Leaving Riga

28 kilometers, Riga, Latvia

after a few really interesting days in Riga we finally met our fellow travelers last night. Three finnish girls and an Australian had to melt in the Latvian sun while i tried to navigate the endless one-way streets of downtown Riga. Twice did parking guards destroy my humble attempts at parking. After some confusion (Krister: "I'm waiting at the front of the bus station". Everyone else: "No, we are at the front of the bus station, where are you?") we finally united for icecream and stories. The evening ended with a sampling of the local brew and Resa having the most unforgettable hot chocolate you can imagine. If you want to get her talking ask her about Latvian hot chocolate.

Today we leave for the little town of Ruzina where we will unload blues (packed to the brim with clothes, toys, games, medicine and bibles) at a children's home. As much as we have liked Riga it will be good to move on to other parts of the country. It will also be sad to leave the family we have been staying with. They have taught us so much about Latvia, Riga and themselves. We have fallen in love with their two kids and their cat (who we considered smuggling back to Sweden).

So off we go.