International Theological Education Ministries, Inc.

Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) situated in northern Europe, neighboring Russia and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic sea to the west. The three Baltic States were part of the Soviet Union. Latvia is the middle one of the Baltic States (Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south). The population of Latvia is about 2.3 million people, and the area is comparable to that of the Republic of Ireland. Latvia declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and focused on joining European Union in the first years after regaining independence and became its member, as well as member of NATO in 2004.

Social Conventions
Handshaking is customary. Normal courtesies should be observed. The Latvians are somewhat reserved and formal, but nevertheless very hospitable. They are proud of their culture, and visitors should take care to respect this sense of national identity.

Weather
Remember that Latvia, and especially it's coastal part, may have quite cold climate with high winds. Pack at least a few warm clothes. Light- to medium weight clothing is worn during summer months. Medium- to heavyweight clothes are needed during winter. Rainwear is advisable all year. Climate is with considerable temperature variations. Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and fall. Winter can be very cold and usually lasts from November to mid March. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest rainfall in August. Snowfall is common in the winter months.

Passports and Visas
Passport is required, but visa is not required if staying less than 90 days. Return tickets are not required either. Passport must be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay. EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on the document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

International Travel
You can get there by air using any Star Alliance flight. There is also the national airline airBaltic (BT). Main airport is Riga (RIX) (Spilve) (website: www.riga-airport.com). It is5 miles from the city. Buses run regularly to the city center throughout the day and approximate journey time is 30 minutes. Several hotels provide a shuttle bus to and from the airport. Taxis are also available (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks, business lounge, information office, left luggage storage, car rentals, restaurants, bars, cafes, VIP service center and post office. There is also Liepaja International Airport (LPX). It has charter and business flights to Europe and CIS countries. If you are getting there by water, main ports are Riga and Ventspils. There are ferry connections from Riga to Stockholm with Tallink (journey time – 16 hours). DFDS Tor Line runs ferry services from Riga and Ventspils to Lübeck in Germany (journey time - 32 hours). Ferries also go from Ventspils to Nynäshamn, Karlshamn and Rostock with Muller Baltic, and Sāremā with SSC Ferries. If you travel by train, Riga has rail links with Moscow and St Petersburg in the Russian Federation, Tallinn in Estonia, and Vilnius in Lithuania. The road network is relatively well developed and there are good routes through to Belarus and to the neighboring two Baltic Republics. Entry by car is possible from the Russian Federation, Estonia, Belarus or Lithuania. The Via Baltica highway runs through the Baltic countries. Coach services with Eurolines (www.eurolines.com) depart from several European cities to destinations in Latvia.

Crossing the Border
A small amount of personal goods may be brought into Lithuania duty-free. On arrival, declare valuable items such as jewellery, cameras, computers and musical instruments. The following goods may be imported into Lithuania without incurring customs duty: up to 50g of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette; medication for personal use up to three months, provided it is accompanied by documentary confirmation; other goods up to a value of $250.

Internal Travel
Latvia’s rail network includes routes from Riga to all other major towns in the country. The railway terminal in Riga is at Stacijas laukums. For more information about the train services, contact Latvian Railway (website: www.ldz.lv). There are reasonable connections to all parts of the country. There are bus connections to regions throughout the country. The Central Bus Station is at Pragas iela 1. Car rentals are available through hotels and directly from international and local car rental companies. Drivers can also be hired. Regulations: Seat belts must be worn. Speed limits on highways are 90kph (56mph) and 50kph (32mph) in cities. It is compulsory to drive with headlights on 24 hours a day all year round. The use of mobile telephones while driving is forbidden. The minimum age for drivers to hire a car is 21 years. Documentation: European nationals should be in possession of an EU license, otherwise an International Driving Permit is required.

Public Transportation
There is a good network of bus, tram and trolleybus routes in Riga. Tickets should be bought on board from the conductor and retained for inspection. Taksobussi (share-taxis) also operate but are slightly more expensive than ordinary buses. Taxis are privately run and have meters; there is a surcharge at night. There are some trams and trolleybuses running through the night.

Currency
Even though Latvia is a member of the European Union, the country is not part of the European monetary union yet. Hence the Euro is not in use in Latvia, although it is expected to replace the lats in 2008. The Latvian currency exchange rate is 1 lats (LVL) to $2.12. Notes come in various denominations up to 500 lats, coins up to 2 lats. Many smaller shops, taxis, etc. won't accept high denomination notes, due to a shortage of change. Major credit cards are accepted by most larger shops and supermarkets, as well as most hotels and restaurants. There are plenty of currency exchange booths in Riga, and other large towns. These tend to close at 1900. USD or Euro will get you the best exchange rate. Pay attention because the rate of the Euro or dollar is significantly lower than the lat, so you tend to think things are cheaper than they really are. You do not need to carry any cash with you, for you can withdraw money from any ATM machine, which are all around Riga.

Dining
Hors d’oeuvres are very good and often the best part of the meal. Overall, the cuisine can be heavy but almost always tasty and nourishing. Don’t miss the opportunity to try Kotletes (meat patties), Skabu kapostu zupa (cabbage soup), Alexander Torte (raspberry- or cranberry-filled pastry strips), Sweetbread soup with dried fruit, Piragi (pastry filled with bacon and onions). Among national drinks is Riga’s Black Balsam, a thick, black alcoholic liquid which has been produced since 1700. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, but some of the ingredients include ginger, oak bark, bitter orange peel and cognac. It is drunk either with coffee or mixed with vodka. There are several good local beers, including the dark beer Bauskas Tumsais and the pale Gaisais. Kvass is a refreshing summer drink. Restaurant bills and Taxi fares include a tip. It is customary to give a little extra for good service.

Lodging
The lodging is provided by the schools and is usually basic but accommodative. Just remember that you are not on vacation but on a real missions trip and you will feel much better. You will generally have a good idea of when the meals are served and when to teach and you can have some time for lesson preparation, or sightseeing. Just be prepared to have a very busy schedule. Staff and students at school have a good mastery of English.

Recreation
Riga has a good range of excellent restaurants, bars and cafes. In summer months, cafes spill out onto the streets. Nightclubs offer a varied scene, from dancing all night to blues concerts. There are a number of excellent theaters and museums.

Shopping
Amber is of high quality and a good buy. Other purchases include folk art, wicker work and earthenware.
Shopping hours are Mon-Fri 0900/1000-1800/1900, Sat 0900/1000-1600/1700. Some smaller shops may close for an hour or two between 1200 and 1500 for lunch. Food shops open 0800/0900-2000/2100. Some shops are open 24 hours.

Credit/Debit Cards
American Express, Diners Club, JCB, MasterCard and Visa are accepted by most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATMs are available in towns and cities. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Banking Hours are Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some banks are open Sat 0900-1300.

Warning
Most visits to Latvia are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks. Compared to other European capitals, the crime rate in Riga is relatively low, but street crime does occur. Make use of hotel safe deposit boxes and be careful not to show valuables when walking around the city. Car theft is common. Road traffic accidents are common. Extra care must be taken at all times when driving, particularly when driving at night. Travelers to forested areas should seek medical advice about inoculations against rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. There have been no incidents of terrorism directed toward American interests. Incidents of anti-Americanism are rare. However, instances of racially motivated verbal harassment, and on occasion, physical assaults on non-Caucasian foreigners, have occurred in Riga. There have also been reports of non-Caucasian foreigners being subjected to extra scrutiny by security guards in shops and malls in Riga. Crime in Riga is generally non-violent. The majority of non-violent crime tends toward acts of pickpocketing, identity theft, and personal scams. However, there have been instances of serious violent assaults and robberies. Street crime is a serious problem, particularly for tourists. In addition to pickpockets in all public areas, there are numerous scam artists targeting foreigners in the tourist pubs and restaurants . There have been a number of reports recently of foreign tourists being exorbitant prices for drinks in bars. Some have then been assaulted or forced to withdraw money from an ATM to pay the bill. You can avoid situations like this by ensuring that you check the price of drinks before ordering, pay for one round at a time and seek recommendations for bars from trustworthy sources.There have also been a few cases of tourists and residents being drugged in bars and restaurants and then taken outside or to their residences and robbed. In any public area, one should always be alert, particularly to being surrounded by two or more people at once. It is not uncommon for groups of pickpockets to attempt to overwhelm their victim. Gangs of professional pickpockets are specifically targeting foreigners, particularly those carrying backpacks. In addition, Riga has one of the highest rates of car theft in the world.

Health Care
Medical care in Latvia is steadily improving, but remains limited in several important respects. There are a few private clinics with medical supplies and services, including disposable needles and basic modern diagnostics, which are nearly equal to Western Europe or U.S. standards. However, because of the lack of equipment and resources, most major invasive procedures or surgeries in Latvia are not recommended. Hospital services have shown good progress but are still not equal to Western standards. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Most, but not all, antibiotics and prescription medications are available but as they are generally produced in Europe or Latvia, they often have different names and instructions are usually not printed in English. Diphtheria, hepatitis and tick-borne encephalitis are present. According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is a significant problem in Latvia, with 9% of all cases being multi-drug resistant. State ambulance service for emergencies is available by dialing 112 anywhere in Latvia. However, response time is poor in rural areas. Air ambulance service is available for medical evacuations. In general, private air ambulance services are very expensive and require advance payment before the patient is transported. US Residents Americans are strongly encouraged to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Religion
Majority is Lutheran, Roman Catholic, or Russian Orthodox.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are in use.

Telephone
Country code: 371. Payphones are operated by phonecards which can be purchased at kiosks, post offices and in some shops. Mobile phone roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
There are many Internet cafes in Riga and some in other towns.

Mail
Postboxes are yellow. Mail delivery within Europe takes two to seven days, to America and Australia 10 to 14 days. Riga Central Post Office is located at Stacijas laukums (next to the main railway station), opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-2200, Sat 0800-2200; Sun 1000-2200. Post office hours: (General, main) Mon-Fri 0700/0800-1800/1900, Sat 0800-1600.

Media
Public radio and TV are financed by state subsidies and advertising revenue. The media operate freely, with few legal restrictions on their work. There are laws against libel and incitement of racial hatred.

Press
A wide range of political viewpoints are represented by some 140 newspapers, with a mixture of Latvian- and Russian-language newspapers printed. The main daily is Diena. Latvian-language papers include the broadsheet Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA), the business tabloid Dienas Bizness and the evening tabloid Vakara Avize Vakara Zinas. Russian-language publications include Telegraf (the main daily), Chas, Vesti Segodnya and Biznes & Baltiya.

Television
Latvia's TV market is dominated by the commercial LNT, two networks operated by the national public broadcaster, commercial TV3 Latvia and the Baltic variants of the main Russian networks. Latvian Television (LTV) is a publicly-owned channel which operates LTV1 and LTV7. Latvian Independent Television (LNT) is the main commercial terrestrial channel, with TV3 Latvia and TV5 also.

Radio
The public Latvian Radio operates four national networks, while Radio SWH, Easy FM, and Radio Skonto are commercial stations. Radio NABA is a public/university station.

Public Holidays
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
4 May Declaration of Independence Day.
23 Jun Ligo (Midsummer's Eve).
24 Jun Jani (Midsummer's Day/St John's Day).
18 Nov Latvian National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
31 Dec New Year's Eve.

Contact Information
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the USA website: www.latvia-usa.org

Note: If you are a traveling professor, please share your trip experience/tips with others and write us about it.