Nearest neibours

[Dneprovoy Alexey]

One of my favourite Russian brother-countries is Latvia^ http://tours-tv.com/ru/latvia

 

he main national holidays in Latvia are May Day (May 1st) and National Day, on November 18, when all offices, government as well as private, are closed for the celebrations that include a grand parade in Riga. In addition to this, there are a number of religious and social events that are public holidays. Midsummer celebrations are among the most exuberant in the Latvian calendar, with cheese, beer and pies being specially prepared, and grass wreaths being hung in houses for luck.

Date 2005 Occasion 
January 1 New Year's Day   
March 25 Good Friday 
March 27 Easter 
March 28 Easter Monday 
May 1 Labour Day, Convocation of the Constituent Assembly of Latvia 
June 23 Ligo Day 
June 24 St John's Day (Summer solstice) 
November 1 All Saints Day 
November 18 Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia 
December 25 Christmas Day     
December 26 St Stephen's Day  
December 31 New Year's Eve

Weekend: Saturday, Sunday

Weights & Measures

The Metric system if used in Latvia for measuring solids, liquids and for distances etc.

 

Electricity

Power is supplied at 220 volts, 50 Hz; electrical appliances not with compatible settings will need an adaptor or converter. It is advisable to carry one in your luggage.

 

Customs and Duties

Travellers entering Latvia are allowed to bring in, free of customs duty, personal effects such as clothing, cosmetics, toiletries and the like. In addition, a litre of alcohol (or, at the most three litres bottled in one container), 200 cigarettes (or 20 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco) and a maximum of 15 lats’ value of foodstuffs may be imported without having to pay customs duty on them. Children below 18 years of age cannot carry alcohol.

While leaving the country, you cannot carry certain items- skins, furs or other animal products of endangered species; artistic works (or, to put it more specifically, antiques), animals, arms and ammunition. If you need, for any reason, to take these out of Latvia, you’ll need to get prior permission from the concerned authorities- contact the Customs department for more information.

Pure alcohol (spirit), narcotics, combat guns, explosives and chemicals are prohibited.

 

Embassies and Consulates

Latvia has diplomatic relations with nearly a hundred countries, and all of them have their diplomatic missions in the capital, Riga. For addresses and telephone numbers of the embassies, consulates and honorary consulates in Latvia, you could consult the local telephone directory.

 

Post & Communications

Latvia’s postal and communications system isn’t as good as what you’ll find in most of the West, but it isn’t inefficient either. The Latvijas Pasts (Latvia Posts) has its Central Post Office at 21 Brivibas Bulv, Riga (Tel: [phone]), and is the best place to go for mailing parcels or availing of Poste Restante services. International mail is handled by most post offices, except perhaps by very tiny ones in remote villages.

There are, in addition, a number of courier services which are very efficient.

The Latvian Telephone Company, Lattelekom, is in the process of upgrading, and isn’t at its best right now (if you experience difficulties, the Helpline number is 079). Local calls or long-distance calls may be made from most public phones, (which use phone cards, available at post offices and shops) but international calls may be restricted to only some telephones. For international calls, or for other telecommunications facilities like telex and fax and Internet, it’s a good idea to go to the Central Post Office in Riga, which offers all three. Most major hotels provide the same facilities to their guests.

 

Tipping

Tipping isn’t mandatory in Latvia, but most waiters at restaurants will expect some sort of a tip for good service. If you round off the bill, or leave a tip of around 5 to 10% of the bill, it should be enough. Chauffeurs, porters and ushers need not be tipped unless you feel they’ve really done a good job, or they’ve gone out of their way to help.