New Year 2010 Estonia and Latvia

Day 1 Helsinki-Tallinn December 29th

After arrive at the ferry terminal our guide from the Christmas tour handed over our ferry tickets and then left to get her own ferry home. We were to meet our next guide on the other side in the Tallinn port. We had some time to kill before getting on the ferry. There were 6 of us going on this next trip. The 5 of our friend group and 1 person from the tour a German named Christian he was a top guy.

Once it was time to board we went through with our packs on our backs and not done up properly as we thought it would be a short walk….we were wrong. The walk was so long to get on the boat and just when you thought it was over we turned a corner and had to go up an escalator. Finally getting on the boat we had missed out on all the good lounges. We found a small table we could sit around. With Kieran needing to lay down when we travel for long time on the ferry we went hunting and found a nice lounge she could chill on in the back of the boat. Unfortunately there was not enough room for the others. The boat ride was smooth and the 2 hrs didn’t feel that long at all. Arriving at the medieval capital of Estonia, Tallinn, we properly strapped on our bags for another lengthy walk off the boat and into the terminal. We found our guide, Kieran and I had previously met him when enquiring about the trip at the TNT travel show, so we knew who to look for.

Getting taxis into town and walking to our hostel, it was a really cool hostel with groovy art work all over the walls and cool mirrors. We dumped our bags and headed out for a walk around the town. That night we had dinner in a Russian restaurant.

Day 2 Tallinn December 30th
After breakfast we went on a city walk with our tour guide for the 5 days taking us on the walk. We had a nice long walk around the old town and its medieval streets. It is a very pretty on town. We finished off around lunch time. Been the English people we have turned into when on holidays you must consume alcohol with every meal. We found a nice restaurant a German pub. We had our few half steins and a shed load of meat. We felt sorry for our German companion but we really needed some meat and it was the best priced place we could find. After our lunch we headed for the city museum which turned out to be closing in 50 mins. Kieran and I decided not to go and we would walk around and look at the tourist shops. Getting briefly lost we eventually found our way and saw the things we wanted to. Heading back to the hostel for a warm up before going out to dinner and some more beers that night. For dinner that night we had seen a nice restaurant called Chicago’s. It looked pretty fancy but the prices were ok. We decided not to book a table and let fate decide. We dressed up walked all the way there. There was no one waiting at the door, no matradee so we walked in and thought it must be a ‘seat yourself’ place. This we tried but failed. We almost got a table only to be told it was reserved and they put the reserved sign on the wrong table. So we were kicked off. With that fine dining experience failed we tried to go to a authentic Estonian restaurant which upon arrival found it was full. While Shelley was inside finding out how long the wait would be we worked out the menu was pretty expensive. So instead we ended up at a snitzel house…..sorry to our new German friend. We ended the night we a few beers in a bar, amazingly this bar sold crown larger and VB….didn’t see anyone order a VB though!

Day 3 Tallinn-Riga New Years Eve December 31st
Heading for Riga from Tallinn by bus, we took a big taxi to the bus station as it was too far to walk. We had our bus tickets and we waiting for the deluxe bus to arrive. Being very sceptical of what a deluxe bus was in an eastern European country. We were surprised when we had loaded our bags and were looking for our seats to find out we were in a separate section to the others on the bus. Yes we had a glass/Perspex wall and door separating us from the commoners. We even had a 2 tables for the 8 of our seats which was perfect for card playing. No surprise to see that the people in the back section with us were all foreign tourists. It was probably the best bus journey I have ever had and definitely the best 5hr bus journey ever.

After arriving in Riga we walked to our hostel. Upon arrival at the hostel we each got a free beer (I got 2 cos Kieran doesn’t drink beer…score) and a talk about the city and other activities available. It was a bit annoying as all we wanted to do was to check in and have a shower and get ready for New Years eve party. Finally they could check us in we went got ready and then headed to our dinner for the 7 of us at an Irish bar which served Indian food. While eating our Kormas and Marsala’s we had the option of going on a river cruise or we could go back and go to the parties with the hostel. As the cruise was a taxi ride away and unsure of what the cruise consisted of we decided to go the way of the hostel. We got our free beers, tried to finish them before having to leave.

So the plan was to go with the hostel group to the park to ring in the new year, see the fireworks have some champagne and then head off to a club. We started to follow the crowd making sure our group stayed together. After the leaders were a bit unsure of where to go, we finally made it to the park with only 5 mins to go before the count down started!! Next thing we knew the count down had started and it was 2010. kissed and photos were had. Now it was time to go find this champagne we were told about. Finally finding the big group and having our 3 glasses we all headed off again as a big heard through the streets of Riga. We walked for what felt like 20 mins. Coming up to a hotel we though hmm the club must be around hear soon. Nope we were only at the hotel as they had a taxi rank. So they were putting everyone in a taxi to get to the clubs

As our guide had been there before he said we could probably just walk to one of the clubs on the sheet as he had been there before. Saying it was only 4 blocks away. What we didn’t realise was that a block is pretty big in Riga. We headed off and made our way to the club. It was pretty good a nice good size a couple of rooms but most of all it had dancing people and music, the best way to complete a new year eve.

Day 4 Riga New Years Day January 1st 2010
As all New Years days start for us, with a very long sleep if. Well if you can get it, it is long. This time we arrived back at 5am after getting a taxi from the club. We got up at 11 and went and got some lunch/breakfast back at the Irish pub cos we all know a full English fry up cures all aliments. The lunch took for ever to come and as a result we were late for our walking tour. The guide was happy to wait as it was all of us and 1 other person. We finally left the pub with food in our belly and ready for a day out in the cold.

The City walk went on for a long time. We saw a lot of sights and a lot of interesting buildings. I picked up only a little bit of history but not too much. We stopped at a café for some warmth and we tried some balsam it is a herbal liquor and doesn’t taste too bad but it is strong and I had mine in coffee which wasn’t the best idea I ever had on food decisions. Kieran had hers on ice cream and didn’t like the taste either. Maybe I will retract the it tastes ok and move that to the doesn’t taste to good at all basket.

After the walk was over we headed back to the hostel for a bit of warmth, we decided to go to a local restaurant which is said to be cheap for dinner. It was an interesting system. You just go through the food section like it was a buffet but everything you put on you plate has a cost so you might get a steak and chip and they will charge you for both items separately. So Kieran and I went up together and got a load of food including a beer and coke and it only came to £10 which I think was pretty good value. Desert only cost 50pence bargain.

We ended the night pretty early with a cocktail at the skybar or Riga which had views all around the city. Was a nice location and we were living it up with the high rollers of Riga…not that we were dressed fro the occasion.

We left the following day (January 2nd 2010) we had an early morning get up had leaving the hostel at 7:30am to go make our 11am flight home. The bus ride from our hostel to the airport only cost us 80pence. We were at the airport with time to spare was not held up and had an ok flight home. Sad to see the holiday over but was happy to wash our clothes again.

It was a wonderful 2 weeks off work and a great part of the world to see. I wonder how it would be in the summer with better weather but more people.