Another two hour wander and another stack of photos. Just a small flavour

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After four and a half hours of almost continuous walking I have run out of steam, still suffering the tail end of this weeks earlier illness. I’ve made my way back to the hotel with the intention to have lunch at the nearby Lido, but it was completely packed. Instead it has been back to the hotel bar and some liquid bread before an afternoon snooze!

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What plans I did have for the afternoon will be carried forward to the next trip, I’ve already decided that I’m returning in the summer.

Thanks for the report, as always. Riga has been on my list for a while, it just got bumped to the top!

Aaahh Riga - my last visit was some 10 years ago where I was conducting a week-and-a-half long training for new joiners at work. I have fond memories of a river cruise where the captain doubled up as bartender, and then having to drag an incredibly drunk Swedish colleague back to the hotel with the help of a couple of the new kids, while having to fight off the Riga tricycle taxi mafia… I ended up thanking those new colleagues by buying them drinks in the basement bar of that Radisson (the tall one).. But that Riga Balzam is the most vile thing ever - I am sure I can replace diesel in a lorry’s engine!

The original is definitely ‘interesting’, that cocktail I had yesterday was something else!

The raspberry version that I had in the mulled wine earlier was a much tastier thing altogether

JapesUK

Once again the quality of your travel dialogue is surpassed only by the incredible beauty of your photography, don't know how you do it.

After another 90 minute snooze and a quick coffee in the room it was time to head to the opera house. The building was open today :D

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They run an incredibly packed and varied schedule

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what a cloakroom!

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And the first floor bar. There were about six or eight routes from the foyer to the seats so I assume each route is served by its own bar

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Just time for a glass of wine before I try to find my seat up in the gods

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And I definitely do not feel overdressed for once, the residents of Riga clearly take their opera/ballet seriously, jackets and gowns abound, even the children are in their Sunday finest.

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And a pretty good seat for a late booking

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I did not for a second consider booking an opera ticket in Riga when I was there, evidently, a mistake.

Wonder if they will be showing in August...

Love the opera in Riga Fabo.sk , small and compact but also usually competent or better!

That was an impressive costume spectacular. To my untrained sensibilities it was as much modern dance as ballet, perhaps more so, but thoroughly enjoyable.

A short walk back to the hotel and a little diversion to Lido which is still packed, so a hotel meal it will be. Just realised that beyond a sluce of bread at breakfast and a bit of cake lunchtime I’ve not eaten all day. Burger sounded good and it has just arrived

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And the lack of salad trimmings was my choice, as standard it also comes with lettuce, tomato, amd pickled cucumber.

🤣🤣

Thanks for another great trip report..I think if I had the same drink and food I would be hospitalised 😆…

Any future trip reports planned ??

Jeez, I’ve been taking it really easy this trip :D

Only three flying trips left this year and 4 business trips to Birmingham, cross country rail :(. Next up is a weekend bounce to Dubai on virgin, then another short bounce to Lisbon, and lastly to close the year, back to Malaga for xmas day in the hope of some Winter sun. Oh, and a day trip to LHR just to wave off some friends on their xmas break.

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A couple of relaxed hours in the bar and now it’s time for bed. One amusing occurrence to document. The hotel security guard is stationed on the second floor with a seat opposite the bank of lifts that overlooks the hotel entrance.

My seat in the bar faced into the reception area and around half an hour ago a rather striking lady entered the hotel… striking due mostly to her very minimalist silver dress! In short order the security guy appeared and a quite animated conversation ensued. Within the minute what I assume was the ladies new ‘friend’ for the evening also appeared from the lifts. Lots of gesticulating later, security guy was clearly having none of it, and lady and friend disappeared into the night :D

Before Covid, the bar at the top of the Kempinski in Riga used to be a favourite haunt for the glamorous "ladies of negotiable virtue". I well remember an altercation between two of them over who saw a potential sales opportunity first. Security threw them out and the police arrived to move all the others on. They were all back the following night.
The joys of capitalism.