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Introduction
Latvia (in Latvian, Latvija), officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republika) is a country in the northeast of Europe, member of the European Union. Bathed by Baltic Sea to the west, Latvia is bordered to the north by Estonia and to the south with Lithuania. These three countries make up the so-called Baltic countries. Additionally, it borders on the east with Russia Y Belarus.
Understand
Latvia it is the second largest country of the three Baltic countries. Despite this, it is one of the countries with the lowest population growth in the world: the death rate is higher than the birth rate. Latvia is a country that has many forests and lakes, although they coexist with urbanized cities full of history, such as the capital, Riga. If you want to visit this jewel of the Baltic, do not hesitate to do so! One week is enough to be able to see the capital and a little of its surroundings. The country is a member of the European Union, as well as the eurozone.
Latvia has been a famous ancient trading point. The famous route from the Vikings to the Greeks mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory, along the Daugava River, to Kiev Rus and the Byzantine Empire. Throughout the European continent, the coast of Latvia was known as a place to obtain amber, which was more valuable than gold in many places during the Middle Ages. Latvian amber was known as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In the 12th century, German merchants arrived, bringing missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes to the Christian faith. The Germans founded Riga in 1201, making it the largest and most powerful city on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
After gaining independence in 1918, Latvia achieved considerable results in social development, economy, industry, and agriculture. On June 16, 1940, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov presented an ultimatum to the Latvian representative in Moscow, accusing Latvia of violating a pact and conspiring against the Soviet Union. Soviet forces invaded Latvia shortly thereafter and "people's governments" were formed to provide legal backing for a total seizure of power, followed by Latvia's incorporation into the Soviet Union on August 5, 1940. Nazi Germany occupied the country the following year, ruling Latvia until the Soviet Red Army reoccupied the country in 1944. Both Nazi Germany and the USSR under Stalin were extremely brutal and murderous during their rule: the Nazis and their local collaborators murdered more than 90,000 Latvians, including 75,000 Latvian Jews, while the Soviets, who also have local collaborators, dumped more than 90,000 Latvians at the Siberian gulags, many of whom never returned, and arrested many thousands locally, many of whom were shot or tortured. During the time of the Iron Curtain, when Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. All contacts with the West were heavily regulated during that period and anyone who might have any contact with someone abroad could be the subject of conspiracy charges against the state. The Baltic region had a reputation for having the highest literacy rate and the most urbanized in the Soviet Union. of whom many never returned, and many thousands were arrested locally, and many were shot or tortured. During the time of the Iron Curtain, when Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. All contacts with the West were heavily regulated during that period and anyone who might have any contact with someone abroad could be the subject of conspiracy charges against the state. The Baltic region had a reputation for having the highest literacy rate and the most urbanized in the Soviet Union. of whom many never returned, and many thousands were arrested locally, and many were shot or tortured. During the time of the Iron Curtain, when Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. All contacts with the West were heavily regulated during that period and anyone who might have any contact with someone abroad could be the subject of conspiracy charges against the state. The Baltic region had a reputation for having the highest literacy rate and the most urbanized in the Soviet Union. All contacts with the West were heavily regulated during that period and anyone who might have any contact with someone abroad could be the subject of conspiracy charges against the state. The Baltic region had a reputation for having the highest literacy rate and the most urbanized in the Soviet Union. All contacts with the West were heavily regulated during that period and anyone who might have any contact with someone abroad could be the subject of conspiracy charges against the state. The Baltic region had a reputation for having the highest literacy rate and the most urbanized in the Soviet Union.
Due to the tribal past and the division between occupying nations over the years, there are regional differences between parts of Latvia that can be interesting to explore.
Economy
Latvia regained its independence on August 21, 1991. Between 1991 and 2007, the country enjoyed unprecedented economic growth. The global recession and financial crisis hit Latvia hard in 2008, causing severe economic downturn and high unemployment rates. The country's economy took until 2017 to fully recover.
Due to the improving economy and growth, there has been a large turnover of stores. If you want to visit a shop, cafe or restaurant that you have visited 10-15 years ago or more, the possibility that the supplier is out of business or transformed into another line of business is very high, especially in Riga. The prices of locally produced products have risen considerably since the introduction of the euro in 2014.
Weather
The best time to travel to Latvia is during the summer, from June to early September, as it is hot during that period (around 15 ° C to 20 ° C) and there are various local foods available. While early December is typically mild and temperatures remain above freezing, snowfall can be expected during the winter season, January and February, and temperatures can drop to around -30 ° C for short periods. of time. Springs and autumns are quite mild.
Geography
Half of Latvia is covered with forests rich in wildlife. There are also many small lakes scattered throughout the country, especially in the southeastern region of Latgale. You can see valleys carved by rivers with sections with sand cliffs on their banks. When heavy industry stopped a while ago, most places are ecologically clean.
Latvia is generally flat and does not feature tall mountains like those seen in the Alps. The highest point in Latvia is Gaizinkalns, peaking at 312 m (1,023 ft) above sea level, just west of the city of Madona in central Latvia.
Regions
There are several official and unofficial ways how the country is divided into regions. Most commonly, Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, and Latgale are separated as the main regions. Riga, which is otherwise considered part of Vidzeme, is often divided into a separate region, either by the city limits or by the limits of the Riga Planning Region, which includes a larger surrounding area.
Although the social and cultural differences between the regions of Latvia are not great, they still exist. An example of this is the Latgale region, which was separated from the rest of the Latvian regions for several centuries by borders, culturally, religiously and linguistically.
Most locals will assume that the city of Riga is spoken of alongside the suburbs rather than the official larger planning region when the Riga region is mentioned.
The administrative planning regions of Latvia
Riga region (Riga, Jūrmala, Sigulda)
| The central region is home to about half of the Latvian population. It has white sand beaches with pine trees and wooded dunes. |
Vidzeme (Cēsis, Ligatne, Madonna)
| The north-central Vidzeme region features the longest Latvian river, Gauja, the highest point in Latvia, Gaiziņkalns, the largest cave in Latvia, Gūtmaņala, Gauja National Park and other attractions. |
Kurzeme (Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga)
| The western Kurzeme region has direct access to the Baltic Sea. Kurzeme allows visitors to experience local heritage: ancient fishing villages and the culture of the Livonian people, and a Viking settlement. |
Zemgale (Jelgava)
| The south-central region of Zemgale is the flattest region in Latvia, historically known to be a great region for all agricultural needs. |
Latgale (Daugavpils)
| The eastern region of Latgale is famous for its lakes and beautiful nature. Once lively and the most diverse part of Latvia, it has now become quite a peripheral part of Latvia with few tourists. A mix of Latin, Russian and Jewish cultures is found in the heart of this region. |
Cities
- Riga - The capital of Latvia and the European Capital of Culture in 2014 with a long history.
- Sigulda- a city in the center of Latvia with many interesting castles and historical points of interest. Probably the most popular destination outside of Riga for foreign tourists, also due to its proximity.
- Cēsis : one of the oldest cities in the country. It has an impressive complex of castles originating from the Livonian order, a charming city center with some cobbled streets and historic wooden buildings.
- Jūrmala - A popular holiday town and spa town with wooden houses west of Riga, which claims to have the longest beach in northern Europe. Very popular with Russian tourists and other Eastern European tourists.
- Daugavpils : the second largest city in Latvia, after Riga. It is a green, spacious, delightfully charming city with the largest fortress in Europe, which has weathered many wars and remains largely unchanged since its construction in the 19th century.
- Ventspils - A modern and artistic spa town in the northwestern part of Latvia, it has many things to see and is one of the most orderly places in the region. A long beach and recreational park offer everything you need for a relaxing week or weekend of vacation. It derives its prosperity from the huge ice-free port, which is the busiest port in the Baltic states, and from the oil transit business.
- Liepāja - Named "the city of the wind", and the most southwestern city of Latvia. Famous for its sandy beach, numerous musical events and the largest organ in the world. It has modern architecture and a long history along with the former secret Soviet military district of Karosta (literally:port of war).
- Kuldīga - The capital of the Duchy of Curonian, Venice of Latvia, with unique and wooden architecture, red tile roofs, bridges, cobbled streets, the widest waterfall ledge in Europe and close to the labyrinth of underground (sand) caves more along the Baltic.
- Madonna: a picturesque town surrounded by hills, forests and lakes, and a winter sports center.
Other destinations
- The great wasteland of Ķemeri
- Slīteres National Park
To get
Visas
Latvia is a member of the Schengen Agreement.
- There are normally no border controls between the countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. This includes most of the European Union and some other countries.
- Usually there are identity checks before boarding international flights or ships. Sometimes there are temporary border controls at land borders.
- Also, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and the treaty implemented.
- See Traveling the Schengen area for more information on how the program works, which countries are members, and what are the requirements for your nationality.
By plane
Riga International Airport (RIXIATA) is the only airport in Latvia that offers regular international flights and is 10 km southwest of Riga. Bus 22 operates on a route from the airport to the center of Riga (and vice versa), a driver's ticket costs € 2. There are several other methods of transportation available at the location, such as taxis. For more information on how to fly to and from the airport, see Riga # Get_in.
Alternatively, you can fly to Kaunas in Lithuania and take the Flybus to Riga.
By train
LDZ Cargo operates international trains to Riga from Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia with stops in Rezekne and Jekabpils, as well as trains to and from Minsk in Belarus. The national train company AS "Pasazieru vilciens" (in English: company "Passenger Trains") operates trains to and from Valga, Estonia, from where it can connect to Tallinn. Rail service between Latvia and Lithuania is suspended for the foreseeable future due to railBaltica track improvements (as of August 2017).
If you are traveling by train through Daugavpils on your way to or from Riga, you may need to spend the night in Daugavpils for the connection. For that reason, it is best to take a bus or plane when traveling between Riga and Vilnius.
By bus
There are international bus connections to anywhere in Europe, including frequent service to Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia, and Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania.
Notable bus route operators:
- Ecolines
- Eurolines Lux Express offers free coffee and more legroom than Simple Express service
- Flybus connects Riga and Kaunas and Vilnius
- FlixBus has buses from Tallinn, Warsaw, Vilnius and Kaunas to Riga
Boat
- Tallink silja operates ferries between Stockholm, Sweden and Riga. One-way travel time is 18 hours. In addition to regular round-trip tickets, with or without a car, Tallink Silja also offers a "Riga Day Cruise" to pedestrians, arriving at 11:00 and departure at 16:30 from Riga the same day. Tickets start at € 45 on weekdays and € 70 on weekends and include a bed in a stateroom. The ferry terminal is a five-minute walk from Riga's Old Town.
- Stena line operates ferries between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils and between Travemünde, Germany and Liepāja. The one-way travel time is 8½ hours from Sweden and 27 hours from Germany. Stena Line offers regular round-trip tickets, with or without a car. A round trip for pedestrians on the line from Sweden starts at € 34, with bicycle at € 40 per round trip. A recliner in a quiet room costs € 10 extra for both directions. Pets are welcome, but a pet cabin is required at no additional charge for a regular cabin.
- DFDS - Operates ferries between Karlshamn, Sweden and Klaipeda, Lithuania. An alternative route if you are coming from Denmark or the southernmost part of Sweden. Klaipėda is only 50 km from the border with Latvia heading north on the A13 national road. The one-way travel time is 14 or 16 hours depending on the departure. DFDS offers regular round-trip tickets, with or without a car. A round trip for pedestrians starts at € 86; with bicycle at € 106 round trip.
Tip! Although all ferries have an onboard shop and may label their offers "duty free", you may want to save your purchases for the return trip. Many of the offerings are very likely to be priced lower in Latvia, especially if they are produced locally. Memorize or write down the prices of the ferry shop and compare them with the prices of the same products in Latvia.
For those traveling by private boat, regular marinas are very few and far between (2019).
- Kuiviži, a small town in the Bay of Riga, at the mouth of the Krišupe; Kapteiņu osta
- Riga the capital of Latvia; the City Yacht Club is just across the old town on the Daugava River
- Jūrmala, Marina Jurmala is located on the Lielupe River.
- Ventspils on the west coast, Ventspils Marina
- Pāvilosta, a small town on the west coast, at the mouth of the Saka; Pāvilosta marina
It might be possible to arrange something with the authorities of other ports.
- Salacgrīva
- Skulte
- Saulkrasti
- Engure
- Mērsrags
- Red
- Liepāja
By car
The road known as Via Baltica connects Warsaw, Poland and Tallinn, Estonia through Kaunas, Lithuania and Riga.
Driver's license
If you have a driver's license issued by another country in the European Union, you can use it continuously in Latvia as well as in the issuing country. According to the law, residents of other countries must obtain a Latvian driver's license after having lived in Latvia for 6 months, however, this only involves a theoretical exam, which can be taken in English, German, French or Russian.
Travel
In Latvian, the word for street (as in street names) is iela. An example is Brīvības iela, which translates to Freedom street.
By car
National and regional roads in Latvia have undergone an upgrade process since accession to the European Union. All national roads are paved and marked in red with the numbers from A1 to A15. Most of the national roads are also part of the European road network. 84% of the regional roads are paved and marked in blue with numbers from P1 to P133. 78% of local roads are gravel roads and are marked in gray with numbers V1 to V1489, on maps, but not necessarily in real life. There are no motorways in Latvia.
All gas stations in the country are self-service and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cirkle K , Neste Y Viada They operate gas stations across the country, and there are also many local businesses. Diesel fuel and gasoline with octane numbers of 95 and 98 are widespread. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, autogāze ) is also quite common. Electric cars are not very widespread as the network of charging stations has not yet developed to be viable for informal everyday use.
International car rental companies are represented and there are also cheaper rental companies. There are many offices around Riga, including some at Riga airport. You can see the list on the Riga International Airport website.
The standard speed limits for motorcycles, cars and trucks without a trailer with a total weight of less than 7.5 t are 50 km / h on urban roads, 90 km / h on non-urban roads and 80 km / h on gravel roads not urban. unless otherwise stated on traffic signs. Traffic control cameras ( fotoradars) are signposted and posted throughout the national territory. It is common practice that local (slower) speed limits are only signed where they start and not where they end. Although it is allowed to drive at 80 km / h on gravel roads, it is very uncomfortable to do so. The gravel also varies and in some sections it can be a very bumpy ride and also very dusty when the weather is dry. When planning your trip, ask someone who knows if the shortest route is gravel or not. Sometimes it may be faster to drive a longer trip on a paved road compared to a shorter route on a gravel road.
In Latvia, an illuminated green arrow traffic light, no matter which way you turn, does not yield step , which is different from other European countries. The green arrow sign allows passage only when the path is clear, without having to wait for a proper green sign. Trams (trams) have priority on the way and a fine may be imposed for obstructing their passage. A tram is not allowed to pass when it is stopped at a stop on the route where people have to cross the street from the sidewalk.
Finding a place to park is quite easy in Latvia, except in the capital, Riga, where rates apply in the city center. There is disc parking in some cities in Latvia.
The driving culture in Latvia is quite aggressive and dangerous. Almost none of the national and regional roads outside the Riga metropolitan area have emergency stop lanes (hard shoulders) along the road. You will quickly realize that you may be the only one adhering to the standard speed limits, many heavy trucks drive at 90 km / h. Some drivers with powerful cars insist on passing at the slightest chance of passing, even if there is no clear view of incoming traffic. There is much less traffic during the afternoons and nights.
Legal requirements
Headlights should be on while driving year-round. Tires intended for use in winter are mandatory from December 1 to March 1. The use of studded tires is prohibited from May 1 to October 1. The use of seat belts is mandatory for both drivers and passengers. Children who are not taller than 150 cm must be transported in a suitable child seat or on a suitable support. Drivers cannot use a mobile phone while driving unless a hands-free system is used. The permitted alcohol level is up to 0.5 ‰, but up to 0.2 ‰ for beginners with a driving license of less than 2 years. The car registration documents (tehniskā pass) must be available when driving.
By train
The train network is quite strong in Latvia and connects larger cities. The rolling stock is of Soviet origin, although part of it was remodeled to make it more comfortable and pleasing to the eye. There are three steps when you get on board and the train shakes and rumbles quite a bit as it moves. The passenger cars of the national lines are of the open coach type, while those of the international lines are of the closed compartment type.
The national lines that operate daily are those between Riga and Skulte, Sigulda, Krustpils, Jelgava and Tukums (via Jūrmala). Other destinations are less frequent. The west coast of Latvia has a rather poor service with only one departure per week between Riga and Liepāja. The national train service is provided by the company Pasažieru vilciens ("Passenger train"). Timetables with information on prices are also available at 1188.lv .
Trains can be cheaper than other methods of transportation, and you generally don't need to worry about them being packed, except possibly on some peak days during the summer season.
There are several stations in Riga on both sides of the Daugava river, the central station ( Rīgas Centrālā stacija or Rīgas-Pasažieru ) is the one next to the old town. Jūrmala also has several stations. The Majori station is the one you need to go to the beaches and the city center of Jūrmala. The Ķemeri station in western Jūrmala is the closest to the national park. Jēkabpils is on the other side of the Daugava River when you get off at Krustpils station.
You can buy a train ticket before boarding the train at the station or you can buy one on the train from the staff. The ticket offices of some smaller stations may open late and close early or be closed for breaks during the day, generally due to the lack of passengers leaving these stations at those times. A train schedule will be available at the box office. Tickets can also be purchased online, but you still need to pick up the paper tickets at the station, which can cause problems if it is not planned.
There is a narrow gauge railway that operates between the cities of Gulbene and Alūksne in northeastern Latvia. Along the route, there are several tourist-oriented points of interest.
By bus
Bus routes are served by several private companies that differ between regions, unlike trains. Bus connections are spread across the country and getting around by bus is usually pretty straightforward. The best way to receive information about buses in Latvia is through the inquiry service 1188.lv, the Autoosta website or at a local bus station. Express buses connect major cities and serve with a reduced number of stops along the way and can save time.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices, on the buses when boarding, or online. If you buy tickets in advance, it can usually be done up to 10 days before departure. Luggage can be placed in the trunk of the bus, which may even be necessary depending on the bus company and the size of the suitcase. You may be charged extra and receive an additional ticket or luggage voucher, depending on company policies.
If you plan to leave Riga on Friday or Saturday, the buses may be crowded as traveling by bus is the most common method of traveling between cities in many regions and many depart from Riga at the weekend. If you buy a ticket at the ticket office of the bus station that you leave beforehand during this period, you can board the bus before everyone else.
Some bus operators provide WiFi access on board, which is generally free and provides good coverage throughout the trip.
In taxi
Shared transportation service is available in Latvia and the following are the most anticipated providers:
- Bolt. It includes many cities. (updated July 2020)
- Yandex.Taxi .A Russian company that offers cheap rates. Services available in Riga. (updated July 2020)
Boat
Sailing is for well-off Latvians and regular marinas are few and far between and still in their infancy. The City Yacht Club Riga is located across the old town on the Daugava River. Marina Jurmala in Jūrmala it is on the Lielupe River. The marina of Pāvilosta and the Ventspils marina se found on the west coast of Latvia. It might also be possible to arrange something with the authorities of other ports. There is no public transport by boat between the ports of Latvia.
If you go from Riga to Jūrmala during the summer, a very romantic way is to travel on river cruises: mainly double-decker motor boats with a capacity of about 60 to 100 people. They usually leave central Riga in the morning and return in the afternoon. There are cruises on the Riga Canal, passing through the Daugava River. Inquire at the tourist information center for details and prices.
Cycling
Cycling is generally not the safest method of getting around the country, especially at night.
Pedal early in the morning to avoid most of the traffic. The main rush hour when you can expect the highest traffic is from 17:00 to 20:00.
There aren't many bike lanes across the country, so you may find yourself biking near cars a lot. When in cities, many locals cycle along the pedestrian paths to avoid traffic. Some sidewalks around Riga have markings that are divided into one side for cyclists and the other for pedestrians, but this is rarely the case in other cities in the country. You will probably find people who do not respect brands.
Your bike must be equipped with reflective lighting, headlights and taillights. Wear reflective clothing, especially if you are cycling after dark.
The international BaltiCCycle project can provide you with useful information.
An interesting option may be to travel on a guided bike tour. Companies that offer bike tours in the region include UTracks.
By thumb
Hitchhiking in Latvia is generally a good way to get around. You may encounter some difficulties if your destination is not on the way to a bigger city. Your main difficulty may be getting around Riga, as there is no clear ring road. The amount of local traffic can make hitchhiking very difficult, as locals often stop in Riga.
Drivers may be hesitant to pick up tourists they expect to speak only English, which many Latvians do not understand. It is more difficult than other Eastern European countries to hitchhike in Latvia.
Therefore, success is very volatile. You might get lucky in 10 minutes (along the bigger roads), or you might just wait an hour and a half without anyone stopping, especially in remote areas with less traffic. Don't count on being picked up eventually, but make sure you know when the last bus leaves.
By plane
Air Baltic flies between Rīga and Liepāja three times a week.
On foot and navigation
Latvia has many scenic 1-3 day hiking trails and is very popular with cyclists. For reliable (offline) maps of the region and full map information, check out OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile apps such as OsmAnd (complex with many plugins) and MAPS.ME (easy but limited).
To buy
The capital of Latvia, Riga is a city with a lot of life and entertainment. In addition, you can buy souvenirs from the trip and for family and friends. Latvia uses the euro as the only official currency.
The capital of Latvia, Riga is a city with a lot of life and entertainment. In addition, you can buy souvenirs from the trip and for family and friends. Latvia uses the euro as the only official currency.
Money
| Euro exchange rates As of June 23, 2020:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Las tasas actuales para estas y otras monedas están disponibles en XE.com |
Letonia usa el euro , like several other European countries. One euro is divided into 100 cents. The official symbol of the euro is € and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for the penny.
All the notes and coins of this common currency are legal tender in all countries, except that in some of them the small denomination coins (one and two cents) are eliminated. Banknotes look the same in all countries, while coins have a common standard design on the reverse, expressing value, and a country-specific national design on the obverse. The obverse is also used for different commemorative coin designs. The design of the obverse does not affect the use of the coin.
Latvijas Banka (el Banco Nacional de Letonia) es el único lugar donde puede obtener monedas conmemorativas de dos euros a valor nominal y cambiar billetes en euros por billetes en euros de menor o mayor denominación sin tener que pagar una tarifa. Esto se puede hacer en las sucursales de Riga y Liepāja. La oficina del cajero de Latvijas Banka en Riga también intercambia lats letones emitidos de 1993 a 2013 a un tipo fijo frente al euro.
The tiendas libres de impuestos tienen sus letreros claramente expuestos.
Los cajeros automáticos están ampliamente disponibles en toda Letonia, incluso en el aeropuerto internacional de Riga e incluso en muchas ciudades pequeñas.
Los bancos aceptarán cheques de viaje con una tarifa, generalmente igual o superior al 1% del monto intercambiado o 10 € fijos.
CIIU
Si eres estudiante de la UE, trae tu ISIC. Muchos lugares (museos, autobuses, etc.) en Letonia tienen grandes descuentos para estudiantes de la UE con un ISIC.
Tips
La cultura de las propinas de los letones es generalmente bastante reservada; normalmente, redondear la cuenta (alrededor del 5-10%) es suficiente, pero no se espera. Asegúrese de verificar su recibo, ya que algunos (pero pocos) establecimientos pueden incluir automáticamente una propina en la factura como cargo por servicio. The propinas son dzeramnauda (dinero para beber) en letón y чаевые en ruso (dinero para té).
Shopping
- Ámbar .Se vende en la mayoría de las tiendas de souvenirs. Si tiene suerte, algunas veces se pueden encontrar en la costa del Mar Báltico después de una tormenta. Tenga cuidado al buscar ámbar en las playas del oeste de Letonia: el mar cerca de Liepāja está contaminado con fósforo, que se ve exactamente igual, pero puede incendiarse después de secarse.
- Cerámica ahumada (negra) ,Región de Latgale.
- Joyas de plata .
- Pirts (sauna estilo letón) artículos. Aceites fragantes, cremas de masaje a base de miel y hierbas, tapones de fieltro para sauna, destinados a proteger las proteínas del cabello en el calor extremo, y varios otros artículos. Edit
- Mitones con adornos .Hecho a mano, representando la cultura tradicional. Edit
- Productos de lana .Zapatillas y zapatos de interior, chalecos, chaquetas, gorros, etc. Edit
- Pan oscuro (centeno) (Rupjmaize). Da más energía que el pan blanco común (trigo). Es mejor comprarlos frescos y no almacenarlos durante períodos de tiempo demasiado largos. Edit
- Bálsamo negro de Riga (Rīgas Melnais balzams), ☏ [81213], sin cargo: [80099990], fax : 371673 15265, ✉ [[1]] .Un licor de hierbas tradicional de Letonia elaborado con muchos ingredientes naturales. Se dice que la receta original de Abraham Kunze, un boticario, curó la misteriosa enfermedad de visitar a Catalina la Grande en 1755.
- Productos apícolas .Miel de diversos tipos, como con nueces, polen de abeja, propóleo y velas de cera de abejas son solo algunos de los diversos productos locales que se pueden adquirir.
- Laima ,☏ [80301], fax : 371670 80 332, ✉ [[2]] .El principal productor de dulces de Letonia. Los productos están disponibles en casi todos los supermercados y tiendas de conveniencia en todo el país, con tiendas especializadas Laima en las ciudades más grandes. Edit
Las tiendas especializadas abren principalmente de 08:00 a 18:00 de lunes a viernes, de 08:00 a 16:00 los sábados y cierran los domingos. Las tiendas de comestibles y los supermercados abren todos los días. Algunos cierran a las 20:00, mientras que otros, especialmente los grandes supermercados, cierran más tarde, como las 24:00. Las tiendas de conveniencia, como Narvesen, suelen estar abiertas las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana.
Aibe, Maxima, Mego, Super netto Y top! tenemos tiendas de conveniencia y supermercados en toda Letonia, Rimi en y alrededor de Riga.
Eat and drink
To eat
La cocina letona es típica de la región báltica y, en general, de los países del norte, y especialmente similar a la cocina finlandesa (ver Cocina nórdica ). Tiene un alto contenido de mantequilla y grasa, mientras que se mantiene bajo en especias, excepto la pimienta negra, el eneldo o los granos / semillas, como las semillas de alcaravea. Si es del Mediterráneo, puede que la comida le resulte bastante insípida, pero si viene de Inglaterra o del Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos, probablemente no tendrá problemas para acostumbrarse a la mayoría de los platos.
La cocina letona se originó en la cultura campesina y está fuertemente basada en cultivos que crecen en el clima templado marítimo de Letonia. La cocina letona ofrece una gran variedad de pan y productos lácteos, que son alimentos básicos. Productos de cerdo, patatas, centeno o trigo, avena, guisantes, remolacha, repollo son los alimentos básicos. La carne, especialmente el cerdo, aparece en la mayoría de los platos principales. A veces, incluso algunos platos sin carne se pueden cocinar con grasa de tocino. Pero el pescado también se consume comúnmente debido a la ubicación de Letonia en la costa este del Mar Báltico y la herencia de Livonia: el pescado ahumado y crudo es bastante común.
Comidas
Los letones contemporáneos suelen comer tres comidas al día. El desayuno suele ser ligero y suele consistir en sándwiches o una tortilla, con una bebida, a menudo leche. El almuerzo se come de 11:00 a 15:00 y suele ser la comida principal del día; como tal, puede incluir una variedad de alimentos y, a veces, también sopa como entrada y postre. La cena es la última comida del día, y algunos eligen comer otra comida abundante. El consumo de comidas preparadas o congeladas es ahora común.
Tipo de lugares
Es importante tener en cuenta que en Letonia todo el concepto y significado de las palabras cafetería (kafejnīca), cantina (ēdnīca) Y restaurante (restorāns) es diferente a la de otros países. Una kafejnīca (cafetería) no es solo una cafetería y generalmente sirve todo tipo de comidas que se esperaría de un restaurante con la diferencia de que en una kafejnīca es un lugar de comida de clase baja donde generalmente no tendrá servicio de mesa y tendrá menos servicio en general. Una ēdnīca (cantina) se referirá a una cantina para escuelas, universidades, fábricas y similares. Suelen ser muy baratos pero a veces pueden tener un acceso limitado. Un restorāns (restaurante) generalmente se considera una instalación intelectual, mientras que es similar a un kafejnīca, los estándares de servicio y cultura para un restorāns son mucho más altos. La línea entre ser un kafejnīca y un restaurador puede ser muy delgada en algunos casos.
En los mercados al aire libre de Riga y otras ciudades y pueblos, se pueden comprar frutas, verduras y setas locales. Algunos ejemplos son las fresas silvestres y los arándanos recién cosechados de los bosques locales, las fresas grandes, las manzanas y las tartas de ruibarbo. Tenga en cuenta que, por supuesto, estos están disponibles principalmente durante las temporadas de verano y otoño.
Harinas de carne
Karbonāde (schnitzel de cerdo), karbonāde ar kaulu (chuletas de cerdo a la parrilla) y cūkas stilbs (codillo de cerdo) son los favoritos de todos los tiempos.
Guarniciones
Los kartupeļi (papas) se sirven con todo y generalmente se hierven, se fríen, se hierven y luego se fríen o se hacen puré. A veces se come griķi (trigo sarraceno hervido) en lugar de patatas; es muy sabroso con skābais krējums (crema agria). Kāposti (repollo) también juega un papel importante en la mayoría de las comidas de Letonia. A veces se sirve frío como ensalada o caliente como guarnición como skābie kāposti (kraut amargo). Pelēkie zirņi (guisantes grises) es otra guarnición que vale la pena probar: los guisantes grandes, redondos de color marrón grisáceo se hierven y luego se fríen con tocino y generalmente se sirven con kéfir o crema agria.
Productos lácteos
Letonia es mucho más rica en productos lácteos que otros países occidentales. Biezpiens (que es quark), skābais krējums (crema agria), kefīrs y muchas variedades de quesos con diferentes sabores. Un queso similar al gouda ahumado, pero más suave, es la variedad más barata y, posiblemente, la más sabrosa. Hay varios sabores disponibles para comprar en la mayoría de las tiendas de comestibles. Una especialidad de Letonia es la biezpiena sieriņš, que es un quark con un sabor dulce (los fabricantes más populares de la botana son Kārums Y Baltais ).
Un queso tradicional de Letonia que se muestra en la imagen de la derecha es el Jāņu siers (queso de alcaravea); esto se sirve tradicionalmente durante la celebración de Jāņi o pleno verano.
Sopas
Las sopas se hacen comúnmente con verduras y caldo o leche. Los letones suelen consumir frikadeļu zupa (sopa de albóndigas), sopa de fideos, zirņu zupa (sopa de guisantes), biešu zupa (sopa de remolacha), sopa de acedera y sopa de ortiga. Hay una sopa fría de remolacha especial ( aukstā biešu zupa ) que se puede preparar de varias maneras y está hecha para adaptarse a un día caluroso de verano.
Sweet
El plato letón más tradicional y exótico es el zupa de maíz (literalmente "sopa de pan"), que es la sopa dulce hecha de pan de centeno y frutas. Además, la biezpiena sieriņš ya mencionada es bastante dulce y sabrosa. Zefīrs es un tipo de dulce suave tipo malvavisco. Realmente vale la pena probar Rabarberu pirāgs (pastel de ruibarbo).
Los dos principales fabricantes de dulces locales, Laima Y Skrīveru Saldumi, son bien conocidos y ofrecen una variedad de dulces que van desde barras de chocolate de varios tipos, hasta dulces, mermeladas, frutas en chocolate, galletas y más. Viene con acristalamiento y sin, en varios gustos. Vale la pena probar un dulce de caramelo llamado gotiņa (traducido como vaca pequeña ). Estas dos empresas venden algunos de sus dulces en bonitos paquetes de regalo, que pueden ser útiles para llevarse recuerdos a casa. La fábrica de chocolate Emihls Gustavs Chocolate en Riga es más exclusiva y cara. Tienen tiendas en los grandes centros comerciales de Riga y hacen pequeñas esculturas de diferentes formas de chocolate.
Panes
The pan negro letón (centeno) es pesado y sabroso y va bien con comidas letones abundantes como sopa de guisantes, patatas y escalopes. Se cree que es más saludable que el pan blanco. Rupjmaize es un pan negro hecho con centeno, y se considera un alimento básico nacional y debe probarse. El maíz Saldskābā es un pan elaborado con una mezcla de centeno y trigo.
Los pīrādziņi son bollos rellenos de tocino y cebolla. Una muestra clásica de la cocina letona. Kliņģeris es un pan dulce con forma de pretzel que generalmente se sirve como postre en ocasiones especiales, como el día del santo .
Platos tradicionales
Si quieres probar algunos platos realmente tradicionales, prueba estos:
- patatas hervidas con quark
- besos de avena y guisantes
- guisantes grises con grasa de cerdo salada (lomo graso)
- siļķu pudiņš (cazuela de arenque y patatas hervidas)
- sklandrausis (o sklandu rausis ) es un plato tradicional de la cocina letona que tiene un origen livonio; es un pastel dulce, hecho de masa de centeno y relleno de pasta de patata y zanahoria y sazonado con alcaravea
- asins pankūkas (panqueques hechos con sangre)
- maizes zupa (sopa de pan dulce)
- sopas frías
Para vegetarianos y veganos
Las frutas y verduras de esta región son en su mayoría orgánicas, porque a menudo son productos de cosecha propia de baja eficiencia.
Otro
Algunos otros alimentos dignos de mención:
- Kissel ( Ķīselis ). Frutas espesas y guisadas (generalmente cereza o ruibarbo). Servido de postre.
- Alforfón ( Griķi ). Comido como plato principal.
- Chucrut ( Skābēti kāposti ).
- Queso ahumado ( Kūpināts siers ). Va muy bien con el vino.
- Eel ( Zutis ).
- Chuleta ( Kotlete ).
- Salsa derebozuelos ( Gaileņu mērce ). La salsa de los rebozuelos comestibles en crema agria. Suele acompañarse de patatas.
- Arenque con requesón (Siļķe ar biezpienu). El requesón se sirve a un lado.
To drink
La cerveza (alus) es generalmente la bebida alcohólica preferida por la mayoría de los letones. Aldaris y Līvu son las principales grandes fábricas de cerveza de Letonia, pero las fábricas de cerveza locales como Užavas, Bauskas y Piebalgas existen en todo el país y no deben olvidarse. También se le sugiere que pruebe el Bálsamo Negro de Riga destilado localmente (Rīgas Melnais balzams). Es una infusión de varias hierbas, raíces y especias, por lo que es un buen remedio casero para el resfriado común. Por sí solo es bastante fuerte (45% de alcohol por volumen) y se puede tomar agregando un toque para darle sabor a su té, como unas cucharadas para amarrar su café o mezclarse en varios cócteles. A pesar de que Letonia está bastante al norte, las uvas todavía se pueden cultivar con éxito para la elaboración de vino, aunque el vino La producción en Letonia generalmente ocurre en pequeñas cantidades, hay algunas bodegas y viñedos locales.
Algunos lugares posibles para relajarse:
- Rīvas krogs, Labrags, Jūrkalne (en la autopista Liepāja-Ventspils), ☏ [26 140 577]. Un pequeño pub con un entorno relajante: una cascada y un puente de madera cerca. Edit
- La cocina de la bruja (Raganas es), Ragana (en el cruce con las carreteras Limbaži y Turaida en la autopista Riga-Valmiera), ☏ [72266] , [29117021], ✉ [[3]] .
