Riga, again...

From Riga part 2

From Riga part 2

Ok, so it's been a while and I'm a little behind with this one... Also, I realise my blog is starting to look a little repetetive (a repetetive sounding word itself - type it out if you don't believe me), but I swear that isn't my fault. You'll notice all the excursions I've done so far have been done first time off my own bat, then again when others have decided to follow suit. So there.

So anyway, a short while after we had our small "native English ghetto" trip to Riga, Outi and the staff at "Park Travel Agency" discovered a cruise to the very same place for the princely sum of 69 Swedish Kronor (£5, for all you limeys out there :P ). At first I wasn't going to go, but Västerås really is quite small, and about a week beforehand the wanderlust got me again, and the fact that there were getting on for 70 exchange types already going persuaded me to sign myself up.

After a little last minute panic with the availability of Saturday morning train tickets, I travelled with Estonian Ingrid (plus her friend from back home) and Swedish Martha first to Stockholm, and then to Frihamnen (which actually cost more than the whole cruise), and the ship set off at 1730 Swedish time.

Not quite as large or glamorous as the Gabriella we travelled on to Helsinki, our boat (which I forget the name of) was nontheless good value at the price, so we couldn't complain. However, it did become a bit beyond a joke when the "turbulence" began. By about 1030, our relatively large group had been considerably diminished by the unorthodox movement of the ship, so by the time it calmed down, those of us who had managed to brave the storm or were completely unaffected (some people just aren't right) had a relatively quiet night, but pleasant nontheless. On reflection, with 3 cruises in as many months, the fact that this was the first time we had to put up with such weather was something of a blessing anyway...

Riga itself was much quieter this time, what with it being a Sunday, and going around with different people (i was the only native English speaker on this trip) meant I saw a few things I'd missed last time around, but generally we took it quite easy, and pancakes, cheese and coffee (not necessarily in that order) were more the order of the day. Our time was quite limited, what with the travel time there and back being longer than to Helsinki, so by half 3 or so we were all in the alcohol shop then on our way back to the ferry :)

From Riga part 2

Second night was a bit more lively, and party was indeed had. I'd add more, but by this stage it all seems relatively similar when written down...suffice to say none of us had had much sleep by the time we got back on monday, and it was about 10PM by the time i started my essay to be handed in by midnight...but I'm a professional, so i made it :) Good trip all round though!