This is how hostel is made 👏

It's actually not difficult to get to a train on time. Nevertheless, I'm always so relieved when I've managed it. That was the case again this morning 🙂 And there are things that don't seem to change for me: the weather is still fabulous and the train journeys are running smoothly. That's what makes traveling fun!

In Riga, I now feel like I've arrived in a real hostel for the first time. There are lots of people here, people talk to each other and there are activities to do together. My plan to watch the ice hockey game 🇩🇪 - 🇱🇻 in a bar got a cool update. Here, I had already planned to go to the public viewing with several people 😄 Four Germans and an American in the middle of a Latvian crowd and the game ended 8:1 for Germany. Only a few people had much to celebrate - but the atmosphere was still great. The people here were very friendly as always and their support for their country is set in stone.

In my hostel, Cinnamon Sally Backpackers, there are regulars who keep coming back. There are also established traditions. One of them takes place on Wednesday evenings. Then we go to a restaurant with a huge vaulted cellar for Latvian folk dancing and then to a nearby club for karaoke. I was able to take part in all of this and had a great evening! I could guess the Latvian folk dancing from the number of people on the dance floor. But there were good conversations, delicious drinks 🍻 and at the karaoke I belted out Vida la Vida by Coldplay more or less badly 🎤

As in Vilnius, there is plenty to report about the morning after here too 😄 Otherwise, I have a bed in a 6-bed room and the occupancy will change almost daily. Everyone from over 20 to over 50 is represented in my room and I am excited to hear what stories the individual people here have to tell. Unfortunately, it is not exactly quiet at night 💤, but that is just part of it 🤷‍♂️