2011-10-19 Part 2: Lee-Uh-Pie-Uh!

It seems almost classically novel-esque, starting in Moscow and traveling to the sea. Yes it took us much less time than it would have done in an epic legend but the premise is still there. Liepaja, Latvia would be our first location on the true Baltic Sea (Riga, Latvia is technically there but more in a small bay rather than Liepaja’s access to the pure ocean). It is a summer town much like the Hamptons or other northern beaches. Obviously the middle of October is a definite off season time for the town and we were one of the few tourists left in the area.

We stayed in the Fontaine Hotel, a cheap hotel where rooms are $15 and wonderfully decorated like a bed and breakfast inn. We skeddadled on over to the water and ate a picnic dinner and watched the Baltic sunset. It was quite pretty and nice while a bit nippy and chilly. 

It’s interesting that the entire time in Latvia and Lithuania I did not have a clue what the locals were saying in their native language, and I eventually became relieved when people spoke Russian. It became my main source of communication for the entire trip and I used a great deal of it. I am very glad I did as well. It was productive and successful (we did eventually get home). 

We met a few Latvians in a local club named the Fontaine Palace (Apparently this guy Fontaine just owns a whole section of town). Jan, Peteris and Lara were a delight to hang out with all evening. I was excited that they willingly wanted to spend the evening drinking and talking with us.  We did meet up with Peteris and Lara the next day at a local cafe in order to kill some more time before our bus to Klaipeda, Lithuania. We were actually the first American Peteris and Lara had ever met and it was stunning to think that we actually represented our country significantly in their minds. After extending invites to visit us some day in the future we bought $1 matinee tickets to see Bad Teacher in a Latvian cinema to eat up a few more hours as it magically hailed randomly.