Is Riga, Latvia A Strange Place For Lithuanians To Visit?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2023
- Have you heard of this phenomenon known as the uncanny valley? It’s this concept of having an unsettling feeling when androids closely resemble humans but are not quite convincingly realistic. After spending about 4 days in Riga, Latvia, it feels like it closely resembles Lithuania, but is seems like the city-form of the uncanny valley concept!
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As a Latvian when visiting Lithuania I always get this vibe that im in a foreign country, but at the same time get "confused" when I see similar words, foods, companies etc.
So you get this split feeling of "Oh, im in a foreign country." but at the same time you feel at home.
I feel the same while visiting Latvia, especially when locals greeting me with Sveiks.
Broliukai, you always should feel like at home in Lithuania 🥰
In Latvia I feel like viewing my own country Lithuania as a foreigner.
Like a paralel universe?
I've spent many summers in Jūrmala since going there from Eastern Lithuania is closer and cheaper than going to the Lithuanian coast and I can definitely say it still feels like visiting a different country every time. The small stores are different, the language is different enough to where you can't really understand anything and also their historic architecture is more Germanic. Oh and the food is different too, unless you order pizza and burgers.
This is how I feel as a swede when I go to Denmark and I can read most of the signs flawlessly but when I try to talk to people they start speaking in curse incantations through the tongue of long lost elder gods or something and proceed to buy vodka at a supermarket
I might feel even more similar as the author of the video as I am Latvian who lived in Sweden for some time and when in Norway or Denmark I feel probably kinda similar to how the video author feels.
It all comes down to one's perspective. When you're familiar with different cultures, you can recognize the similarities between Lithuanian and Latvian cultures and languages. However, without that background knowledge, you might see Lithuania and Latvia as entirely different countries.
greetings from Vilnius, and thank you for a vlog! I adore and am a little bit envy for Latvian long wild Baltic beaches! Usually I visit 2 places in Latvia: Riga and Liepaja/Ventspils! The nature looks so similar, Latvian and Lithuanian faces, behavior, culture, language so similar, but we have for centuries one biggest problem, I would say an existential threat: the Russian world. And since Latvia was occupied by that plague since 1701, I can see many wooded houses, full streets of that houses, which we do not have in Lithuania. Also, Riga's old town is so impressive, since we did not have a German era. I was considering relocating to Latvia, but one thing shocks and scares me- local Russian population in Latvia. In LT we have such a small population of our former occupiers and torturers, that they are fully scared of spreading Russian world. But in Latvia I see everywhere angry Russian faces, who are dreaming day and night of destroying Latvia as a state, they actively deny anything of Latvian, and I am not sure, when the X day will come, could Latvia as a state resist again against this mortal plague.
Idk, visiting Latvia feels like visiting any other country, it was never uncanny or weird.
I am Lithuanian, I was in Ryga, is beautiful city, also I was in occupation museum, I can say only one think what I didn't like In Ryga, I felt like I am in Russia not in Latvia, because of so much Russian speaking people...I wish them only one think save their beautiful language. Sėkmės braliukai. ❤
I never realised Latvia had its own January 13th events! Maybe I'll have to find a Latvia Explained channel 😂
I knew about the event of the protest being shot at and catalyst for 1905 revolution events in Latvia as Latvian but I had never put together that the street was named after that or it happened on January 13, I suppose I had heard it at school or some times before, but just forgot.
Actually January 13th in Latvia is important for both - 1905 events and 1991.
The news about events in Vilnius reached Latvia early morning when Dainis Īvāns went to the Radio house at 5AM and did a speech.
500 000 people from all over Latvia packed their bags, loaded building materials and wood, got on buses and trucks and went to Riga. They went on a protest and built barricades around important objects in Riga.
OMON attacked civilians, bridges and buildings in Riga. 6 people died (deadliest night being January 20th). Many cars were burned.
This went on for over a week.
@@worsttaste.3464 Oh I see, thank you for explaining that! At some point I'll have to read up about those I think 😄🇱🇻
Im also learning to speak Lithuanian, its a difficult task but over many years Im at a reasonable standard to ask simple tourist questions.. I would love to live in Vilnius, its such a beautiful city! Sėkmės!
As a Latvian, I feel that if I close my ears in Estonia, I would feel no difference from home. We are also influenced by Livonian people, whom we assimilated. Although I went to Lietuva every summer as a kid, I feel a bit different there. For example, the religion is different, and people are more outgoing in Lietuva.
Well. I agree
I'm Swedish and have visited the 3 Baltic countries, and I agree with you. I feel like many towns and villages look more similar between Latvia and Estonia, compared to Latvia and Lithuania.
With religion it depends, I'm from Latgale so I find more similarities both with church style sometimes and Polish influence and stuff. But yes, Northern Latvia and Kurzeme they are maybe more similar to Estonia with the Lutheran churches and the culture, Latgale is different though... but also Latgale is more Russian, so in a sense we are unique :)))
Although it is actually indeed so that the three stars of Latvia, Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale are pretty different from one another. We also have Zemgale but it's more lumped together with Kurzeme historically
Not for Latgallians. Latvia has many Catholics.
Although Latvian and Lithuanian share lots of similar/same words the two languages aren't mutually intelligible. Latvian was heavily influenced by German and Lithuanian was influenced a lot by Polish. It's somewhat possible to grasp the general idea by reading written Latvian but spoken Latvian has very different sound and rythm from Lithuanian so practically it's impossible to understand anything for an utrained ear except for several very basic common words. I've heard that Lithuanian is more difficult to understand for Latvians than Latvian is for Lithuanians.
Yup.
I think that it is easier for Lithuanians to understand Latvian because the emphasis (kirčavimas) is much simpler in Latvian. In practical terms if you don't understand a series of two or three words, in Latvian you know exactly where each word starts and ends. In Lithuanian, not so.
Same here. If I read lithuanian, I understand more than hearing it.
It's true, written Lithuanian is still difficult but you can understand the main idea, that was the party trick I had when I was on a longer business trip in Lithuania, I would pick up a newspaper or some magazine and say oh that's interesting, this politician says this and that and my Lithuanian colleagues were like ''wow, your Lithuanian is so good'' but actually I can't understand almost any of spoken language.
But you also need to have a very good knowledge of Latvian, especially like old words from 19th century to decipher it... and how some letters change in Latvian, like Latvian ''dz'' is ''g'' in Lithuanian and ''c'' is often ''k'' in Lithuanian, so at start the word ''geležinkelis'' (railway) seems nothing like ''dzelzceļš''... but if it was ''translated in Lithuanian it would be ''gelzkeļš''. Or ''gydytojas'', doctor in Lithuanian. In Latvian we use German name, ''ārsts'' - Arzt. But ''dziedētājs'' in Latvian would be something like ''healer'', it has never been an official name used for doctor I think though in Latvian. But ''dziednieks'' is a word used for folk healers, quacks.
Knowledge of Slavic also helps with words in Lithuanian sometimes, due to Polish influence or some old words still used when Baltic and Slavic languages were not that separate
As for lithuanian, visiting Latvia feels like downloading a DLC for Lithuania, where everything is like the same, but everywhere you are followed by a feeling that something's not right
I think it's fair to suggest that Latvia may not feel foreign enough when visiting, but it's nuanced and depends on whom you ask.
The first time I ever went abroad was to Latvia and it felt very different there, it was amazing. The second trip was to Croatia and then I really started to learn how "different" looks. The clear blue Mediterranean sea, mountains and buildings, everything was completely unlike I've ever seen before. From then on visiting Latvia feels like second home almost. People are similar, climate and nature as a whole is almost the same, food is similar etc. So I suppose for folks who don't go abroad much visiting neighbours might be something otherworldly, but those who travel more, it really doesn't feel abroad at all, but it's nice nonetheless.
Not really. Architecture in Riga is very different than what we have in Lithuania. Nevertheless I have never visited traditional festivals. That would probably feel very similar to ours.
When I went to Jurmala it definitely felt a bit uncanny cause it looked so similar to Palanga, from the architecture to the streets and beach.
Here in Latvia having Maxima on every corner I experience Lithuania on daily basis 😅
The only uncanny thing for me was listening to the language - it feels almost like I should understand it if I focus a little longer, but of course I never did. Otherwise Riga is an absolutely beautiful city, and I'm envious of their tram which Vilnius is in a big need of.
In some way Samogitian (Žemaičių) looks similar to Latvian with those shortened endings...
There are MANY differences. But I love the Latvian culture, and language.
American here ... first trip ever to the baltics (around 2003/4) was to RIga - fast forward years, I married a Lithuanian and travel often to LT. Without going down to deep of a rabbit hole, I actualyl studied Latvian before I ever heard a word of Lithuanian. I agree with you totally about that "uncomfortable" feeling in the 2 countries. When I listen to/watch Latvian TV, I can get the gist of what they are talking about - to me, it's like the first time I heard Dutch as someone who was studying German - I understood about 75% of it. (I speak fluent Dutch and German now) - the odd thing is this: when I ask my Lithuanian wife if she understands a song or a news cast in Latvian, she claims to barely understand 1 word - basically zero comprehension. Now, she has Latvian friends - they claim (and I believe them) to have a decent understanding of basic Lithuanian - mutual intelligibility seems to work the opposite of what I would imagine. I mean, seems like the Latvian lanagauge is a simplified version of Lithuanian (kinda , maybe, like Afrikaans being much simpler than Dutch, but with a large mutual intelligibility, ESPECIALLY when reading!) - again, I asked my wife to read the lyrics of a song - only 1 word she could "kind of" understand was 'sniegs' ((sniegas, in LT)). I find it odd - seems like it should work the other way around, but yeah, first time in Lithuania, I kinda got excited because I saw a place I recognized from Latvia! (Cili Pica, or just Cili Pizza in Lithuania). The langauge kinda messes with my head - I would say, honestly, I understand from a TV news cast or interview, maybe about 40%ish - my native, Lithuanian wife can maybe hear 1 word - it's a brain crunch, lol
Samogitian language (dialect) is much more similar to Latvian language. So for us samogitians its easier to understand Latvian language.
I am Latvian living in a countryside next to the Lithuanian border and visiting Riga kinda feels like being abroad. Which I can't really say about Biržai. No reasonable explanation why.
Hesburger in Latvia is so much cheaper than in Finland, like 3 times prettymuch.
I feel like Riga or Tallinn are cleaner and a bit nicer but maybe that is just " grass is always greener on the other side" effect.
I love how niche this topic is. Keep it up please 😎
Not everyone says the ‘e at the end of Lithuanian words, I sometimes dont. But its just “more formal” in sort of a sense to say the full word in front of others.
Haven't been to Lithuania myself (yet) but i heard that Vilnus is very spread out as opposed to very dense and compact Riga
Back from Riga since few days ago. Nothing in particular similar to Lithuania apart from the climate. Old town in no way similar to Vilnius old town, its closer to Vienna in my opinion. Swedish influence is very strong in architecture. The language is not similar, but yes few words sound like regional accent to me, closer to zemaiciu maybe. Vilnius is very modern with loads of glass buildings, while Riga...well..doesn't feel like invested much
Actually all 3 Baltic countries are quite small from economic perspective, thus majority of international business is entering their together. Therefore you can find a lot of brands in all three countries.
History of all 3 countries starting from 1940 is also quite the same.
Latvian an Lithuanian language similarities could make that feeling (especially for foreigners) that this is quite the same countries, but for me as lithuanian it is not so obvious, as Latvian language differs from Lithuanian (and sometimes in not expected manner). For example:
Moose: briedis (lt), alnis (lv)
Deer: elnias (lt), brieži (lv)
😅
Do not fully trust Google translate as in English "deer" can mean both singular and plural. So "a deer" is briedis in Latvian and "brieži" means "elniai". This makes it my top false friend in Latvian language.
Gambling places will not be so many for long in Riga, they are now being shut down, only few will remain
This is true. But its not unique to Riga alone. Tallinn is exactly the same to me.
I have found that every european city with an old town has at least one place like that. the place closely resembles a place back home, but a little different. Weird feeling.
When visiting Latvia.... I was visiting it since my early childhood, not often but stilll. And not only going to Riga, but also going, eg, from soviet LT/LV border to Augstkalne. So Latvia to me is always semi-german. It was so and it is so. Even some poorer roads do not make difference, roads sooner or later will be repaired or renovated so this is not an indication. Even huge presence of russian speach in Riga does not change this impression. Everywhere in Latvia is some german aspect that is absent in Lithuania. I see this as very positive thing for Latvia.
As for... business(es), familiar design of logos, familiar chains of something.... it somehow seems too shallow to catch attention, never bothered with such things... Renovated objects of Jugendstil are more interesting and pleasant to the eye, speaking about visual attractions so to speak....
Yes, I felt the same, when I visited Lithuania the first time.
It's cute, not weird to me. Maybe because I knew about Latvia and had been visiting Latvia since I was 8, it got familiar and not uncanny to me.
Lithuanian here.
I've been to Tukums novads, (tukums district) for some time and, it felt weird.
The stores were like exactly the same!
bruuh im from Tukums, the city historically was populated by Jewish and Germans aaaand even before that by Livonians which culturally are quite different than Latvians
LITHAUNIA EXPLAINED so keista can be used as the word ( weird )
For us Lithuanians it's probably the same feeling americans get when visiting Canada and vice versa
I loved visiting Riga because it used to be the largest city in Baltics and had that "megapolis" vibe, especially at night (which Vilnius didn't really have before). In 2022 Vilnius snatched the crown of the largest city of Baltics from Riga but mainly because Riga shrank dramatically (and keeps shrinking, loosing 5k people a year) while Vilnius is slowly but steadily growing. RIga has the most inmressive old town in all if the Baltic States - as well as imposant river waterfront with huge bridges. Nothing like that in Vilnius or Tallinn. But... Outside Old Town (and a center, which is pretty small and compact) Riga sucks more than Vilnius does outside it's much larger center. In terms of maintainance both Riga and Vilnius lose to Tallinn. But while Vilnius is panickly picking up and conducts lots and lots of infrastructure repairs, Riga seems to be stuck in times, stagnating and lingering. Well at least they started their HUGE new railway station project! Which is WOW by looking at its renders..
I have to disagree as I have visited Riga many times since 2001 and it was constantly changing. One visit, I stayed in an apartment in "Centrs" City Center which is the area on the other side of the Freedom Monument. I spent a lot of time there as there was much to see like hundreds of Art Nouveau buildings throughout the street grids, and so many unique shops and cafes. True, as you walk North the buildings begin to look rundown with lots of graffiti. Latvians leave comments on travel sites to not go East of Aleksander Caka Street, but I read that seven years ago and things may have improved.
As of 2024 Riga is still the largest city in terms of population and in general! :P Though in a few years it might change if we don't improve as quickly as Vilnius does.
@@ElvisBurdajs
Okay, maybe. Here is the link with latest Vilnius population for your:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius
@@ElvisBurdajs
And here is Riga:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riga
I am Lithuanian and when I came to Latvia I immediately wanted to go back , don't know why felt to weird and familiar
Like you got knocked out woke up went outside everything good then go speak to someone your like wtf is that our pagan tongue
Some Lithuanian dialects share more similarities with Latvian
Yeah. I also discovered that I can understand a little more Latvian than Latviams can understand of my Lithuanian when I was buying some things at the giant 'hangar' central market in Riga. That was a little annoying and a bit funny.
Hi, how can foreigners get a job in lithuania?
do you feel strange visiting any other English-speaking country?? I wouldn't. Because the countries are unique despite having exact same language spoken in it. With your example it's even more distinct: Lithuanian and Latvian are different and not mutually understandable
As mentioned in the video, it was a combination of numerous common supermarkets and other businesses and similar words in terms of signage, despite being different languages.
As a Canadian from Vancouver and going down to somewhere like Seattle, it does have a very pacific-northwest vibe to it but then, aside from the huge multinational chains, businesses are all quite different.
13th January mostly... This naming come from Soviets times to commemorate begin of 1905 revolution in Latvian territory ... not lucky date ...
Latvia has different history so it is closer to Estonia.
Riga is like a huge village with dumb crap happening, whilst Vilnius feels like a sanitaized corporate city. This is why Riga feels more home like
As a Lithuanian I prefer visiting Poland, you do really feel that you're in a different country. Also, Poland is Polish while in Riga 60% of people speak Russian at home. In Vilnius, we have a Russian-speaking minority but not as huge as in Riga.
Are you also a Pole? 😅
@@manometrasi think he is...
The do not visit.
The Lithuanian region of Žemaitija and Latgaliai(the border of Latvia and Lithuania close to the Baltic Sea) understands each other very well to this day, because the Baltic language actually comes from there.♥️Residents of Plungė, Telšiai, Mažeikiai, Akmenė - Vilnius (the capital of Lithuania) will not understand them.
Kaunas is the most authentic city in Lithuania, where both Žemaitian and Lithuanians live.🙂 Vilnius is no longer Lithuanian, but Russian-Belarusian.😢The Lithuanian government, as in the interwar years, is selling Vilnius.
Baltic countries should be one country union !
Yh you can tell the European didn’t want us rebelling again so banned the curonian language pretty much divided us balts gave us a measly substitute but I feel in the future something will happen we will all go back to our traditions live free again