For the cringing language purists amongst you I didn’t make up the word above. I guess that’s what scuba diving is called in Latvia. What ever happened to nirsana?
Has anyone here gone diving in Latvia or gone on a tour with a Latvian diveshop? If so any recommendations? I am planning to spend 3 months in Latvia this summer and would be interested in exploring the Latvian underwater world. Looking for some reputable diveshops or clubs.
Also, since I’ll still have to earn my daily bread, how available is wifi in the Riga metro area. When I was there last summer I couldn’t get a signal around my Mom’s house so was wondering how wide coverage is and what kind of cost would I be looking at. I guess as a last resort I could opt for DSL.

Andrejs

Sveiks Andrej,

How nice that you have decided to visit my country!  I certainly hope that the citizens of the Republic bid you welcome during your stay, and make you feel as though you were at home.

Sorry, I can’t personally recommend any Dive clubs, but there are a few dives that you may enjoy.  The Bites Blues club doesn’t actually bite, it is a really good place to hear some live music.  A great time can also be had at El Čarlitos a fine Tex-Mex place in the “pagrabs” of the Čarlstons restaurant.  They are a good wi-fi hotpsot, btw.  If you go and hear the locals singing good ol’ Latvian songs there on a Saturday night, tell them Roberts sent you for a mug of Č-alus, you might even get a free beer out of the deal.  Also, I’d recommend A. Suns on Elizabetes street as a reasonably-priced place to dine and have a pint or two-- I know you will certainly enjoy the movie theater next door.

I sincerely wish that you have a great time during your visit to my country this summer.  Returning back to your home in America will probably seem like a let-down.  I foresee a long and cold winter for you back in the Windy City, especially given the fact that the Chicago Bears have foolishly committed beaucoup bucks to sign Rex Grossman to another contract.  Perhaps the local charms may persuade you to consider becoming a citizen of Latvia.  But maybe that is wishful thinking on my part.

Best wishes, as always,
/R

Thanks Dear Roberts. I knew I could count on you. I have to confess that despite living in the States since 1977 I’ve yet to visit Soprano country. That Charlston place sounds interesting. Latvian songs you say? That must be quite a treat for the locals. Do they have Irish nights too? Its been a while since I’ve heard Danny Boy. Which part of New Jersey is it in?
You didn’t mean Latvia, did you? I was there before you even knew it existed.
The Bears worry me some, but Grossman didn’t get big bucks. They got him fairly cheap. The fact that they missed out on some stud offensive linemen worries me far worse. At least they resigned Briggs and if Brown can actually stay healthy it might be an interesting year.

Andrejs

Andrej!

Tikai naaras nirst...:-)

Perhaps I shall disappoint somebody , but “diving” “дайвинг” is used exclusively in Russian too.

My question is :where to dive in Latvia (if speech not about the rivers or lakes)?

In my opinion, it is necessary to drive off a little. Better - to the South.

Priecigus Lieldienas,

Juris

Roberts the Misguided et al.,

“How nice that you have decided to visit my country!  I certainly hope that the citizens of the Republic bid you welcome during your stay, and make you feel as though you were at home.”

Andrejs will feel just fine in his country , Latvia.  Perhaps this summer Andrejs and I will be able to get together and have a few beers this summer in Latvia.

Just keep on pining about your hero A. Niedra .

Visu labui,

Brunirupucīt!

Your ignorance is on display again.  The Republic of Latvia considers Andrejs a foreigner.  Andrejs certainly “has” a couple of countries, but Latvija ain’t one of them.  Ask him to show you his collection of passports when you quaff those suds!  Be mindful when scheduling your date.  He may be planning on visiting for three months, but Andrejs will not be permitted to stay in Latvia after 90 days.  As a foreigner, Andrejs would have to appeal to the department of Citizenship and Migratory Affairs of The Latvian Ministry of Interior for a special visa, if he wants to extend his visit.  Otherwise, Andrejs will be deported from Latvia back to one of the countries where he claims citizenship.  Even if he leaves the Schengen zone voluntarily after a stay of three months, Andrejs is barred from returning for at least six more months.

Visu labu!
/R

Dear Roberts,

I can asure both you and the fine Government of Latvia that I am not nor have I ever been a member of Foreigner. I’ve never owned or intended to purchase any of their albums. I never did get into middle of the road rock.

Bruno,

A beer sounds good. We’ll track down Aleksejs and Peteris and make it a true unholy troika. Maybe the Lone Lugan can join us as well.

Andrejs

Shalom Andrej,

An unholy troika of four, maybe five.  If feudalism ever makes a comeback, Andrej, they should elect you to be The Count.  What gasses are you sucking on from that SCUBA tank, old friend?  Beware of the gear you get South of the (former) Border.  You may indeed suffer the same malady as did the Lithuanian SCUBA man—Daivertikulaitis.

all the best,
/R

Dear Roberts seems to have way too much free time on his hands. I hope he’s keeping his shoes on lest we get into some complicated algorithms. Lets do the math. I wrote:

Bruno,

A beer sounds good. We’ll track down Aleksejs and Peteris and make it a true unholy troika. Maybe the Lone Lugan can join us as well.

Bruno would one. Peteris, Aleksejs and I would be the troika. The Lone Lugan would be one. Come join us and we can make it into sesi mazi bandinieki.

Andrejs

So, about this scuba diving - ‘nirsana’ in and around Latvija.  What are you hoping to see underwater?  Maybe some old shipwrecks (lat. - vraks), or castle ruins?

It appears that the n word is still in use. For example:
http://www.nirejs.lv

I should be around - although probably late summer.

The US dollar should be at a 1 to 1 exchange with the Litas by then. No more troublesome algorithms - except trying to figure out if its worth spending $400 a night for a hotel room....

Cant help you with your diving question.

iečeko, hotelis, čipsi, fitness… the first few words jump to mind as Anglo-Latvian. In Russian too, I’ve heard the word секьюрити - security....

back to the original subject…

there is a diving shop (assuming it caters for dive groups) at :
Tallinas 57b, LV-1012, Riga, Latvia
Tālrunis +371 7312810, 7312814, 9238988

have you looked at http://www.daivings.lv and also http://www.bigfish.lv ?

....also an equally good english/latvian word - frīdaiving!

about wi-fi - riga is dotted with wifi places but they are mostly found in double coffee and coffes nation - also some lattelekom phonesboxes have a 100m wifi radius - you just have to look for them. but blanket coverage not really unless you try to hitch a ride with a neighbours unsecure connection.

You can buy an hours worth of wi-fi through latelekom - have a look on their site for details and use that at the cafes. ( and also suprisingly at some Statoils!). Just to warn you with DSL, it will probably take 1 month to get them to come around and install the DSL for you.... and then you also have to be in an area which is covered.

Hotel Reval, Emila Shokolade in Berga Bazars, Salt N’Pepper, all have FREE wifi connections.