Why Consider Buying Here Instead of other EU Countries
One of the obviously valid stereotypes about shopping in Europe is that everything is Hermes-level expensive. Okay, maybe if we are just imaging Paris as the ultimate European city, but for places around the Baltic region, it’s a yes and a no. Much to my surprise, Riga, Latvia has more inexpensive items to shop and bring back home, compared to other European cities that I have been to. It’s like buying stuff in Budapest, or maybe in Bucharest.
Souvenir hunting and all out shopping for stuff are better to do in Latvia because there are options that are considered cheap and reasonably priced. Some items are even more expensive in Singapore compared to Riga, so you can just imagine how accessible the kinds of stuff are here. We found ourselves packing an extra 3 KG of stuff, after doing our scouring and searching for items to bring back home, which of course is mostly for ourselves instead of things to give to our loved ones.
If you are wondering what to buy for yourself or perhaps as a gift for some distant future event, you better make that purchase in Riga. Funny thing, when we were scouring the city center and planning to just go window shopping, we ended up obtaining one too many souvenirs for ourselves. Yes, it’s because it’s way inexpensive for its excellent quality, and most of the items are quite unique to the rest of the things you most likely see around Europe.
You can always go to the traditional souvenir shops, where most of the items are crafty and ready to be given as a gift. On the other hand, if you like something a bit modern and practical, like me, I would recommend going to shopping malls and maybe choosing local retail brands. Surprisingly, there are a lot. Of course, food options too; convenience stores and groceries are your friends in Riga – there are a lot of local snacks and chocolates that are super cheap and easy to appreciate.
So more specifically on where exactly to buy souvenirs and shopping items? Yes, it’s still that seemingly tourist trap Old Town Riga, but to be honest, it’s not so trippy at all. Within and around the Old Town Riga, there are many stores like Sena Klets, Hobbywool, Upe Folk Music Store, Riga Balzams, and Art Nouveau Riga to keep you inspired. Also, you should check out these stores in particular as they offer really good keepsakes: Monogramma Antikvariats, Pienene, Stenders, Laima Chocolates.
It depends on what exactly you are looking for, but you wouldn’t mind buying any time of the year when you are visiting Riga. Funny thing is that if it’s peak season, meaning the festive seasons, although the prices get a bit hiked up, it’s also the time for most shops to go on holiday sale to attract more customers. With a bit of luck, much like how we experienced it when we visited, we were able to swipe and shower them with our cash because of the purchases. Lol.
The Ghost
Sculpture in Riga
Dementors have never been so immortalized other than in
the Harry Potter Series. To those Harry Potter fans out there, you know how much Remus Lupin described it in such
graphic detail, “Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk
this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and
despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them...
Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be
sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementors will feed on you long enough to reduce you to
something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but
the worst experiences of your life." I’m a huge fan of the third Harry Potter novel, so you can just imagine my horror… I
mean, shock, when I saw a similar one in Riga, Latvia’s capital.
Walking around Old Riga, you’ll immediately get a feeling that everything and
anything is walkable and within reach. All the historical buildings, must-visit markets,
and landmarks, are seemingly accessible on foot, rather than doing a hop-on
hop-off bus. Like for example, visiting the famous Three Brothers, which is inside the Old Town on Maza Pils street, is clearly walkable. Or what about
visiting the House of the Blackheads, which is also inside the Old Town at the Town
Hall Square. It’s this 1334 place is like the Eiffel Tower version of Riga, a famous landmark. But oddly enough, if you
are like me, who enjoys architecture, but prefers a bit of “surprise” here and
there, then Old Riga seems like a very predictable EU city already,
not until you find the Ghost Sculpture.
As we were aimlessly walking around the
labyrinth of streets in Old Riga, we were looking for a different landmark
when we suddenly spotted this ghostlike creature standing still. In a street
with zero people, and almost misty weather, you kind of hear some Dementor
background music playing inside your head, and you instantly feel like it’s
going to be a Birdbox movie scare or something. It’s not the same as a cemetery level
of chills, but it sure looks a bit eerie and somewhat evocative. Created by a
local artist known as Leva Rubeze,
you’ll be surprised to see it near a really small street, just near some old
garage, with a big wall behind it. It already looks creepy in the afternoon, especially
with a cold misty weather, but imagine seeing this Ghost Sculpture at night? Definitely worth taking a picture with,
right?
Riga is interesting to explore, be it via a (free guided tour), a
DIY trip, a bike ride tour, because it’s so easy to do a recap of all the
recommended places her, even if it’s as small and as spooky as the Ghost Sculpture. Maybe it’s not as all out scary as the
fictitious Dementors after all, but then again, it’ll be so
awesome to visit this in a cold winter rainy evening, just to give you the
right kind thrill extravaganza! Yes, you aren’t too scared right?
Latvian
War Museum
If you think that Saving
Private Ryan is
an uncompromising powerful war movie, then you definitely must experience your
inner military discovery by visiting the Latvian War Museum in Latvia’s capital, Riga city. You can just
imagine a quiet true-life recreation of the bravery and loss of the Latvian
culture, all thanks to Riga’s iconic cityscape must-visit. One cold winter
morning, our troop of travel brothers, minus the bloodied battle scars and
brutal faces, decided to spend a couple of hours inside this museum, which used
to be called as the Latvian Riflemen
Battalion Museum.
Located in the Powder Tower in Old Riga, this war museum in Latvia is known to be the biggest
military-inspired museum that boasts extensive historical collections about the
military and political situation of Latvia’s war stricken past. With over more
than 25,000 artifacts ranging from documents, orders, photos, weapons,
uniforms, and other interesting depictions about the Latvian war. Upon entering the museum, I couldn’t help but notice
how peaceful and empty the museum was; it feels so spacious and relaxed,
considering that it is a “war” place.
The 14th century Powder Tower, one of the former fortification towers of Riga, is a good venue for this museum, because it kind of feels like
you are in one of the hideout places during the olden times. Of course inside
you’ll see all the art of warfare during the first and second world wards, the
stuff from the Soviet occupation, Latvian armies and soldiers, and impressive
medals and military uniforms during that era. It brings back good memories of
your History classes, especially when you visit areas on The Defense of Latvia Republic (1920 –
1940), Latvia in World War II, and Latvians in Western Bloc Armed Forces.
If you are looking for that laid back yet
comprehensive take and trace of wars, the Latvia War Museum is worth visiting for sure. Did you know that
Latvians had been compelled to fight on both sides during the wars (Hitler era and Soviet Red army troops era). Knowing this, undeniably you’ll want
to get to know more about their history, especially through their permanent
exhibitions, which includes their independence in 1918 and 1991. Head down here
since the Admission is Free, so you
are encouraged to explore the place at your own pace. They offer guided tours
for 12 EUR for a group, though. And you can even grab some souvenirs while you’re
here. Overall, I would recommend the Latvia War Museum to be part of your itinerary, even for 1-2
hours of visit. It’s near cafes too, so you can grab a quick snack after your
visit. Have you had a chance to visit such
kind of museum that’s in a Powder Tower?
Address: 20, Smilsu Street, (Pulvertornis) Riga,
LV-1050 Latvia
Opening Hours: 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. April to October,
10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. November to March
Official Website: http://www.karamuzejs.lv/lkm/home.aspx?sc_lang=en
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatvijasKaraMuzejs
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