This might sound slightly surprisingto those of you who are long time members of this forum but I am very close to deciding to go to Latvia very soon (like in ten days).
I understand that there is sort of an on-going "Social" going on at the Mystic Cafe in the area of Old Riga Latvia - where women frequently come to meet foreign guys. Of course my intent is a long term commitment if I can find the right woman.
I have been to Ukraine and Moldova before.
Does anyone have any specialized knowledge about Riga Latvia....positives, negatives (as compared to other Eastern European cities). Or anything else to tell me?
My my Jet, you're cold-canvassing again :) I know the mba pays for it all but I'm sure in your previous life you were a sales-rep.
No, can't help you here, except for the fact that maybe you should review your 'intent'? Apparently you're going without knowing anyone specific, so why you gamble (because it is!) on finding a long-termer there I dunno.
Why not have a tourist-attitude only, a holiday instead, have a look whilst letting it all hang out? Lots more fun if you ask me, but I'll tell you one thing - zero pressure will reflect in your attitude there, gosh, you might appear nicer even for such?
Notch notch wi.... ;-)
Ps: Full report in triplicate expected upon your return - I guess some month from now?
Will go there myslef in the near future, not the Mystic Cafe but to meet two or three girls I've been corresponding with for a while now, so let me(us) know how You get on.
Thunderdome: Don't know if I was a salesman in a past life - or if I'm just crazy in this one. All I know is that I've never heard of anyone in real preinternet life who ever fell in love entirley via corespondence. (MBA classes didn't include spelling by the way).
There is something about meeting someone in person - in an atmosphere intended for such things of course (won't find me handing out business cards at a disco or supermarket - I'm not THAT into cold canvassing).
Yes Nisse that w3ebsite is correct (if I recall correctly). Intend to work in association with A Foreign Affair which has Socials from time to time in Riga but maintains an office of sorts all year.
And to Thunder (again) I do, indeed, consider this to be a bit of a vacation as opposed to being entirely a "hunt" for reasons I cannot discuss.
had a quick look at that website, it looks as if one can buy someone dinner and video-conference with her. Gosh, virtual sex is the next step I'm sure, but hey, suckers are born everyday.
Seems you picked an interesting place to go to, so make that a quadruple report then?
Never even heard of it, and for this kind of place I'd be doubly wary - have fun Jet, and don't do anything I wouldn't thrive on ;-))
Thunder - I'm counting on A Foriegn Affair (the romance tour company in Arizona) to help me out in that regard. Is this a well though out and well planned idea? ...No...
If I can make a few make a few contacts before hand - and otherwise count on my goodlooks (laughter pause here) I should be okay.
Jet...why depend on an agency to go to a EU member country?
Language maybe?
Simply go to the local largest language institute and met the women there who would be more than happy to show you the local sights...and some a bit more personal ones, lol
Toad:
Language is a factor.
But I'm not really depending on an agency (I'm not even officially signed up) I just feel better knowing that there is a mechanism put in place by this agency - which I trust - rather than to depend on my sheer luck at a language institute alone.
I KNOW that LAtvia is a bit more of a sucess economically than either Ukraine or Moldova is. Perhaps Kyev might be comparable to Riga as having come ahead farther than the rest o the country. I just hope that the country hasn't become TOO much like a western European country yet.
Yes, just curious what people have against Western Europe?
Im sure wumen are cheaper in Kiev, but I dont think its shows high
quality life of local people!
"What is a western European country like? And which one is most typical?"
V arious countries tend to have varying typicalities.
A and which one stands out depens on what you're looking for.
N ow tell me what you really want to know?
Catching the biggest Pike is done in Ireland, however you must be prepared to eat potatoes. In contradiction to knickerless France especially the men are said to have poor personal hygenic standards, which just might give a new meaning to something fishy. Froglegs are eaten all over the world same like escargout's, in contradiction to geysers which are only found in Iceland. Bullfights are held in Spain, and the best coffee - still - is found in Italy. Sauerkraut comes from you know where, same goes for wooden shoes, and the best bonbons come from Belgique.
But give us a hint me ol' fruitcake, what exactly is it you want to know?
What Europe's like? Like eons of culture oozing out of the streets, various accents per town part of that, and add relative wealth and crowdedness. Oh, and speaking mre than one language is almost universal there.
May I suggest an extended holiday?
If you have heard of Jurmala, the quaint seaside town near Riga, it is worth to wander around the town and look at the houses.... But it is pretty much over with its touist season.
You will be surprised at the unusually high cost of being a tourist in Riga...
A great city to wander in.... and plenty of clubs and discos... Very cosmopolitan city.. Do not go thinking it is a place ripe for picking just waiting for you...
The folks at Mystic are professional and will help you.... I have many friends in Riga area, met them when they were working in USA...
Go there with the idea as TD suggested... be a tourist and explore and you will be surprised at all the people you will meet...
There is plenty of meat market activity for a price if that is your thing... but you wont come away with anything other than empty wallet and .... well figure yourself...
Great bus system in Riga, you can walk everywhere....
Geriatrix - if you have been to an Eastern European country, like Moldova or Ukraine you will see similarities.
The change from communism and an actual seperation from the rest of Europe has left slow to change similarites in the countries of the former Soviet Block that westerners are generally unaware of. Perhaps the most obvious are the many large conrete partment buildings buildings that were obviously once full of identical looking apartments. Each has been modified by its owner in ways that you will not see as evident in Western Europe where codes prevent such things. Porches have had walls built up by whatever means was available - in all different manners, different size glass panes, extensionsoutward - wooden paneling, plastered areas, some very well cosntructed, others very poorly constructed - some are not changed at all.
If you were looking to make the incredibly obvious comment that Western European countries like Spain and Holland and Iceland are different - well there's obvioulsly no fooling you, huh??? Duhhh!
But there were blantantly obvious similarities in the recent histories of the Eastern European countries and they continue to share the same liknesses to varying degrees are their economies recover.
I assure you that I am not looking for a place ripe for the picking or a meat market. I hope to meet someone for a longterm relationship. I also hope to have a pleasant vacation and I thank you much for the input.
To geriatrix: We also eat frogs in the US. I hate to break it to you but that's where the "frogs legs' you see on the menu of many restaurants come from - they come from frogs. Oh and geriatrics - the french also eat SNAILS (called escargot). Oooo yucky ...huh?
Thunder: I like your response above, your sense of humor and your wit. You are one of the two guys from this forum who I would like to meet in real life.
The other - my friend TimH - I am very much looking forward to meeting on this trip to Latvia. I have a 34 hour stop-over in London England which turns out to be very convenient after all. Tim has kindly agreed to meet me - and show me some of old (or new) London. I am happy toi have the chance to meet our buddy on noninternet terms.
instead of taking Jet to Soho may I suggest to keep him within the near vincinity of the Big Ben? Cockney must be experienced, and I'd suggest you two go visit a real local pub there. You probably do best to leave the ol' Jag at home, take the unique taxi instead and ask the cabbie for the local pub & grub. Blimey, that yank has got time to spare, so the least you could do is to show him how darts is played, and how astonishing well some locals do. And don't laugh out loud if he spits out the lukewarm ale eh?
Oh, Jet, if anything - don't expect any weather. Luck is what they call a dry day, but a sunburn is as common as chickenteeth. Stick to cold drinks and beer isn't, a cider just might be.
And have fun on this trip. Check this obscurity for me pls, in-depth I mean - the fact that AFA runs it/utilizes it means nothing to me, this dinner & camera thing is really weird but likely a moneyspinner though.
Scottie, no, 'English' as far as I heard - and yeah, an oldie, still funny though.
Annika, no, haven't been to Iceland yet. No need, I've got a geyser and a freezer in my home - so why go there? ;-)
Bullfrog, you surely know that knickers are off-limits only during the Can-Can in the Moulin Rouge? OK, also along the Champs d'Elysee at night, but that depends if you Want-Can, something completely different.