Travel thread 3.0

[JimmyJeffers]

I've been to all the big american cities and Philadelphia is the sketchiest of them all imo just ahead of LA. Just doesn't feel safe even in the city centre, crackheads as far as the eye can see, dodgiest metro system I have ever been on (people openly injecting smack etc). We were there to see Springsteen so we did that, the Rocky Steps and liberty bell but there didn't seem to be much else to do after that. I was with the blues in NYC and Chicago in the summer and both are miles better than Philly especially Chicago which was absolutely spot on.

Really like Chicago. Fairly wild as expected but had a good time there.

 

[bebo86]

Really like Chicago. Fairly wild as expected but had a good time there.

Didn't mind Philly and didn't think it was too sketchy. DC is much worse

 

[jaybx1878]

Really like Chicago. Fairly wild as expected but had a good time there.

yes, the City Centre is great and very clean for a major city. The Riverwalk area is amazing, so many great bars and restaurants and the river cruise that goes through the lock and onto Lake Michigan is top drawer. Of course Everton tried to spoil it by losing to West Ham but we quickly got over that with a session in Buddy Guys blues bar after the game.

 

[jaybx1878]

Didn't mind Philly and didn't think it was too sketchy. DC is much worse

We must have gone there on the wrong weekend or something but it was like something out of the Walking Deaad, horrendous.

 

[Bkk Andy]

@tsubaki I think what we're saying is that it's a pity that Canada doesn't have any teams on the NFL

 

[FTY]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

 

[Bilko]

I was in Seattle, really enjoyed it

 

[Bkk Andy]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

I went last October. It's nice and very walkable. There isn't too much to do though. You can cover the whole place in a day.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

Yup - many years ago on my stag do. Don’t remember much about it as I was trousered for most of the time.

Cheap beer, hot chica’s and loads of moody Russians are my only recollections.

 

[Haydn]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

Couple of years ago on a Wales away trip. As others have mentioned, drinking also played a large part of our visit.

I did manage to escape ‘tho. Went to the national opera, which is in the city centre. Carmen was on. First time for me, it was a great diversion from the bars. It was also pretty cheap booked online in advance. It was actually cheaper to go to the opera rather than pay for a tour of the grand building.

Have a look what’s on when you’re there. We had the cheapest tickets and the seats were fine.

Schedule / Latvian National Opera

Latvijas Nacionālās Operas un baleta oficiālā mājas lapa

www.opera.lv

Also visited the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, city centre again. Tells the story of the occupations under the USSR and Nazis. Worth a visit. Spoiler, they deffo didn't like either mob.

The only downer for me was the cobbled streets, jeez my feet suffered afterwards.

 

[atrottel]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

Quite a while ago. There was a big hotel shortage there at the time, but I assume they have improved the tourist infrastructure. We enjoyed it, good bars and atmosphere. The Museum of the Occupation in one of the central squares. We went in just expecting a quickish visit and ended up spending hours in there. Really moving displays of the astonishing number of Latvians 'disappeared' under Nazi and then Soviet control.

Added: @Haydn got to the Museum before me! We also went out to one of the Baltic Sea beach resorts, which made a change for the day.

 

[RufusCat]

Off to South-East Turkey on Saturday visiting the museums and ancient sites in and around the cities of Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sanliurfa & Gazientep. Will chill out the last 3 days in one of my favourite places - the village of Cirali, along the coast West of Antalya. Lots to do and see, will probably need another holiday to recover.

 

[bigjonny]

We must have gone there on the wrong weekend or something but it was like something out of the Walking Deaad, horrendous.

I was in Philly for a week in 2016, I get the impression it’s gone downhill since then.

 

[bebo86]

I was in Philly for a week in 2016, I get the impression it’s gone downhill since then.

Interesting, I was there in 2019 and never felt sketched out. Must have gotten a lot worse since COVID, heading to Detroit in a month, should be interesting

 

[IrishBlue2022]

Anyone been to Riga? Going there in December

Spent a night there in May. Is there a crowd going? If so we got a huge apartment right in the centre for really cheap. I can ahare the details.

It wasn't the cheapest drink wise. First bar we went was 9 euro for a pint.

Would recommended going to the Armoury for 1 or 2 for some picture opportunities with the replica guns.

But would definetly go back.