Daudz zābaku pa manu zemi staigā/A lot of boots are walking by my homeland.


Uff, I was not expecting to start the blog from such controversial topic. I’m not sure about correct translation to english, however originaly this is the name of the song that is written famous Latvian hard-rock band “Līvi”.

The song was originally written at the time of “Atmoda” (some information is given on the link), the time when Latvia gained the independence. The main theme is protest about the communiste regime and people who support it.

As fas as I observe the current situation in Latvia, the song is becoming actual and actual for me. Huh, I’m not talking about the collisions between latvian and russian organization (it is just another pain in ***). The topic that concerns my mind is foreing tourists in Latvia.

Actually you may divide all the tourist visiting Latvia to the two main groups, first group persons that are actually interested about country culture, history and inhabitants (mainly they are persons after ~50), second group persons that are going to Latvia to spend their money and get cheap enterntaiment, drinks, girls. I appreciate people from the first group, however second group is starting to annoy me more and more.

Well, low cost airlines, cheap alcohol and cheap girls are caused the storm of young human beings from the Britain islands every thursday/friday. Well their behaviour is described many times in different sources (even airlines magazines include information that Latvian Liberty Monument is not suitable place for toilet).
The main problem that is affecting me and I think normal tourirsts, that it is not possible to go trough Old Riga town, if you are not speaking latvian or russian. Because you will be insistently invited to spend your time with “beaty latvian girl”, even if you are not looking for such opportunity. If it is one time for a day, it is acceptable, but when for 1.5 hour you get ~5-6 invites, it is really disgusting. Normal tourists have spectacle that Latvia (Riga) is the big center of “specific” entertaiment. I do not like both of them uncultural foreigners and local pimps/girls, I’m not able to decide who provides more discomfort.
Heh off course if you will not go to Old Town you will not see both of them (ok, probably some girls are working near my work, however they are do not insist their services), but this is not the point…

13 responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Striped on August 31, 2007 at 9:48 am

    Klausoties dziesmu, man līdz šim neienāca prātā, par ko vispār iet runa… bet tūristu uzvedību var izskaidrot ar to, ka viņiem šeit nekas nedraud… sodi ir salīdzinoši nelieli (viens vakars pabā izmaksā divreiz dārgāk)… nu pat ja aizvedīs uz iecirkni, būs ko atcerēties mājās.

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  2. Posted by specificus on August 31, 2007 at 11:16 am

    It’s the same everywhere, isn’t it? Finns come to Vyborg just for the cheap petrol and vodka, and are found drunken and unconscious on the streets of the city. Poles come to Britain to work and everyone is annoyed how ‘uncultured’ and loud they are.

    I guess if government is allowing this, then blame the government. Surely policing the streets and stopping drunks, and people peeing on the monuments will help. Unfortunately, girls from Baltic states haven’t got very good reputation in Britain – a lot of them are coming there to work in escort agencies – so hence the idea that in their home country all the girls are doing the same.

    As for British love of the drink…. Well, they behave themselves the same way in their homeland. Get drunk, pee on the street, vomit on the street, go home. And are very nice and ‘cultured’ next morning.

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  3. Posted by bienebee on August 31, 2007 at 1:16 pm

    I’m registered wordpress.com member now! =)

    Reply

  4. The problem is – the government actually tolerates this shit, as it brings more money from the tourism industry. Every country now wants more tourists, as it is one of the best sources for foreign money.

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  5. Posted by Sergejs on August 31, 2007 at 6:41 pm

    specificus, I think they need visa to come to Vyborg, I’m not sure about the relations between Russia and Soumi. I do not mind if they only come for petrol and vodka (investments in Russian economy btw), however when old town is full of persons (male and female), who are offering services for non-native speaker, it is not very good.
    As Normis said, government is very patient to this problem, there are not any special laws, that may limit things like this, as more tourists more money (my position I do not mind about the tourists, even about “loud” tourists, I dislike the situation, when the main purpose to visit Latvia girls, and persons who are offering them at each corner.
    However, I believe
    Heh, the most interesting thing that I think there is always some policemen around Liberty monument, however they are not very active (I believe if person from Latvia would try to make the same thing, it might end even with jail).
    Poles are louder then Brits, heh interesting.

    Normis, OMFG I cannot imagine that such detailed guide might exist anywhere.

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  6. Posted by Smeerfs on September 4, 2007 at 2:03 pm

    uf, es nezinaaju ka ir blogs un veel anglju valodaa, bet gribeeju pateikt par dziesmu: Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Were Made For Walking 1966, shitaa zabaku dziesma man labaak patiik :))

    Reply

  7. Posted by Sergejs on September 4, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    Hmm, neatceros tadu dziesmu, iechekosim 🙂
    Hmm, kursh vai kura tad tu esi ?

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  8. Posted by Smerfs on September 4, 2007 at 2:13 pm

    hm, apsties e-pasta adresi, tad buus skaidrs (ja te tada ficha ir) :D, bet ja nee esmu tava darba kolege, kurai ir savs blogs un kura mitinaas ar gramatvedeem vienaa telpaa :DDDD. Tas principaa mans otrs neta segvaards

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  9. Posted by Sergejs on September 4, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    Tas ir tikais sakums.
    Tagad un pagaidam anglju valoda ir visvieglak, jo latvieshu man dazreiz radas probleemas ar garumzimem un veel citam lietam, krievu rakstishanu es jau pamazam aizmirsu, un anglju valoda ir valoda ar kuru sazinas cilveeki pasaulee, nu parsvara 🙂

    Reply

  10. Posted by Sergejs on September 4, 2007 at 2:16 pm

    Ak, jaa es aizmirsu, ka e-mail pazinojums nak, tagad es zinu, tikai Smerfs kaut ka vairak izklausas peec v. nickname, bet es tagad zinu 😀

    Reply

  11. Posted by Smerfs on September 4, 2007 at 2:23 pm

    Smeerfs ir ruukis :), tadaa arii taa doma masketies zem v.nickname. It ipashi oficialajos forumos, ja interesee noskaidrot kadu jautajumu, tad shis nickname ir ljoti noderiigs, jo meitenes tad izpaliidz, savukaart puishi nesaak noskaidrot telefonu nr. vai kaut ko taadu

    Reply

  12. Posted by Sergejs on September 4, 2007 at 2:29 pm

    heh, interesanta izveele 🙂 tatad zinaashu.

    Reply

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