Work hard, play hard

Saturday was the first and only day I took part in the 3-day city festival here in Valmiera. As I mentioned in my last post, my friend and I agreed to perform a Celtic dance together. An international dance for an international pair. When I woke up in the morning, I felt fairly confident about doing it. As the morning slowly passed, I felt slightly nervous. As I stood around the stage floor waiting for our turn to dance, my mind went blank and my legs turned to jelly. Being 14th in the line-up really didn't help. I had one strategy and one strategy only: just keep smiling.

Poster for Valmiera City Festival

Before the song and dance performance, the students had some time to work on their group projects and explore some of the festival events. I managed to see some of a youth fashion show, which looked as if it had an eco-friendly and/or recycled theme.

My favourite: Nescafe dress

Afterwards, my friends and I briefly walked into the shopping centre. I saw that a stall was selling homemade gingerbread cookies. I'm a sucker for any biscuit, cookie or cake. We didn't have much time to stop, so I had to resist my cravings. To distract me from my biscuit-hunger, my friends and I decided to take a photo at one of the stalls. 

Modelling traditional countryside wear

It was time to dance. While people were putting on their Uzbek costumes or changing into their Italian football shirts, I simply tied my Union Jack scarf around my waist. It was more of a practical decision than a fashion choice. After all, I didn't want to keep fiddling with it when I shimmied or skipped!

Germany, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Italy all in one photo.

I made a few mistakes here and there, and had to surpress my laughter every now and then but I think we did a pretty good job! Considering I'd only practised it three times, I'm rather proud. A cold, post-traumatic Latvian beer and two gingerbread cookies topped it off! Yes, I went back to buy them. I couldn't resist...

Voila!

Sunday was our day off. The day most of us were looking forward to. The day we could travel, relax and enjoy Latvia without any time constraints or pressure. Most of the students, including myself, travelled to Riga. This was my third time in Riga and, like the second time, everyone split into smaller groups. From then on, it was me, my Azerbaijani friend, my Uzbek friend and my Belarussian friend. I don't think you can get more international than that! The first thing we did - which was a first for me - was climb to the top of the Latvian Academy of Sciences building for a panoramic view of the city.

We went to the 17th floor.

Then our self-led tour continued. After a week of brilliant sunshine in Valmiera, dark clouds started to form over Riga. And you know what that means - rain! Luckily, we happened to be standing under a tree or in a shop whenever it started to pour. 

I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

TV Tower (the tallest structure in the Baltic States)

Old Riga

Riga Central Market (one of the largest European city markets)

The Sun Stone (office building,
second highest structure in the Baltic States)

National Library of Latvia (founded in 1919)

I just had to...

Cat House

Look at that sky!

My beautiful friends.

My new furry friend.

The rain began to ease off and we had an idea to go to Jurmala, a resort town just 25km west of Riga. It was my first time getting a train in Latvia - a very different experience to trains in England. First of all, you can walk on the track. Secondly, you have to climb quite high to get on to the train itself (I don't know how elderly Latvians do it!) and thirdly, it seems much cheaper!

I love the beach!

My first cartwheel in 4 years.

Oh happy days.

After spending the afternoon at the beach, I can really understand why Latvians love nature.

"A smile is not a sign of happiness but the cause of happiness" - Daisaku Ikeda