TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit and International Driving Permit required |
| Currency |
(LVL)
Latvian Lat |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 371, Riga (8)7+6D, Riga (8)28+5D, Jelgava (8)30+5D |
Time:
GMT + 2. (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before
last Sunday in October).
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are
in use.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 371. Outgoing international code:
00. Directory enquiries: 09. International calls can be made from
telephone booths. Payphones are operated by phonecards which can
be purchased at kiosks, post offices and in some shops.
Climate:
Temperate climate, but with considerable temperature variations.
Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn.
Winter, which lasts from November to mid-March, can be very cold.
Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest
rainfall in August. Snowfall is common in the winter months.
Clothing:
Light- to mediumweights are worn during summer months. Medium-
to heavyweights are needed during winter. Rainwear is advisable
all year.
Food
& Drink: Hors d’oeuvres are very good and often
the best part of the meal. Local specialities include kotletes
(meat patties), skabu kapostu zupa (cabbage soup), Alexander Torte
(raspberry- or cranberry-filled pastry strips), smoked fish, including
salmon or trout, sweetbread soup with dried fruit, piragi (pastry
filled with bacon and onions) and sorrel soup with boiled pork,
onions, potatoes and barley. Potatoes feature regularly on the
menu prepared in a variety of ways. There is also a large selection
of excellent dairy products on offer such as skabs krejums (sour
cream).
Riga’s Black Balsam is a thick, black alcoholic liquid which
has been produced since 1700. The exact recipe is a closely guarded
secret, but some of the ingredients include ginger, oak bark,
bitter orange peel and cognac. It is drunk either with coffee
or mixed with vodka. There are several good local beers including
the dark beer bauskas Tumsais and the pale Gaisais. Kvass is a
refreshing summer drink. Sparkling wine is also popular.
Shopping:
Amber is of high quality and a good buy. Other purchases include
folk art, wicker work and earthenware. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri
0900/1000-1800/1900, Sat 0900/1000-1600/1700. Some smaller shops
may be closed 1400-1500 for lunch. Food shops open 0800/0900-2000/2100.
Some shops are open 24 hours.
Tipping: Taxi fares and restaurant bills usually
include a tip. It is customary to give a little extra for good
service.
Currency: Latvian Lat (Ls) = 100 santimi. Notes
are in denominations of Ls500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are
in denominations of Ls2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 santimi.
Credit
& debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard,
JCB, MasterCard and Visa are accepted by most hotels and petrol
stations. Some shops in Riga also accept credit cards. Check with
your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability
and other services which may be available.
Travellers
cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers
are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds
Sterling.
