Hitchhiking out of Tartu was a complicated affair, few cars drove such a long distance to Riga and there was little reason for border-crossing on a week day. It took me a total of three rides to Riga but fortunately i didnt have to wait long for 'em, the first ride set me back for 20 minutes waiting time and a nurse picked me up, she was visiting her mom in Elva which is only 20km away. Second ride was a farmer who got me another 10km and the third ride was immediate, i havent even set my backpack down when this lovely latvian couple stopped for me.
there was little english spoken between the two of them but we got along just fine, we stopped half way at a local coffee shop and they bought me coffee and tit-bits, talk about some fine latvian hospitality.
Got in to Riga just after dark and i let Edgars cooked me some vegetarian meal. The five of them in the house are all vegans which pretty much means say good bye to fats. But damn, the dude can sure cook a fine meal even without animals involved. I kinda like Riga and her old town, though the city is twice the size of Tallinn and have more stuffs going on, which i dont particularly care for. I was there for the people and not the place, and i cant stress that enough, european cities do look alike after a while!
we celebrated Elina's name day (it's something they do here in this part of the world) and made three large Pizzas, from scratch. It was really fun cooking with the folks as it reminded me when i used to make pizzas with mom, but i bet you havent tasted brocolli pizza before, it's brilliant! We had some to drink and toasted and made merry and it's all good fun, good food and good company.
I then moved on to Vilnius, by hitchhiking, of course. Got a ride in 10 minutes and such a joy ride it was. Picked up by two latvian Illustrators who didnt take much time to convince me to have a go at their merlot. So two stopovers, two bottles of wine (the driver didnt drink) and two joints later, we arrived in the capital of Lithuania pretty happily, if i may add.
met up with Griedrius and Viktorija and we went back home for some more boozing session. Tried this Lithuanian herb liquor that tasted just like medicine but with good effects, though i cant say the same when i got up the next morning with a major hangover. I let Vik made me a good cup of tea which she claimed it's her special remedy, and it worked miraculously. Oh yeah, did i meantion? i slept in a massive WATERBED in my own room! cant tell you how much i wanna invest on one when i can.
Vilnius is a pretty little thing, set to be the european capital of culture next year, the city is driving in full throttle waiting to impress. At night, we cooked pasta and washed down with wine and beer and checked out a local bar. Justin joined in later when he got back from Tallinn and we had a go at his Shishah and Whiskey collection. Fantastic end for the night.
Good times are often shortlived, hitchhiked to kaunas today which wasnt all that challenging, it was a well used route and it's only 100km apart. Arturas's mom cooked me this awesome Lithuanian meal which consists for the most part potatoes and fats and eat with soured cream. She was quick to suggest that it's a fattening meal but i loved it! and for the record, there are no fat people here in the baltic states, at all.
just came back from the cinema and we watched Max Payne for free (connections, connections...), it was a mediocre film without much of a storyline and i got rather restless after a while, you can only take in that much shooting at one time, you know.
the journey continues...
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Brocolli, tomato + onion
mushroom, olives, tomato + aubergine
Mushroom, gherkin, onion, garlic, olives + tomato
2 comments:
Those are some pizzas!
you're right bout that!
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