Culture shocks in Riga Latvia - What surprised us the most!

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 147

  • @onelungg
    @onelungg 5 ปีที่แล้ว +300

    I'm a simple Lithuanian. I see Latvia I press Like

    • @fidenemini111
      @fidenemini111 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Me too :)

    • @nochannelhere6530
      @nochannelhere6530 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I do the same thing the other way around. I see lithuania, i like

    • @MadyAmber
      @MadyAmber 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      i love it! same

    • @Toxa1300
      @Toxa1300 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Love u bralukas

    • @batja2719
      @batja2719 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      im very simple i see anything with baltic states i like.(Latvian btw)

  • @kristenkristen7140
    @kristenkristen7140 5 ปีที่แล้ว +182

    Im a simple estonian i see latvia i press

  • @ligaozolina9847
    @ligaozolina9847 5 ปีที่แล้ว +144

    yes, you eat the bread after kiss. you kiss as an apology for dropping it, you pay respect- because bread is very important for your survival! i think orgin is from times when everything was hard to get.

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      That's really lovely haha. Bread must mean so much for latvian people.

    • @ligaozolina9847
      @ligaozolina9847 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@rachelandnick yap :)

    • @andrisvitolins3027
      @andrisvitolins3027 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm Latvian myself but never heard or seen anyone doing this. You still have respect to the bread but not to the extent like this. I would say this is a kind of hoax. Greetings from Sydney!

    • @ligaozolina9847
      @ligaozolina9847 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@andrisvitolins3027 I'm latvian too and in my area- Kurzeme- we have this saying and also as a child i kissed the bread every time :) As an adult not anymore, but I also don't drop bread anymore :)

    • @TheColonyRed
      @TheColonyRed 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@andrisvitolins3027 nope not a hoax, but you might think that living in Sydney :D

  • @gustavsnm8332
    @gustavsnm8332 5 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    Any Latvians?

  • @digitusmortem
    @digitusmortem 5 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    I’m just a simple Mexican, I saw Riga and automatically I gave it a Like to the video because my girlfriend comes from Latvia.

  • @Artisprofils
    @Artisprofils 5 ปีที่แล้ว +161

    Latvians don't wear furs, but Russians do.

    • @ar4ye379
      @ar4ye379 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Exactly!

    • @martinsskutans6646
      @martinsskutans6646 5 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Yes, I just wanted to comment the same thing- wearing fur is very Russian thing to do. Not all Russians wear fur, but absolute majority of those wearing fur, is Russian.

  • @habermanmusic
    @habermanmusic 5 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    About half of Latvia's population live in Riga alone! And that means everything outside of Riga is pretty much twice as cheap! Oh, and almost everywhere outside of Riga the toilets are completely free. And you don't have to worry about traffic as much, but the closer you live to the center of Riga, the more traffic you'd have to worry about

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      We'd love to travel other parts of riga too. 💗

    • @habermanmusic
      @habermanmusic 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@rachelandnick Riga is awesome, but there are many other cities, like Kuldīga, which is considered the most beautiful city in Latvia, and it has the widest waterfall in Europe! Ventspils and Liepaja are good places to visit aswell. 🇱🇻💗💗

    • @ligaozolina9847
      @ligaozolina9847 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Definetly visit Liepaja :) sea port city@@rachelandnick

    • @balticpart1404
      @balticpart1404 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      1/3 live in Riga.

    • @Ellie_S
      @Ellie_S 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ligaozolina9847 YES, YES, YES!!! PLEASE DO!! I LIVE HERE

  • @agnijaromija3765
    @agnijaromija3765 5 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    During summer Riga is CROWDED with tourists :D Tourists are afraid of our cold winters i guess :D

    • @Ellie_S
      @Ellie_S 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, exactly

  • @S6dalanna
    @S6dalanna 5 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Rimi chain belongs to a Swedish company called ICA that has stores in Scandinavia too but they are called ICA there.

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Oh wow didn't know that. We went to ICA in Sweden.

    • @Ellie_S
      @Ellie_S 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@rachelandnick I also don't know how you didn't notice *"Maxima"* because that is literally the second biggest supermarket chain in Latvia... I mean i don't live in Rīga, but in Liepāja, but i guess it's a "capital city" thing because now i kinda do remember that they didn't have alot of Maximas...

    • @olevet75
      @olevet75 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Ellie_S big maxima's are mostly located outside of RIGA center , that's why haven't noticed them much

    • @Ellie_S
      @Ellie_S 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@olevet75 Hmmm, ok

    • @kakts88
      @kakts88 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Ellie_S Yeah, in Riga Rimi has a pretty solid monopoly on shopping malls and the central area of the city. If you move out towards the mass housing areas and suburban areas, I'd estimate that Maximas are far more popular, to be blunt Maxima usually tend to be more popular in cheaper and lower income areas, even though I do not find that Maxima itself is all that much cheaper, I'm just guessing they didn't have enough lobbying power and/or capital to access the more coveted and high traffic areas.

  • @tomsozolins486
    @tomsozolins486 5 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    When you drop the bread you have to kiss it and eat it. You have to kiss it to show respect to food.

  • @ieval.9789
    @ieval.9789 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Kissing bread thing is one of those superstitions. If you drop the bread, it means bad luck, kissing reverses it, so you are all good again. It's like knocking the wood. My mam was reaaaly superstitoa, so kissing bread is just automatic thing for me, I don't believe it will prevent bad luck, but I just do it without thinking. I guess it comes from respecting food anf low food supply, as stated in comments before. I really most times do it.

  • @vinitavincentkuruvila1119
    @vinitavincentkuruvila1119 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    There's a rimi epidemic here haha which I love cause every 10 mts there's a rimi. You practically don't need a car here in Riga at all.

  • @lewisg8479
    @lewisg8479 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I'm from Riga and i really don't understand what kind of culture schocks you had. I have seen a lot of this toilet thing in Europe, also Rimi is not everywhere. Narvesen is just place we buy coffee (which is important), bus tickets (which is the most important), for me there are still to less Narvesen. About fur - if it's rainy we wear jackets, warm - wool coat, cold - fur, because for us it is the most elegant thing and latvian, russian women loves to look elegant not only feel warm. I think you need to go to Italy and you will feel much more schocked, because this is really nothing much!

  • @xemsisx
    @xemsisx 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think You meant black/dark leather jackets, gloves and shoes. If you see someone in fur coat that's mostly old Russian people (still rare).

  • @balticpart1404
    @balticpart1404 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    In Latvia there are not only Latvians but also many Russians. Therefore, some peculiarities of Russian culture can also be seen.
    Latvian tradition - when bread is crushed when it falls to the ground comes from ancient times, when people lived poorly, to make bread had to work hard, grow cereals, grind flour ... it was hard work and the bread was like "holy". Therefore, if it fell to the ground, it meant that human labor, power, health fell on the ground. It was a respect for a baker, a farmer who grew up, for a miller.

  • @jojomamani
    @jojomamani 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great work! Nice introduction. Love the way how u2 analyzing & summarizing how u2 feel about a destination. Pls keep it on! Thk u!

  • @AWstudios-q8m
    @AWstudios-q8m 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Hey Rachel and Nick,
    Great to hear that you like Riga!
    As pointed out here already yes a lot of companies in the Baltic's are part of Scandinavian company groups. Like Rimi, Narvensen and major banks and last year IKEA also opened up here.
    Riga have gone through a major renovations in recent years, especially the old town and city center.
    And it's slowly turning in to the prominent capital of the Baltic's that it use to be.
    Riga was celebrating it's 100 years of independence last year and a lot of effort have been put in restoring the city for this event.
    The international airport have been improved and now got more destinations and airlines. There is also talks about direct flights to Asia that will most likely increase turism.
    The most interesting infrastructure project at the moment is however "Railbaltica" it's the largest infrastructure project in the EU's history.
    So next time you visit you can hopefully take the fast speed train :)

  • @kakts88
    @kakts88 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Not sure if the toilet situation is related to "Galerija Centrs" shopping center, but I remember they set up this coin in the door system a while back and I believe, they just wanted to reduce non-customer traffic, because the amount you pay is small and I don't think they really intended to make any money on it. Before they installed that coin thing, just anyone who was in a 5 block radius of the center would come and the lines were insane (doesn't speak highly of their sanitary planning when the construction was done).

  • @daedaluslv2032
    @daedaluslv2032 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Rimi just was there first as McDonald's. Maxima is more common beyond the Center and more popular to locals as Top, Elvi, Beta etc. Toilet is free if you go beyund the Riga's Center. On season you will not find any booking available, most likely. Doctor is free if you work and live in Latvia (pay taxes etc.) and we have a lack of them.

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you for great info! ❤ Yes, we read doctor is for Latvians. That's amazing!

    • @daedaluslv2032
      @daedaluslv2032 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@rachelandnick Well, you pay (work) for your health ... As in any EU country ...

  • @batja2719
    @batja2719 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the black bread thing it counts for any kind of food you kiss it and eat it. Because in the past food could sometimes be hard to obtain you you pay respect to that peace of food and eat it even if it fell on the ground.(i hope my explanation was correct english is pretty hard for me still)

  • @MrKardukas
    @MrKardukas 5 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Hey, I love your videos. Interesting insights :) . About the bread kissing thing.. I'm not familiar with this particular one, but generally bread is very precious in all Baltic countries and former soviet block countries because of our tough history. Two world wars, oppression, forced deportations, backward soviet system created a lot of misery and even famines. Food was a luxury and simple things like bread was in shortage, that is why you cherished every piece of bread. By picking it up and kissing it you kind of apologize the bread by personalizing it. This way you show that you are lucky to have food and nothing can go to waste, even a piece of plain bread that fell on the ground. Now I see that I was too slow to type first about the bread.. :)

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Cheers for the info. Yeah that makes total sense. Personally we love bread so much. :-)

    • @jumalAnni
      @jumalAnni 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      There is a saying bread is older than us. Traditionally, a new bread‘s dough is partially made of the leftovers of a pervious bread which was made of the leftovers of the one before that and so on and so forth. So there can be this continuity from your grandparents’ times or longer. So, respect your elders :D

    • @eksiarvamus
      @eksiarvamus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It's a far older custom than the Soviet occupation...

    • @MrKardukas
      @MrKardukas 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@eksiarvamus I never said it was not.. I just tapped into living memories of my relatives. One thing is to read from the books, another is to hear it from the people that endured those times. Anyways, soviet occupation made things much worse than they could be compared to the western europe.

    • @iggyblitz8739
      @iggyblitz8739 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@rachelandnick Now it doesn't seem like such an ' odd custom ' as Rachel said right, now that you have a different perspective on it.

  • @kristineakone8501
    @kristineakone8501 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Btw the toilet situation. Some ppl with out homes (although ther is a house where they can sleep and stuff) they just go in the toilet (when there waren't the money thing) and theg just sit there and sleep couse there is very warm and you can wash yohr hands and all. So yeah thats mostly why they needed to make the money stuff

  • @vaultkeeper2
    @vaultkeeper2 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Rimi is Swedish, owned by ICA. They have the same products as ICA supermarkets which are all over Sweden. So we have these in Sweden as well, just that that are called ICA here.

    • @vulc1
      @vulc1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I disagree. Rimi Baltic stocks loads of different Polish food items that are not sold in ICA stores.

  • @Yassified3425
    @Yassified3425 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    One time in one of those toilets somebody let me in i did everything i needed to and then i got stuck i could not open the door so i kinda sat in there for like 10 min till soembody paid and came in and got a large surpise!

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Haha That must've been so annoying to get stuck!

    • @Yassified3425
      @Yassified3425 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@rachelandnick btw the light turns off to

    • @alexysq2660
      @alexysq2660 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Yassified3425 ...omg ({: \ ...!

  • @vinitavincentkuruvila1119
    @vinitavincentkuruvila1119 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Visit Riga from April because till late September the place is packed with tourists. Just that

  • @ArmandsPadrevics
    @ArmandsPadrevics 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Hi! Great video, come and visit Latvia any time. But a suggestion about the doctor, there are private and government clinics, next time (hopefully you won't need it or in other countries) ask a local to tell you where you could get the exact treatment but for a lot cheaper.

  • @jumalAnni
    @jumalAnni 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Some other (Estonian?) bread superstitions:
    1) bread should never be placed or lie on its round side or there will be an argument in the house;
    2) bread should never be placed so that its mouth (cut side) faces a door, especially the main exit, or it could run away.
    If you see that some idiot :D has still broken the rules, you quickly turn the bread around and hope nothing bad happens. You can also go and start an argument about it.
    I have definitely eaten bread I have kissed. Traditionally, a fallen bread was eaten for sure because there was no food to waste and not doing so would have been disrespectful towards your elders, bread included. You can also verbally apologise to the bread but touching it with your lips is a must. In addition, when it comes to peasant food then there is ‘leib’ (bread, the main food) and everything else is ‘leivakõrvane’ (beside-the-bread).
    Other superstitions I know are mainly about not burning down the house.

    •  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm Latvian. I know the mentioned first superstition, but not the second one. Maybe that's unique to estonia...

  • @raJlabaJloM
    @raJlabaJloM 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yeah the doctor thing in some places are old school. Once you get to the cabinet you're supposed to go to and wait in line, you should ask whos waiting to see that doctor or procedure, and than ask whos last in line, thats how you know when its time for you to go in.

  • @mkraulis
    @mkraulis 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Narvassen is used by the city for the sale of transit tickets. That is one reason they are everywhere. Not sure if other places sell transit tickets. Like the video.

  • @rachelandnick
    @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Hi Bear squad!! Do you think public toilets should be free?

    • @TheCableBug
      @TheCableBug 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Well i mean its the maintnaance cost...Who should fund the cleaning lady, the toilet paper,the soap, the paper towels, the cleaning products otherwise? I rather pay a little money to use a semi clean toilet than not pay at a all and step in a horror movie.

    • @vinitavincentkuruvila1119
      @vinitavincentkuruvila1119 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Should be free I was kinda shocked too but I live here now so I'm used to it.. for paying for the toilet haha and it's not sometimes but you wait for the next person..always unless you're bursting hahah

  • @bittulahiri8790
    @bittulahiri8790 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice video..I am from India..am living in Riga for some time now..I love Riga !!

  • @patriii.
    @patriii. 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I am from Riga Latvia. I love your videos.

  • @martinszarins2887
    @martinszarins2887 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Vbt brauc majas?

  • @jekabskarklins
    @jekabskarklins 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice video guys :)

  • @stanislavosonislandia3971
    @stanislavosonislandia3971 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Are you going to leave Riga soon?

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We left unfortunately! And now are in the UK.

  • @latvia1012
    @latvia1012 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    RIMI is a Baltic subsidiary of Swedish ICA.

  • @poxie2637
    @poxie2637 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    don't go to just big cities, if you have time i recommend checking out stuff in rural areas as well, with enough research you can find pretty cool places that definitely dont get much tourist traction. the question is transportation to these areas and finding a place to stay the night.
    i think there is a skii museum in Galgauska. its a very tiny museum place but still seems cool. it could be closed by now, but maybe its still there.
    Generally tourists keep coming to the big cities and are very nervous about rural places. But honestly, these places should be explored more. You can find cool little places, and hear many stories about the areas by just asking around. All you really need is basic russian knowledge in these areas and good internet to access translator apps or something. and if you can afford a translator, its just all the better.

  • @defact2882
    @defact2882 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Thanks for the awesome series, hope you'll be visiting again :)

  • @turblijura
    @turblijura 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Please, make some videos about South Korea in future too! Very interested. Greetings from Estonia!

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We're going to South Korea soon so definitely we'll make videos there.

  • @stanislavosonislandia3971
    @stanislavosonislandia3971 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    What is your next destination?

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      It'll be Vilnius and then Warsaw😁💗

  • @ilonabw2967
    @ilonabw2967 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I am almost wondering if you have actually been to Riga ;) , becouse you have seen (everybody wearing fur) or have not seen things (no turists in Riga) that are really strange and it is difficult to agree with some of those things you have experienced over there :D

  • @marieomblus7004
    @marieomblus7004 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    How old are u both? Great video btw

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Rachel is late twenties and I'm mid thirties 😊 I'm the wiser one 😆

  • @stanislavosonislandia3971
    @stanislavosonislandia3971 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why are you in UK right now?

  • @TheCableBug
    @TheCableBug 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Older generations fur is most definitely not foe. Maybe younger people would maaaaybe wear foe fur for fashion reasons, but most times if you see young women wearing fur it will also be real. It's more of a Slavic thing I guess. A fur coat is a status thing.

    • @ligaozolina9847
      @ligaozolina9847 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      and many are hunters or in family someone is hunter :)

    • @alexysq2660
      @alexysq2660 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      ~Ohhhh; ewwww...!

    • @iggyblitz8739
      @iggyblitz8739 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@alexysq2660 Yeah Russians living in Latvia like to wear fur more than Latvians do.

  • @yanisra9916
    @yanisra9916 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Bread is kissed to show respect for effort put into growing it etc. not exactly anything to do with Soviet times, its reaches further in folklore etc. Peasants never had bread to waste, doesnt relate just alone to black bread, its general idea. Thou Latvians ate wheat bread only for celebrations, wasnt common. Rye bread was staple food, its easier to store for longer. There were not shortages of basic goods incl bread in more modern Soviet times.

  • @livalauralinde5997
    @livalauralinde5997 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    We really love rimi

  • @jessz1686
    @jessz1686 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You guys are so cute 💓

  • @matissmateuss6146
    @matissmateuss6146 ปีที่แล้ว

    Next time at doctor just ask people who is last in line so you don't need open door 😉🤕🤧

  • @alexysq2660
    @alexysq2660 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Am sincerely so glad to hear that ( ...most, at least... ) of the "fur fashion" there is, actually, "Faux fur"! Very good, and interesting, video; thank you!!

    • @alexysq2660
      @alexysq2660 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ohhhh; now, have read 'below' that such may not actually, necessarily, be the case ({: \ ...!

  • @TheCableBug
    @TheCableBug 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The bread kissing is an old tradition that isn't really practiced anymore that much I think. As far as I know it's a Christian tradition - my grandpa used to do it and even do a little prayer. He used to say that bread is sacred and should be handled with care, that it's the flesh of Christ. And sure it also goes hand in hand with the fact that back then( pre Soviet times & Soviet times) you didn't have much and you had to really work for food.

  • @T-Alex81
    @T-Alex81 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Rachel,I just wanna say,that you are very beautiful lady.

  • @maksimmajskij7657
    @maksimmajskij7657 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do you watching cartoon eeak the cat?

  • @aldisgrantins8845
    @aldisgrantins8845 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    About CAT HOUSE please investigate history of this house and wy owner made them there and in wich direction were weir asses!!!

  • @the_unstoppable_doge8078
    @the_unstoppable_doge8078 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    No free toilets :)

  • @martacirule
    @martacirule 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Čava draugi 😂 Kā jums patika video?

  • @willierdavis
    @willierdavis 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video God Bless 🙏🙏 ✝️

  • @eliinalelde
    @eliinalelde 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Tourists just don't come to Latvia, even in summer...

    • @dzinija9232
      @dzinija9232 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Elīna.Lelde whaat? there are a lot of tourists especially in summer

  • @jorgeeduardo8663
    @jorgeeduardo8663 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Saludos Raquel 😋😋

  • @biomanization
    @biomanization 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nick and Rachel, maybe the Latvian practice of kissing the bread after dropping it has been borrowed from Jewish custom. Bread is the “staff of life” in Judaism. Prayer books are equal to life itself. When you drop a prayer book you kiss it. A fallen life, whether human, literary or substance, should be kissed when fallen. Yes, as a sign of love, respect, and repair.

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's a lovely tradition. ❤

  • @ivetavolkova3975
    @ivetavolkova3975 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Nick , You need to shave.

    • @rachelandnick
      @rachelandnick  5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Lol haha i definitely need to!

  • @hamzamr.8693
    @hamzamr.8693 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    what about cannabis

  • @jf6395
    @jf6395 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    its real fur

  • @peraperitaperota6920
    @peraperitaperota6920 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Spanish subs please 😔❤

  • @stephenschuit7880
    @stephenschuit7880 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Show us Riga, rather than lecture about it.

  • @alexalex1.286
    @alexalex1.286 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I Love Russia 🇷🇺 ❤️

  • @beatthedevil1396
    @beatthedevil1396 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can i marry your girlfriend?

  • @patrisia3341
    @patrisia3341 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    And once again... Made my evening 😊