Explore all other options before choosing Latvia . Only come if your certain that you understand how things work .
Don't expect please and thankyou . Doors will be let go in front of you .........your responsibility , people will push by you instead of saying excuse me . Expect dogs being carried in food shops as they belive that EU hygene laws don't apply to them nor the signs on the doors . Shop security simply turn a blind eye as they dont want confrontation. Shop assistants will simply walk in front of you and stack shelves even if your looking at something .
They hate confrontation and will simply smile if they are embaressed and never admit they are wrong .
Neighbours don't often talk to each other .
Lots drive using a mobile phone the police don't seem to care . Unless you know someone don't expect a smile .
It is not getting the right information , it is knowing which questions to ask .
Its no good being soft and weak here , you have to help yourself and be pushy otherwise your wasting your time . It seems often in Latvia , Latvians think its rude to say no , so they say they will ring you .....their way of telling you no ?????......quite mad .
Do not expect things or people to be on time , don't expect exactly what you are told . Always agree a fare with the taxi before you get into it . And also you will be told anything sometimes just to get you off their work load . Do not expect logic or common sense , just rules when it suits them ?
The food is questionable , buscuits awful , customer service often debatable . And if you make a mistake they will make it hard to give you a refund even if EU rules say they musy in this case stand firm and quote EU rules insist to see the manager , they hid and don't like being disturbed by customers . . The alcohol is cheap , buses and trains run on time but the trains are slow .
And if your still thinking of coming here , good luck you will need it as you must be as mad as they are !!
Do not think I am joking this is a tiny fraction of the experience living here and I am streetwise from London .
Riga - the most beautiful town in Baltic states
