cheaper. It feels so good to not have to shell out so much money for every little thing.

Tomorrow we head out for the West coast. We'll be camping right by the Baltic sea, and then relaxing at the beach and jumping into the (I'm assuming) freezing water.

Until next time, take it easy,

Eric