Travel: RIGA TO PLEASE; Scott McDermott Loves Cheap Beer, Casino and Even Culture in Latvia

Let's call it a spying mission. A scouting trip. A Riga recce to see if the Latvian capital justified its reputation and growing popularity.

The chance to assess its credentials as a venue for my brother's stag do next year. Well, that was my excuse anyway. In truth, I was NEVER going to knock back the chance to visit the city.

I was there for Mailsport last season, covering Hibs' Intertoto Cup game against Dinaburg and vowed to return in a non-working capacity.

So when pounds 48 flights appeared by magic on my computer screen, courtesy of Ryanair, who was I to ignore them? Never one to turn his nose up at anything cheap, my mate Martin tagged along for the four-night trip.

Riga at night is a sight to behold - like so many Eastern European cities.

We arrived at our digs, the Reval Hotel Latvia, quite late on but were …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Travel: RIGA TO PLEASE; Scott McDermott Loves Cheap Beer, Casino and Even Culture in Latvia. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland). Publication date: June 10, 2007. Page number: 11. © 2009 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday. COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.