Latvia & Lithuania - Sept 2006

Earlier this month I was away with the Tartan Army to Latvia and then Lithuania to watch the Scotland game. I hadn't had a chance to update the blog as I was over in Ukraine so although it's a bit hazy, I'll try and write it up.

View Scott's photos

Sunday 3rd Sept - Arrival in Riga

We had been out on the Saturday to watch Scotland v Faroe Islands at Celtic Park and the next day we had the 6am flight to Riga. I'd gone home fairly early to back but Dave was a bit worse for wear.

After arriving in Riga and checking into our hotel in the old town, we headed out for a few beers. There was a party going on at the town square and it transpired that it was a celebration for the new semester at the university. Everyone was wearing orange hats and there was Latvian music and dancing followed by fireworks.

Fireworks at the square


It started raining so we went for a few drinks at the square we headed off to the John Lemmon Bar for a couple of pear ciders. Scott and I had were attempting to mix the Pixies on the PC they were using for the tunes in the bar and pissed off the barmaid. We ordered more pear cider which never arrived so we headed off to the Orange Bar where we crashed someone's birthday party.

It's all a bit hazy but I remember drinking Balsam - which was minging, Chris asking a bloke in a Latvia top what he was doing in Lithuania, and us singing Happy Birthday outside the bar as the birthday girl was lifted up and down on a chair.

The birthday girl in the Orange Bar


Orange Bar


After the Orange Bar we went to another bar which was pretty cool and then we ended up drinking back in the town square where there was a fight between a big Russian bloke and a bigger Swedish bloke. I think. Or that could have been the next day..

Monday 4th Sept - Riga

Woke up feeling really hungover after the previous nights madness. We headed out in the still bizarre weather of hot one minute then cold and chucking it down the next and visited the Occupation Museum and did a bit of sight seeing round the old town.

Riga Old Town


We stopped for a pint back at the town square to settle from the rain. One of the Scottish guys sat at the the piano and started belting out a load of songs.


In the evening, it was back out for a few refreshments. No idea what this bar was called though it had good Mojitos.

Gary, me, Scott, Dave and Chris


Then off to the club, Nobody Writes to the Colonel (Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta) where Gary and Chris showed the locals their moves.


Tuesday 5th - Vilnius

On Tuesday we were supposed to get the 7am bus to Vilnius but with some cunning, we'd changed it to a more respectable time in the afternoon. Probably just as well as we were feeling a tad hungover.

After stocking up on a ridiculous amount of food and pear cider for a 3 hour journey, we got the bus over to Vilnius.

Dave and pear cider - scary combination


The 'highlight' of the bus journey was a drunk and annoying Scotland fan who though it was amusing to go to the toilet on the bus and then come out in only his scabby old boxer shorts and shout 'It's Party Time'. It wasn't funny the first time and after 3 hours it was incredibly boring. In saying that, the patter has lived on. Ironically of course.

After checking in to our cool apartments that Dave had organised, we headed out for a food and a few fruit beers.



And ended up in the club Broadway where we met big Ricky.


Wednesday 6th - Vilnius / Kaunas

On Wednesday we travelled to Kaunas via bus and train



and went for a few beers before the football.




After watching Scotland win 2-1, we got a taxi back in Vilnius before going for a few beers to celebrate and ending up in Broadway again.


Thursday 7th - Vilnius

Thursday was spent by sightseeing in Vilnius, before going to a cracking Lithuanian restaurant for some food and beers.

My Lithuanian look-a-like. Freaky.


Me, Dave, Chris, Gary


Scott, Chris, Gary, Dave and me


In the evening we met up with Renata (a friend of the guys from their last trip to Vilnius) at Club Bix.

Renata, me, Dave and Chris in Club Bix


The club was a pretty cool basement club and was playing some good music. Unfortunately the was a problem with the sewars and shit started to appear on the floor ... time to move on. We ended up in some club called Prospect that was full of Scots in kilts. Late night. All a bit hazy again. Can remember being in a taxi with Chris sticking his head out the sun roof, the driving playing really load techno and swerving about on the road...

Friday 8th - Vilnius

Very hungover after getting to bed at 7am. Chris had to leave about 10am and I didn't envy him at all. We met Renata who took us to Trakai on the bus. A lovely place.

Trackai






After getting the bus back from Trakai, we went to Savas Kampas for a couple of beers and a bite to eat. We bought a pigs ear, one of the traditional Lithuanian foods. It was minging. After watching Scott and Dave trying a bit and fighting to not throw it up, I decided to pass.

Pigs ear. Nice.