So Many Relatives, So Little Time

Our honeymoon—Rīga

With all the running around we did, sightseeing was mainly left to after midnight, when we checked out the casino at the Hotel Latvija a couple of times. We did manage to get out before dark only twice—now, remember, "dark" is around 11:00pm! One night we did make it into Vecriga (Old Riga) for dinner at Alus Seta ("Beer Garden"), home to some of the best sasliks (shish kebob) in Riga, pelekie zirni (gray peas), and many more taste treats, all prepared fresh on their indoor grill.

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Not quite sure what happened here. Perhaps Anda told a joke and Silvija's dad (her uncle Henry) is still trying to figure out the punch line? Sometimes we visiting Latvians find the local jargon a bit puzzling. Of course, they have an equally hard time understanding "noparkot masinu garaza"—Latvianizing "to park a car in the garage" (as opposed to the more proper "novietot automasinu autostavieta")!

Not quite sure what happened here. Perhaps Anda told a joke and Silvija's dad (her uncle Henry) is still trying to figure out the punch line? Sometimes we visiting Latvians find the local jargon a bit puzzling. Of course, they have an equally hard time understanding "noparkot masinu garaza"—Latvianizing "to park a car in the garage" (as opposed to the more proper "novietot automasinu autostavieta")!

Not quite sure what happened here. Perhaps Anda told a joke and Silvija's dad (her uncle Henry) is still trying to figure out the punch line? Sometimes we visiting Latvians find the local jargon a bit puzzling. Of course, they have an equally hard time understanding "noparkot masinu garaza"—Latvianizing "to park a car in the garage" (as opposed to the more proper "novietot automasinu autostavieta")!

There seems no doubt about the punch line here, though!

There seems no doubt about the punch line here, though!

There seems no doubt about the punch line here, though!

That's Silvija's "What did you say, dad??" look. Either that, or she caught sight of more mass quantities fine food and beer making its way to the table!

That's Silvija's "What did you say, dad??" look. Either that, or she caught sight of more mass quantities fine food and beer making its way to the table!

That's Silvija's "What did you say, dad??" look. Either that, or she caught sight of more mass quantities fine food and beer making its way to the table!

Ah, here's our snaggle-toothed dinner companion. He looks fearsome, but it was just his lust for our baby back ribs which smelled and tasted oh, oh so good! He did have frighteningly long teeth though!

Ah, here's our snaggle-toothed dinner companion. He looks fearsome, but it was just his lust for our baby back ribs which smelled and tasted oh, oh so good! He did have frighteningly long teeth though!

Ah, here's our snaggle-toothed dinner companion. He looks fearsome, but it was just his lust for our baby back ribs which smelled and tasted oh, oh so good! He did have frighteningly long teeth though!

Proof positive that Latvians can hold their beer.

No, Silvija is not sleepy here. It's more of a "OK, take the picture, but can we get this over with?" look! (And get back to the activity at hand…)

Proof positive that Latvians can hold their beer.

No, Silvija is not sleepy here. It's more of a "OK, take the picture, but can we get this over with?" look! (And get back to the activity at hand…)

Proof positive that Latvians can hold their beer.

No, Silvija is not sleepy here. It's more of a "OK, take the picture, but can we get this over with?" look! (And get back to the activity at hand…)