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{{infobox Country|country = of Latvia|language = Latvian|map = <map lat='57.029' lng='24.599' zoom='6' view='03' floatcountry='rightLatvia' />|capital = [[Riga]]|pop = 2,261,100|currency = Euro (EUR) |BW = LV|hitch = <rating country='Latvialv' />}}'''Latvia''' is a Baltic country. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It borders [[Estonia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]]. There are a lot of young people just hitchhiking around the country, to their hometowns, festivals, etc., especially during summer, so you'll probably meet someone on the road as well. People are used to hitchhikers and hitchhiking it is fairly easy. Even in the middle of nowhereto get a lift, whether along important route, even routes such as the [[E67 ]] (''Via Baltica''), it's quite easy to get a rideor in the middle of nowhere.

=== Legality ==It is allowed to hitchike in Latvia (at least there are no laws which forbid that), but of course in places where you do not danger road safety.Very, very rarely (but still) people expect you to pay for a ride.It is a common practice here to use signs of the cities, countries where you want to get a ride, but thumb also works fine.=

[[Image:IMG 7303It is allowed to hitchhike in Latvia (at least there are no laws which forbid that), but of course in places where you do not danger road safety.JPG|It is a common practice here to use signs of the cities or countries where you want to get a ride to, but thumb|left|200px|[[Tiziano]] hitching in Latvia]]also works fine. === Cities ===<!-- Please keep in alphabetic order (after Riga) -->* [[Riga]], the capital of Latvia's capital* [[Balvi]]* [[Cēsis]]* [[Gulbene]]

==Language==If To catch some phrases you don't speak Latvian, Russian is often a good way to communicate with people who don't speak English. Just ask if someone speaks English by asking "Gavarite pa-angliski?" in Russian. Then people are able to choose which language they prefer to communicate incan also check [[Eastern Europe phrasebook]].

in LatvianTowards [[Russia]] [[Terehova-Zasitino border crossing|Terehova-Zasitino]], for direction [[Moscow]] [[Grebnova-Gavry border crossing|Grebnova-Gavry]], for direction [[Pskov]], [[St. Petersburg]]  Towards [[Belarus]] [https:Sveiki//www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B043'06.5%22N+26%C2%B052'27.4%22E/@55.718463,26.8721013,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.7184603! PAldies4d26.8742901?hl=en Urbany (BLR) / Silene (LV)] (bel. Урбаны, ka apstajatiesrus. Урбаны) – located on [[P68]] some 35 km to the south-east from [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]] on the way to [[Braslaŭ|Braslaŭ]]. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B049'14.4%22N+27%C2%B037'32.0%22E/@55.820655,27.6233543,17z/data=! 3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.8206521!4d27.6255431?hl=en Ryhoraŭščyna (BLR) / Paternieki Es nerunaju Latviski(LV)] (bel. Рыгораўшчына, es stopeju uz lietuvurus. Man jabrauc pa so celu (E77Григоровщина)– located on [[A6]] some 75 km to the east from [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]] and 35 km from [[Krāslava|Krāslava]] on the way to [[Vierchniadzvinsk|Vierchniadzvinsk]], [[Polack|Polack]], [[Navapolack|Navapolack]], kamer tiksu lidz sauliem[[Viciebsk|Viciebsk]]. Es dodos austrumu virziena uz radviliskis pec tam Because of Schengen agreement, there are are no border control points between Latvia and Lithuania / Estonia. Ja jus nebraucat uz turieni === Roads ===Roads are getting better but don't expect European standards, ludzu izlaidiet mani tada vietaespecially in winter and early spring when temperature fluctuations destroy asphalt pretty easily. Be careful on dirt roads in countryside regions. Not only you get dust in your face from vehicles, kur es varetu turpinat stopet!but sometimes you can be hit by stones. On the other hand, traveling those roads usually offer the most beautiful and authentic scenery. === Gallery ===<gallery>[[Image:DSCF5026-1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] thumbing in Northern LatviaImage:IMG 7303.JPG|[[User:Tiziano|Tiziano]] hitching in Latvia</gallery> === Useful things === Free internet is available in public and university libraries. Also almost all of Latvian cities and even villages will have free internet in the town's center - it is now a prestige thing.  There exist Facebook groups for ridesharing where you can often get a ride from Riga to other parts of Latvia for little money.. Group names are in form "Riga - (city/town name) - Riga". Use Facebook search to find them. For example, for Liepaja direction use https://www.facebook.com/groups/840988475937147/ These groups are mostly used by young people and they are very likely to speak good English. http://www.blablacar.com is also popular.  Weather in Latvia can change pretty fast so don't lose hope if rain comes. Hide and wait. Sometimes it's over in 15-20 minutes. == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == [[nomad:Latvia]][[trash:Latvia]]    __NOTOC__{{IsIn|Northern Europe}}{{Template:Europe/countries}}

{{IsIn|[[Category:Northern Europe}}]]