Tatiana- in the past, before Latvia joined EU, we went always with car ( around 36 hours drive and 2000 km). And we had the most amazing stories about crossing the borders and experience with different border guards and how to smuggle delicious things into the EU from Latvia. But now Latvia is a member of the EU and even in 2015 performs the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. So no fun to go with a car anymore- you only see names of countries passing Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia. A few years ago the Hungarian budget airlines Wyzair started to fly to Riga from Eindhoven, and Eindhoven is only about 30km from the place I live. So ,I am flying for 50-60 € to Riga ( without luggage ) for a long weekend to my family. But the last year we decided to go back with a car. We started to miss these trips. And now we did it in 24 hours. Germany- the biggest part autobahn without any speed limit, from the German boarder till Warsaw toll highway with 140 km per hour, only after Warsaw we saw old Poland with small roads and maximum speed 80kn/h. To be honest some part of this trip is gone- the borders with corrupt gourds, small roads. Riga is changed a lot. Every year I am surprised about new things. There are many nice new things- huge malls, great restaurants, but there are also not so nice changes, as ugly modern buildings in the old city, incredible increase of traffic and rush. Riga, even as a capital, always had a some slow way of life, but now it is more 24/7. But still it is my Riga!
