‘The Travel Bug bought himself a big cosy winter coat and embarked on a little adventure to uncover 3 fascinating facts about Riga…

Jeans

Jakobs Jufess (later known as Jacob W Davis) was a tailor who was born in Riga. He was asked by a customer to design strong trousers for her husband, who worked as a woodcutter and needed something hard wearing.

Jacob’s answer to the problem was to come up with the basic formula for jeans.  He later teamed up with Levi Strauss to patent the product and the rest, as they say, is history. The Travel Bug doesn’t wear jeans.  Mainly because he’s a bug.  And he prefers joggies.

Riga Balzams

The city is home to a rather powerful blackcurrant liqueur called Black Balzams. It’s made from a combination of 24 different herbs, as well as some rather strong pure alcohol vodka.

According to stories, Catherine the Great once visited from Russia while full of cold and was cured after a shot of Balzams.  Travel Bug’s humans tried it and can confirm that it does, indeed, kill off any bad bacteria in your body.

Markets

Riga is home to the largest market in Europe. It’s located in the Old Town and is contained within five massive zeppelin hangars sitting by the side of the Daugava River.

Each hangar is dedicated to a different product; such as meats, fish, cheeses, spices and fruit and veg.  It had plenty of fresh carne for hungry little bugs to enjoy for dinner.

Do you have any other fascinating facts about Riga to sure with Travel Bug?

TTB x