For most Chinese people, Latvia is a distant and unfamiliar country.
If you label this country to summarize its characteristics, the most prominent labels should be: "EU member states", "Euro area countries", "NATO member states", "Schengen visa area countries" 』, "An important seaport in Northeastern Europe", "The largest international airport in the Baltic countries", "Marine transportation and logistics center", "The "Belt and Road" Silk Road Economic Belt Eurasian Railway Continental Bridge's railway terminal hub in Europe", "The shipping port for Russian and Kazakhstan oil exports to Europe", "offshore companies", "financial center", "window into the Russian market", "the EU country with the most wealthy people in Russia", "white sand beaches in Europe" , "Salmon", "Cod", "Arctic Shrimp", "Blonde Beauty", "A Daughter Country with More Women than Men", "Casino CASINO"...
A small country can be... Despite so many labels, Latvia is still very famous. However, it is too far away from China, and most Chinese people do not have a deep understanding of this European country located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea.
As the first in a series of blog posts introducing Latvia, let me first introduce this country by quoting dry, but true and accurate facts and data! The content comes from online knowledge bases: Wikipedia, Interactive Encyclopedia and other reliable online information resources.
Latvia (the dark green part on the map) is located in northeastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, and is adjacent to Finland, Sweden and other Nordic countries across the sea.
Every evening there is a luxury cruise ship of Tallink Silja Cruises running between Riga, the capital of Latvia, and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden; it departs from the Port of Riga at 17:00 in the afternoon and arrives in Stockholm at 10:00 the next morning.
As an important seaport, aviation center and logistics center in the Baltic countries, the capital Riga can easily and quickly reach the Baltic countries and various parts of Europe: such as Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, Helsinki, the capital of Finland, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and Germany. Port of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Berlin, Warsaw, Prague, Vienna and other places.
Latvian capital Riga can be easily reached by flight from major European aviation hubs, such as Moscow, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, and Istanbul.
Economic Situation
Latvia became a member of the European Union as early as 2004. Per capita GDP: US$16,340, making it a moderately developed country in the world.
After joining the EU, the economy has developed, prices have stabilized, fiscal and financial conditions are good, and the financial market has developed steadily. Various economic indicators have continuously met the European Commission’s strict requirements for euro area countries for many years. January 2014 On the 1st, Latvia was approved to join the Eurozone and became the 18th EU member state that can use the euro.
Europe's White Beach - Jurmala
25 kilometers away from the center of Riga, the capital of Latvia, there is a 33-kilometer long beach - Europe's White Beach - Jurmala Mala. This is a summer seaside resort for Europeans, especially residents of northern and eastern European countries and the CIS countries. The 33-kilometer-long beach is all made of fine white sand with fine particles (most beaches in the world are rocky beaches, which are not suitable for beach sports). This is the same white sand beach in the world as Boracay Island in the Philippines. The famous "White Beach of Europe" - Jurmala White Beach in Riga.
The beach here is not only comfortable to walk on, but the sea here is also calm and calm most of the time. There are no sharks. It is very suitable for swimming and beach sports, especially suitable for children to play on the beach.
The transportation from the capital Riga to Jurmala is very convenient - Jurmala is 25 kilometers away from the center of Riga. It takes 20-30 minutes to drive. It feels like you have reached the white sand beach of Jurmala before you leave the city of Riga. . There are also many bus lines from central Riga to Jurmala. The most convenient way is to take the light rail electric train. From 5:00 in the morning to 23:50 at night, there is an electric train running between Riga city center and Jurmala every 20 minutes. It only takes 30 minutes to drive. Reaching Jurmala Beach from the center of Riga.
The most romantic way to go to Jurmala is to take a boat from Riga Old Town to the white sand beach: stand on the deck and watch the spire of the Riga Old Town Cathedral fading away. Watch the seagulls, watch the beauties in bikinis on the white sand beach leap into your sight...
In Jurmala, along the 33 kilometers of white sand beach, there are many beautiful hotels and holiday villas. Residents’ villas, apartments, restaurants, and entertainment service facilities.
Because it is a famous beach resort in Europe, the real estate market in Jurmala is the most expensive market in Latvia.
Wandering in the streets of Jurmala town and admiring the beautiful villas is also a good way to relax in Jurmala.
These facilities provide tourists with a full range of enjoyment and entertainment facilities: from delicious restaurants to various marine sports: windsurfing, motorboats, cruises, beach volleyball...
** Latvia’s climate**
Latvia is between an oceanic climate and a continental humid climate. January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of -6 °C, which is the same as in Beijing during the same period. The temperature is similar, but due to the humid air, the physical comfort is more comfortable and warmer than in Beijing during the same period in winter. Although the sun shines brightly in Latvia in summer, it is cool and pleasant. The average temperature is around 25°C, and the extreme high temperature does not exceed 35°C.
Latvia is covered by a large area of ??forest, with many rivers, lakes, long coastlines and beautiful natural scenery.
The country ranking first in the global air quality index announced by the World Health Organization is the Baltic country Estonia, which is closely connected to the forest, river and lake lands of Latvia.
Latvia has no heavy industry, is close to the sea, and most of its land is covered by forests. It is also the country with the best air quality in the world and the most suitable for lung cleansing.
English, Russian, and German are the lingua franca of Latvia
Speaking of Latvia, some people will remember that it was once one of the fifteen countries that joined the Soviet Union. 90% of Latvian residents speak Russian.
After joining the EU in 2004, English and German education have been highly valued. Public middle schools have started to offer English courses in the first grade and German in the third grade. Now, 60% of the population speaks English, especially the young and highly educated people speak English very well. English is gradually replacing Russian and becoming the common language in Latvian society and the language of inter-ethnic communication.
German is also widely spoken in Latvia.
The past and present life of the Baltic Germans and today’s Latvians
German is also often spoken in Latvia because Latvia and Germany have deep blood, historical and economic ties.
Before the thirteenth century, there was no state organization in what is today Latvia. In 1201 AD, German merchants and missionaries led by Archbishop Elbert of Hannover, Germany, came to Riga in Latvia by boat. They built a port and castle where the Daugava River and the Riga River merged into the sea, and established a port city - Riga.
The Port of Riga quickly developed into the most important "Hansa League" trading city on the east coast of the Baltic Sea (Hansa is the ancient Germanic word for "Chamber of Commerce"; today's German Lufthansa airline Lufthansa means "air" in German Hansa").
For hundreds of years since the city was founded in the 13th century, Riga has been jointly managed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Germanic Knights, and the Catholic Church composed of German merchants. The Germans were engaged in commerce, religious affairs, government management, military, culture and education, and advanced handicrafts, and were the rulers of this land; the Latvian indigenous people, farmers and fishermen, were the ruled class.
The Germans ruled the land of Latvia for hundreds of years. These Germans living on the east coast of the Baltic Sea were called Baltic Germans.
They gradually merged with the Latvian aborigines from Northern Europe, as well as the Slavic ethnic groups and the ethnic groups in Scandinavia, forming today's ethnic groups on the east coast of the Baltic Sea: Latvians, Estonians, Lithuanian.
Because of this blood origin, Latvians have distinct physical and personality characteristics of Nordics and Germans. Like Germans, Swedes, and Finns, Latvian men and women are tall, slender, and have blond hair.
Latvians have a rigorous and conscientious work style. They consciously and strictly abide by laws and social order in social life. Their shortcomings are also the same as those of Germans. They are too rigid, serious and conscientious in life and lack a sense of humor. .
Like German and Nordic cities, Latvian society is orderly and the streets are clean. There are no black people or Muslims in Latvia, and social security is very good.
If you want to find a pure Europe deep in your heart - a Europe without black people and Muslims, don't go to London, Paris, or Rome - they have been blackened and greened (there are too many black and Muslim refugees) ), come to Latvia! Walking down the street, you can see blond beauties and handsome guys everywhere.
** Blondes of Latvia **
The female population in Latvia greatly outnumbers the male population. On the Chinese Internet, Latvia is called the "daughter country" and it is said that there are many blond beauties in Latvia who are willing to marry Chinese men. The first sentence is correct, Latvia does have more girls than boys, but the latter sentence, Chinese people know too little about Latvia, and incorrect information is often taken for granted on the Internet! The author’s personal experience in Latvia is: Most Latvians are highly educated, and blond beauties have a high level of education and spiritual pursuits. Chinese tycoons only rely on spending money to pick up girls without cultural connotation, so it is difficult to win blond beauties. of the heart.
For domestic sisters who like dolls, come to Latvia. If you marry a tall, slender, blond-haired guy here, you are more likely to have a baby doll.