I´m in a bar. The waiter answers simultaneously in latvian and russian languages. I recognize a group of german tourists. In a table, a french family discusses around a map. Tv is switched on to an american music channel. From time to time, my laptop is attacked by pop-ups in cyrillic. Outside, there are posters promoting something I don´t understand. Welcome to Riga!

I just arrived in Latvia and its capital will be my home to discover the Baltic countries in the following months. For a world citizen, my new expat experience is more than welcome. Necessary, I would say! And Riga seemed to me the perfect destination: from here, I can easily discover Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, but also Finland, Russia, Bielorussia (I will try…) and Poland.

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Beautiful and quite mystical are my first impressions about Riga. Autumn brought charm and fits like a glove in the latvian capital: these days, a mist covers Daugava river at the dawn and both streets and parks are painted with yellow and auburn leaves. Night arrives early. As a matter of fact, days seem to shrink every day. I believe it´s due to the cold.

And speaking about cold, please allow me to desmystify something about people from Latvia: latvians are not cold, whenever I communicate with them I get a smile back and attention, I feel them very comprehensive, interested and empathic. To be honest, me and A. are pleasantly surprised and we are wondering if their behaviour will change when the days become darker.

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After some days in Riga, I´ve discovered how latvians face the cold weather: walking with a coffee in the hands. In Portugal we have a similar tradition: every autumn you can find in the streets locals selling roasted chestnuts. Different habits with the same purpose: keep the hands warm.

In this bar I can´t find roasted chestnuts. But I will get a coffee. It´s cold outside and I still have a lot to discover in my new city. You´re more than welcome to come with me. Welcome to Riga!

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